Thursday, May 28, 2009

Senator: No health insurance for illegal immigrants

Congress is drafting a major health overhaul that would cover nearly everyone, but not illegal immigrants.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Finance Committee, told reporters last week that covering undocumented workers is “too politically explosive."

The finance committee is drafting the sweeping legislation that would cover up to 96 percent of the population. The legislation is expects to be introduce by mid-June.

Baucus told the Associated Press that his bill would build on the current system in which employers, government and individuals share in paying health care costs. It's likely to include a requirement that individuals get insurance coverage, either through an employer, a government plan or on their own. He said the plan will include "incentives" - and perhaps requirements - for employers to help pay.

Even though illegal immigrants won't be able to get benefits under the legislation, they can still get health care at hospital emergency rooms and through federally funded community health centers.

105 comments:

  1. Why is this even an article? Illegal is illegal! Illegals should not get any benefits, after all, they are illegal! If anything, they should be gathered up and sent back home. They have drained our healthcare system enough! Not to mention, bringing the Swine flu over the border and infecting everyone.

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  2. Finally they are doing something right up there. No rights is you are not a citizen.

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  3. Lil Franky "why can't we all just support the illegals like me" Ordonez with another piece of junk story.

    No advocacy journalism here, nope..

    I wonder if Lil Franky is here legally

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  4. Even though illegal immigrants won't be able to get benefits under the legislation, they can still get health care at hospital emergency rooms and through federally funded community health centers.
    ===
    Tax payers will still pay.

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  5. of course they shouldn't get any.

    joke of an article

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  6. It is incredible to me that this is even up for discussion!

    Hello?

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  7. Let's be Frank, why don't you go write for a Mexican newspaper since you love to mingle with the illegals! Tax paying Americans are tired of footing the bill for all these babies that are born here illegally. Most Americans can not afford to have one child but you can see everywhere you go all the Mexican women pregnant with 4 or 5 in tow.

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  8. Amen, 2:35 - they still get care and we still pay whether they are insured or not. Actually, on second thought - why not make the business owners who are hiring the illegals be forced to pay for health insurance for them? If they hire them, they must insure them. Problem solved.

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  9. Even though illegal immigrants won't be able to get benefits under the legislation, they can still get health care at hospital emergency rooms and through federally funded community health centers.And if they do show up at an ER and are confirmed to be here illegally, they should be handcuffed to their hospital bed until such time as ICE comes to pick them up to deport them. You may have a "right" to emergency health care, but you for sure do NOT have a "right" to remain here illegally once you come to the attention of the system.

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  10. You're missing it. "too politically explosive" = "I'll lose my freakin' seat if I even try for this right now. Better to wait and sneak it in some must pass legislation later."

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  11. Just in case you're wondering where your taxes are going:

    "...they can still get health care at hospital emergency rooms and through federally funded community health centers."

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  12. Now load them all up in Army transports and spend a few million more taking them back home.

    At the same time seize all their property and money they stole from us while working here illegally and give it back to all the tax payers that have footed the bill and lost jobs due to there invasion.

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  13. Invasion is what it is. It is time for us to stand up and do something. The government can bring our troops home and let them patrol the border rather than Afghanistan. Set upi a perimeter, then work from the inside out. It would help the economy by opening new bases along the border and securing our citizens. This would cut down on drug trafficing also.

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  14. Somebody here illegally gets sick, let 'em die and ship the body to UNC Med for training purposes.

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  15. we still get stuck for their medical bills...if discovered then deport adults & brats...health care is going broke and they are 12m reasons...plus they breed like bunnies and guess who pays; employers hiring them should be fined $1,000 per illegal per day

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  16. Illegals that are caught should be sentenced to 2 years in Afghanistan and Iraq. If they make it back, they will have earned a place to be a citizen.

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  17. Thanks for pointing out what should be blatently obvious!!

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  18. Hahaha, you guys are a bunch of racist morons. Of course it is a liability politically speaking to do so but it is the humane and CHRISTIAN thing to do you hypocrites. Those people will stay and eventually will get in the path of citizenship. If anything we need these people to effectively contribute to our economy by enabling them to buy homes -esp the crap being foreclosed right this very second-, American cars, etc. I pity the fool!

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  19. Really why is this even news. If an undocumented immigrant wants healthcare, they can pay upfront or purchase private medical insurance.
    Otherwise they have two other options, return to their country of origin and apply for benefits, or contact their Consulate or Embassy for assistance from their country of origin.

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  20. The Dems will solve the illegal problem by granting amnesty in a few years. Presto! Now they have health insurance.

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  21. "Hahaha, you guys are a bunch of racist morons."
    What race is an undocumented immigrant? You don't even know what racism is. You are the moron.

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  22. I am Mexican and I agree with most of these posts. I had to get my citizenship the correct way and all those who are coming across makes it unfair to those who wait their turn. I believe everyone has a right to a better way of life but breaking the law to do it is what makes the citizens of this country so angry.

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  23. Again,,,, Illegal is Illegal!! Maybe, and just maybe, if the illegals were excluded, the insurance rates for LEGAL CITIZENS would drop a bit.

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  24. "Somebody here illegally gets sick, let 'em die and ship the body to UNC Med for training purposes."...and "you can see everywhere you go all the Mexican women pregnant with 4 or 5 in tow." etc. etc.

    Wow, there is a lot of hatred toward these families on these sites. They may be illegal but they are still people. I sincerely hope that you don't shout these hateful comments to people you suspect of being illegals (and their wives, children, etc.) You guys are something else...

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  25. aut"It is a liability politically speaking to do so but it is the humane and CHRISTIAN thing to do you hypocrites."
    1) I don't have a problem if undocumented immigrants get free health insurance if I can get free health insurance as a naturalized citizen and you are willing to cover the bills. Can we all send our bills to you? I am very glad you are Christian. According to you you are willing to pay for my healthcare because you are Christian and it's humanne. as long as it's in the name of humanity, I assuem you will gladly pay for my healthcare, because you are Christian. Is that correct? I don't want to call anyone a hypocrite without clarifying first.
    :-)

    2) I am not sure where it is mandated that all people in the U.S. are Christian. Have you ever heard of the separation of Church and State?
    3) Where does it say people who are legal residents of the U.S. must pay for all health insurance for anyone is not residing in the U.S. legally.
    4) If this was a "Christian" law Shouldn't this law be based on financial need rather than immigration status. I have never seen any Christian doctrine that even discusses health insurance or immigration status.

    5)Why do you assume every person is Christian?

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  26. I swear The Charlotte Observer wants to go out of business!!

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  27. "Those people will stay and eventually will get in the path of citizenship."
    - At which point they will be eligible for taxpayer sponsored
    healthcare. They also have other options for obtaining taxpayer funded insurance if they have secured other forms of legal documentaton for residing in the U.S.. Such as Greencard. Until that time, they can purchase private health insurance coverage, apply to their consulate or embassy for health insurance, or return to their country of origin, in the event their government provides such assistance.

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  28. I always find it interesting that fear and ignorance prompts so much discriminatory beliefs.

    The main reason these workers are here is because Americans refuse to do these particular jobs for these particular wages. The sense of entitlement that American's hold as to their worth prompts many to disregard work in agriculture, landscaping and restaurants as below them. Here are people that will do the work.

    One question I have though is why citizenship is the reason they are not given health benefits under the pending legislation. The money the health care comes from taxes, which everyone that buys something in this country, pays. Maybe they aren't paying property taxes because they rent (like me; a middle class white citizen) but they surely buy gas and other consumables.

    This prejudice toward those working here that are not citizens or working toward it is nothing less than a classic caste system we learn about in history. The aristocracy (legal Americans) will live off the fruit of the poorer working class (illegal immigrants) but woe to them if they expect anything from us.

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  29. This man and the articles he writes are the sole reason I cancelled my subscription to the Charlotte Observer.

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  30. So the next time I break a leg and go to the emergency room, I'll have to wait 10 hours because the ER is going to be full of people that are here illegally.

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  31. To the gentleman who came here legally in a previous post. Welcome to your new country! Finally able to say that.Glad to have you and wish you the best this country has to offer.

    Now to the idiots who try the "It isn't the Christian thing to do" I invite you to unlock all your doors to your home and my friends and I will take you up on YOUR brand of Christianity by going into that house and take everything you own! I also will take your social security card and create a new identity and ruin your credit and clog up the emergency room so when you have a stroke over this reality that your service will be sadly delayed.I will also screw up your childrens education by flooding your schools with our herds of children so EVERYONE from teachers to legal citizens children will suffer.When I can't pay for my house because 10 or 20 of my closest friends move out you can pay for that too. I will leave you with your wife but since I now have your job I am looking better and better!

    I think ANYONE who supports letting criminals come into our country and steal from us and our children should be "Christian" enough to take these people into THEIR OWN damn home and pay ALL their expenses. Maybe the lightbulb will pop on a little sooner that way!

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  32. "It is a liability politically speaking to do so but it is the humane and CHRISTIAN thing to do you hypocrites."
    So essentially what you are saying is that this senator is doing the right thing, because it is not the governments job to provide healthcare but the Christian community.
    So we should just send the bill to you and you can be responsible for making sure all Christians cover the cost of health care for the rest of the world.
    I hope you tithe, bcause that is going to be a big bill. Moron

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  33. 3:08PM, Why don't you and others that have done it the legal way get in touch with the Washington lawmakers and tell them your story and how you feel about the ILLEGALS and the fact that you had to do it legally. Personally, I'm sick of having to pay for their ILLEGAL butts. I wish I had somebody to pay everything for me.

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  34. I always find it interesting that fear and ignorance prompts so much discriminatory beliefs.

    "The main reason these workers
    are here is because Americans refuse to do these particular jobs for these particular wages."
    Regardless of the demand for cheap labor, you assume that all people
    in the country without documentation work and are productive. They may be filling in where there is demand, However the negatives outweigh the positives regarding the government sponsoored policy to provide health covegae to those immigrnats who do not pay taxes and have not registered with the government.
    The government legally & morally should protect it's legal residents from undue harm from financial loss due to identity theft, and a large tax burden.
    Is that undiscriminatory enough for you?

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  35. "there is no reason to encourage
    The sense of entitlement that American's hold as to their worth prompts many to disregard work in agriculture, landscaping and restaurants as below them. Here are people that will do the work."
    - MORE IMPORTANTLY, There is no reason to encourage people to break the law.

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  36. Like all liberalism, nationalized healthcare will be sold as small and defined but will eventually grow and encompass everything. One of three things will happen in relatively short order in regards to illegals and healthcare...

    1. The illegals will use the same tools they use to live and work here illegally to scam the system being enforced by a bunch of hapless, overwhelmed, and incompetent bureacrats.

    2. They will be given some form of amnesty shortly that will allow them legal access to the system.

    3. Some activist judge somewhere will decree that it is unconstitutional to exclude illegals from the system and will force their inclusion into the newly created system.

    And those who somehow can't figure out how to finagle the system will probably find their emergency room care less busy since the others are utilizing the new system. Any way you look at it American citizens lose.

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  37. "One question I have though is why citizenship is the reason they are not given health benefits under the pending legislation."

    It is not the reason undocumented immigrants are not given free health insurance. Immigrants who enter the U.S. and maintain proper documentaion are eligible for taxpayer funded health insurance. Immigrants who do not maintainf proper documentation, will still be eligible for helath insurance. they can also pay up front or contact their consultar or embassy for assistance from their own government. They also have the option of returning to their country of origin in order to obtain services there.

    The money the health care comes from taxes, which everyone that buys something in this country, pays. Maybe they aren't paying property taxes because they rent (like me; a middle class white citizen) but they surely buy gas and other consumables.

    This prejudice toward those working here that are not citizens or working toward it is nothing less than a classic caste system we learn about in history. The aristocracy (legal Americans) will live off the fruit of the poorer working class (illegal immigrants) but woe to them if they expect anything from us.

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  38. The statement made about it being "the christian thing to do" is not necesarily the feelings of ALL christians. I being a christian and believeing ALL people deserve the same treatment. I also beleive ILLEGAL, is ILLEGAL, if you want to come to this country, cross over the bridge NOT under it. Do it the right way and get your rewards for doing so!!

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  39. Anonymous at 2;30 PM: "Not to mention, bringing the Swine flu over the border and infecting everyone."

    Fact: Most of the swine flu cases in the US can be traced to college students going to Cancun for spring break.

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  40. "Maybe they aren't paying property taxes because they rent..."

    Lots of ridiculous claims by this guy, but the above quote shows the excess of this guys stupidity. Believe it or not, even renters pay property taxes. Clue -- your landlord merely passes along these taxes to you in your monthly rent.

    You probably also believe that corporations pay taxes rather than you. Guess what? Same principle -- they collect the taxes and pass them along to you in higher prices for their goods and services.

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  41. I feel that the only thing that an illegal immigrant is entitled to receive is a quick trip back to their country of origin. This is not prejudice but a result of careful thought.

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  42. "The money the health care comes from taxes, which everyone that buys something in this country, pays. Maybe they aren't paying property taxes because they rent (like me; a middle class white citizen) but they surely buy gas and other consumables."

    - First, you are assuming that all immigrants are here illegally and are poor. I do not make such generalizations
    I would propose that those who are paying taxes on their gasoline, but not income tax can purchase private health insurance or pay upfront with the money they are saving by not paying income tax.
    if these options do not work for them, I can only hope that they are paying income taxes in their country of origin and they are eligble for benefits. I suggest they contact their consulate or their embassy. Another option is to return to the ir country of origin and apply for benefits upon arrival

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  43. These posts really do suggest a principle that if followed would save a tremendous amount of money: No healthcare for anyone who has done something illegal. As with illegal aliens, it would not be limited to people who had ever been convicted of anything. That means it would be tricky to enforce fairly, but the standard could be rather fluid, like maybe probable cause, or whatever. After all, "Illegal is illegal!"

    But if we stick with the current system, it's a little weird that we want illegal aliens treated with the most expensive system of all: the emergency room. If you resent paying for them, it seems you'd prefer their having preventive care and access to primary physicians, rather than paying triple that cost.

    If you go to an emergency room now, you can wait for hours because of all the uninsured (legal and illegal) who go there because they have no alternative for health care.

    Illegal immigrants provide cheap labor for too many influential businesses for there to be any comprehensive enforcement. And farmers complain when their crops are left to rot in the fields.

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  44. Anonymous at 4:02PM:

    So, you're saying that illegals do pay taxes after all???

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  45. I was in Wal-Mart the other day and there was a mexican couple with a child sitting down in the buggie, one less than a year old sitting facing her mother, and she was pregnant again. These kids are automatically citizens. This should stop now. They shouldn't be able to have a child here and it become a citizen when the mommy and daddy aren't legal. Stupid politicians! They want their votes. They could care less about what we, the American citizens want.

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  46. "Even though illegal immigrants won't be able to get benefits under the legislation, they can still get health care at hospital emergency rooms and through federally funded community health centers. "

    Putting aside the question of whether it is politically explosive or morally right or whatever, to provide treatment for undocumented immigrants, the fact that people go get primary health care at emergency rooms is a primary cause for increased health costs. Uninsured people getting treatment for everything at an emergency room, which is not allowed to deny treatment, causes the costs to be assigned to everyone else.

    Fiscally, it might make more sense to agree to provide some basic level (checkups, innoculations, family practice type) of care to everyone, regardless of status, and then draw the line at the more extensive care. You'd hold prices down because people would get treated earlier and would be more aware of their health problems.

    Just a thought.

    Let's see how many racist insults that idea generates.

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  47. >So, you're saying that illegals do pay taxes after all???

    Many do; probably most. It depends a lot upon how big a crook their employers are. If they pay them under the table, then they don't pay income or payroll taxes. If they work under a false SSN, then taxes are taken out, but they will not be eligible to draw Social Security, and the government makes money on that.

    Of course they pay sales taxes, and taxes on tobacco or alcohol if they use them, 35% on lottery tickets, etc., etc., like everybody else. Renters pay property taxes indirectly, since the owner would be an idiot not to charge enough rent to cover the cost of the property tax.

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  48. "These posts really do suggest a principle that if followed would save a tremendous amount of money: No healthcare for anyone who has done something illegal."
    - My posts do not suggest that there should be "No healthcare for anyone who has done something illegal."
    Anyone is entitled to the human right of *access* to "healthcare". which is different than government/taxpayer subsidized Health *INSURANCE*.
    I also do not refer to undocumnted immigrants as "Illegals", so your game of semantics is a moot point.
    All humans have the opportunity to purchase private health insurance or pay upfront for services rendered. They can also get a loan.
    Health Insurance is not a god given right, but a luxury. Those who register with the government and who contribute *directly* to the insurance pool are welcome to coverage.

    As with illegal aliens, it would not be limited to people who had ever been convicted of anything. That means it would be tricky to enforce fairly, but the standard could be rather fluid, like maybe probable cause, or whatever. After all, "Illegal is illegal!"

    But if we stick with the current system, it's a little weird that we want illegal aliens treated with the most expensive system of all: the emergency room. If you resent paying for them, it seems you'd prefer their having preventive care and access to primary physicians, rather than paying triple that cost.

    If you go to an emergency room now, you can wait for hours because of all the uninsured (legal and illegal) who go there because they have no alternative for health care.

    Illegal immigrants provide cheap labor for too many influential businesses for there to be any comprehensive enforcement. And farmers complain when their crops are left to rot in the fields.

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  49. Illegals pay some taxes, but certainly nowhere near the amount of the services that they use. I would conjure that the vast majority of illegals pay little to no income tax given that as a country almost half of our workers pay no income tax at all.

    Also the property taxes that they pay through their rent is minimized by the fact that many live with such large numbers in one apartment/house.

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  50. Geez, Franco. I normally try to stick up for you and then you pull this: they can still get health care at hospital emergency rooms ???

    Hospital emergency rooms are for EMERGENCIES!!! I am so sick and tired of going there and seeing all the uninsured people with minor illnesses and injuries who should have gone to a doctor. The biggest reason that medical treatment is so expensive is that we have to pay for all the people who don;t pay themselves.

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  51. Good they should not get free health care.

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  52. Good - come in legally, and pay taxes and yes, you should be granted the rights/benefits of LEGAL Americans. To think they'd get free health coverage (not to mention pay no taxes and get FREE education) is RIDICULOUS. Like I said, come in legally, you are absolutely granted rights and benefits, but sneak in and take total advantage of our government systems - um, no. It's irksome enough knowing that MY hard earned tax dollars are funding illegal immigrant's education, prison costs, non-insurance premiums, etc. And with Sodomayor potentially getting sworn in, I bet she'd wager against this policy to make sure all illegals got health insurance, government/taxpayer funded.

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  53. Sounds like a smart idea drfranklives. Of course, after reading these animated posts, I have the feeling that I will be the only one who agrees with you.

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  54. "it's a little weird that we want illegal aliens treated with the most expensive system of all: the emergency room. If you resent paying for them, it seems you'd prefer their having preventive care and access to primary physicians, rather than paying triple that cost."

    No, what we would PREFER is that we actually enforced our laws and had systems in place that would return the illegals to their rightful residence. If we create a system that is easier and better to utilize than the emergency room then it will create more usage and therefore higher costs from the illegals.

    It doesn't really matter anyway, if nationalized healthcare is created the illegals will find a way to use the system -- legally or illegally.

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  55. I am utterly astounded by the courage shown by the anonymous racists on this blog.

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  56. "I was in Wal-Mart the other day and there was a mexican couple with a child sitting down in the buggie, one less than a year old sitting facing her mother, and she was pregnant again. These kids are automatically citizens. This should stop now. They shouldn't be able to have a child here and it become a citizen when the mommy and daddy aren't legal. Stupid politicians! They want their votes. They could care less about what we, the American citizens want."
    - I am all for excluding undocumented immigrants from taxpayer funded health insurance. This is a different issue. I disagree with you wholehertedly. The bottom line is you do not know if someone (regardless of national origin) is undocumented. Second, assuming that the people in question are here without documentation, their children are not responsible for "sins of a father". Like every other child ever born on U.S. soil they are citizens by default. That is a human right. People born on this land should not be subject to politcal persecuion. Their rights as citizens should be protected. The constitution should not be changed to strip native citizens of their right to be on the land where they are born. Period

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  57. I wish every American citizen would send a postcard to Sen. Max Baucus,every senator in Washington and Raleigh, every Congress member, the President and who ever else is involved and let them know what the taxpayers think about the ILLEGALS in the US and babies becoming legal. Also send them the definition of ILLEGAL. They don't have any rights and we shouldn't have to pay for their medical costs. They shouldn't be allowed to have a baby here either.

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  58. "I am utterly astounded by the courage shown by the anonymous racists on this blog."
    - Honestly most of the posts have addressed the issue pretty much head on and respectfully. I have seen a handful that were disrespectful, but there are extremeists on any issue. It doesn't diminish the point that excluding undocumented immigrants from taxpayer & government subsidy is legitimate and is not "racist" Hence there is no reference to race in the proposal...
    Based on the facts, please state your position on this issue. Good luck...

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  59. Then why not sue The Observer? And like your moniker really tells us alot about you!

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  60. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  61. Anonymous racist at 4:11

    How do you know the couple was

    (a) Mexican

    and

    (b) illegal?


    Perhaps they were Puerto Rican and are American Citizens. Maybe they are Guatamalans with green cards.

    Maybe their family owned a ranch in New Mexico when it was made part of the US.

    You never know by looking at someone. So you might want to check your racist attitude at the door and live your own life.

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  62. Maybe some taxpayer money could be diverted to ICE to get a little area or room rented at hospitals and community health centers to promptly arrest and deport these people once they show up for treatment? Why are they even treated in the first place? If they get hurt, too bad. Pregnant with an anchor baby, come up with the cash when you're at the hospital admissions desk or be denied treatment. If you travel in Mexico or many other countries, you are required to pay in advance for medical treatment you need, even in emergency situations. It shouldn't be up to the taxpayers to pay for these law breakers. And yes Franco, that's what they are. A first grader knows the definition of illegal, yet you can't seem to (or don't want to) comprehend the meaning. There are plenty of LEGAL citizens who cannot afford healthcare that go without treatment because they cannot afford it or get any kind of financial help to cover the costs, but these parasites don't pay a dime. I'm tired of paying for these leeches.

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  63. "Undocumented immigrants pay taxes"
    Some of them also file false tax returns. My Identity/SS# was stolen and used by an undocumented immigrant. That person filed a tax return last year and this year. both times the IRS paid the fraudster a tax return. However My tax return was rejected! I was required to go to the IRS office in person with hordes of proof of my identity. In both cases it took me full work days several times a week to deal with it. I waited 6 months to get my tax return both times. I can't wait for next year...

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  64. Dr Frank has a posting on his blog that shows, "I voted for Obama" enough said. SOCIALIST!

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  65. >My posts do not suggest that there should be "No healthcare for anyone who has done something illegal."

    No. You were one of a few. It's really hard to tell all you people named "Anonymous" apart.

    But you have to admit it would save a lot of money.

    And I'm about to head out and break speed laws on 3 interstates. Well, no, two. It will be hard to speed on I-77 North this time of day.

    >No, what we would PREFER is that we actually enforced our laws and had systems in place that would return the illegals to their rightful residence.

    But given the realities we have to deal with, wouldn't it make sense not to insist on maximizing the expense?

    Also, I bet most of the people who are objecting to people automatically becoming US citizens just because they were born here, are in fact US citizens because they were born here.

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  66. "So the next time I break a leg and go to the emergency room, I'll have to wait 10 hours because the ER is going to be full of people that are here illegally."

    Sorry, that's already the case.

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  67. Automatic citizenship must be banned! For all the ones that slip through, "the world needs ditch diggers too."

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  68. 4:26 PM poster, I have worked hard, raised a son and daughter, I didn't get child support and I wasn't on welfare. There were times I did't have but $5.00 to last me until my next paycheck. My tax dollars have gone to pay for welfare to support somebody else's children, medicaid for some that don't want to work and now illegal immigrants. I try not to be prejudice until I get taken advantage of as a taxpayer. When will they give me a break like the ones I've mentioned. I'm just tired of paying for people that will take advantage of the system.

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  69. Anonymous said...
    Finally they are doing something right up there. No rights is you are not a citizen.

    You didn't read the fine print. All the illegals have to do is go to an ER or Government health clinic for free. Why do you think hospital bills are sohigh

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  70. "Also, I bet most of the people who are objecting to people automatically becoming US citizens just because they were born here, are in fact US citizens because they were born here."

    Except we were born here AND our parents were legal citizens. The anchor baby law is simply another example of an activist judge misinterpreting the Constitution. No other country allows citizenship to automatically confer for births regardless of immigration status of the parents. We do so at our own peril and it is infinitely exploited by the illegals.

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  71. I think Margaret Thatcher said it best when she said "The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money [to spend]."

    I am amazed that all of the people here that posted about this article are Republicans. All this almost unanomous outrage and yet it is the very type of thing the Democratic party stands for. Wonder how many of these angry posters voted for Obama and yet are outraged. Comical.

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  72. Who is Dr. Frank?

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  73. Amen!!!


    "4:26 PM poster, I have worked hard, raised a son and daughter, I didn't get child support and I wasn't on welfare. There were times I did't have but $5.00 to last me until my next paycheck. My tax dollars have gone to pay for welfare to support somebody else's children, medicaid for some that don't want to work and now illegal immigrants. I try not to be prejudice until I get taken advantage of as a taxpayer. When will they give me a break like the ones I've mentioned. I'm just tired of paying for people that will take advantage of the system.
    May 28, 2009 4:52 PM "

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  74. I'm not sure why this is an issue. It's no doubt that our immigration system is broken and is crying out for reform but granting health benefits before reform of the system is putting the cart before the horse. Automatic health benefits in the US, that would be quite a draw, don't you think? Our immigration drama wold be exponentially worse.

    I blame both parties for not enforcing our immigration laws. Republicans benefitted from the cheap labor and Democrats benefitted from cheap votes. I blame the Republicans a bit more because they took advantage of illegal immigrants and their labor only to cast them aside.

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  75. More mindless "writing" by Franco which succeeds in bringing out the absolute worst in people.

    Hate to tell you, Franco, but there's no Pulitzer in this for you.

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  76. "I was in Wal-Mart the other day and there was a mexican couple with a child sitting down in the buggie, one less than a year old sitting facing her mother, and she was pregnant again. These kids are automatically citizens. This should stop now. They shouldn't be able to have a child here and it become a citizen when the mommy and daddy aren't legal..."

    This is the perfect example of an ignorant, assumptive, idiot. What a waste of electricity! Well, I guess this is at least a somewhat harmless way for the ignorants to vent their frustrations.

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  77. Our country is so wealthy, why not take care of peeople less fortunate? Does this writer in the main stream media realize we are bankrupt? Just send another trillion into a program, print some money, beg china to buy the debt, and hope we don't default. I should quit being honest living by my means, and just mock the gov buy spending money I dont have hoping nothing comes of it.

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  78. Thanks Franco, I appreciate the information and the courage you have to keep this important issue in the spotlight.

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  79. how about requiring the ilegals, who abuse the emergency room rights provide community service at the hospital or donate an organ. If you run up a $5,000 tab, we will take a kidney donation, thankyou

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  80. Dr. Franco, I share your astoundment at the boldness of these ignorant comments.

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  81. Does ANYONE think illegals should have health insurance? Maybe people who get paid by insurance would want more people insured, and the illegals themselves, of course. No one else would think that is a good idea.

    Let's hope the majority of us win on this one.

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  82. Good grief there are some seriously ignorant people in our community.

    Most undocumented workers pay their taxes, and should probably have at least some access to whatever plan is proposed.

    The real story however, is that Baucus is in the pocket of big insurance, and we won't be seeing a single payer system in this country any time soon. The corporations and insurance giants make too much money when they're allowed to distort the free market like they do.

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  83. "The problem with Socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money."

    - Margaret Thatcher

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  84. 6:59 poster, I apoligize for assuming that the couple at Wal-Mart were mexicans and illegal. If anybody from another country comes to the US, they should pay their own way legal or not. Our insurance went up every year almost $50.00 and it took away extra money for us, yet the illegals get it free. I had to have some tests done and after the insurance paid I owed almost a thousand dollars I had to pay out of my pocket. If you are illegal and you are working here you should have to pay for medical services like most of us do. Maybe I am prejudice, I'm just tired of paying for other people's responsibilities.

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  85. Franco never met an illegal invader he didn't want to stay here!! The ONLY thing he specializes in is support ofr illegals and continued victimization of residents to support the illegals.

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  86. Anonymous said "I always find it interesting that fear and ignorance prompts so much discriminatory beliefs."

    Listen you freakin sack of #@*%!!!! AGAIN REALLLLLLLLLLLL slow now.... they are ILLEGAL, they are BREAKING THE LAW. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS CONCEPT?!!! RIGHT AND WRONG.try real hard now.....come on No no it is not ignorance except on your PATHETIC arguement and it is not discrimination it is ABOUT THE LAW!!!!!

    Obey the law and I am fine with anyone being here. Come here illegally and steal from our country and yer a$$ needs to leave and anything you stole while here needs to STAY. You can take some of these losers along with you who cannot grasp the concept of the law and protecting there country though!!!!

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  87. It's about time for a Senator to show some ba11s and do what the American people deserve. NO BENEFITS OF ANY KIND should be given to illegal immigrants. Not even "health care at hospital emergency rooms and through federally funded community health centers".

    Illegals deserve nothing more than to be DEPORTED ASAP along with all of their ANCHOR OFFSPRING, regardless of age.

    ILLEGAL + ILLEGAL = ANCHOR OFFSPRING.

    TWO WRONGS DO NOT MAKE A RIGHT. GET IT?

    Illegals are sucking the blood out of this country in many many ways. I'm not so sure we need guest workers either because I'm sure that's how a lot of illegals came here and have never left.

    I am so sick of all the illegals running around everywhere like little cockroaches - many areas are no longer recognizable because they have deteriorated with the influx of freaking illegals.

    IT NEEDS TO STOP NOW!

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  88. "This is the perfect example of an ignorant, assumptive, idiot. What a waste of electricity! Well, I guess this is at least a somewhat harmless way for the ignorants to vent their frustrations."

    Who said anything about electricity??? I think you may be the idiot. I'm not the person you responded to about the anchor babies in the cart at Walmart but fact of the matter is, if you see pregnant Latinos at Walmart, with another in the buggie, they most likely are ILLEGAL. The LEGAL immigrants don't multiply like rabbits because they are here legally and can plan their families and their lives instead of living 14 to a household and having as many babies as possible so that they can use them as a reason to stay.

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  89. If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it's 'free'.

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  90. To the "Invasion is what it is. It is time for us to stand up and do something"

    For all the Americans who are upset over illegal immigrants..Now you know how the American Indians felt 400 years ago!!..

    For the "Illegal is Illegal"..I'm sure all of you would have supported keeping African Americans as slaves because it was legal.

    Just because something is legal does't make it right (Japanese internment during WWII, Jewish extermination during WWII in Nazi Germany (yep..legal).)
    And..just cause its illegal doesn't make it wrong (marijuana usage).

    With a world that has limited resources and a growing population..this type of thing is inevitable..the better approach would be to let anyone in, document them....and let them work and pay taxes....

    This keeps wages competitive with the rest of the world...which keeps jobs here in the US.

    (BTW...the rest of the world isn't having as much of an economic crisis as the US..because they don't have union jobs which pay $50/%75 an hour). If you think that the US can compete against China or India where their wages are $1 - $2 a day..think again..

    As a consumer..I would prefer low prices than to subsidize high paying jobs for Americans because they think of it as a 'birth right'

    Lastly..These immigrants are doing the jobs Americans refuse to do..at least at competitive wages. I would hate to think of what Wendy's burger would cost if only an American washed dishes for $15.00 an hour.

    (Be glad we're not next to India)..

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  91. I came here legally. My visa expired and then I stayed illegaly. I love this country and I REALLY HOPE to get in the path of citizenship one day.
    Meanwhile I am working hard, my children are in private schools and we all have private health insurance. And I haven't stolen anybody's SS#. Like me many other people are doing the same.
    One day we will became American citizen too. PERIOD!

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  92. "Anonymous said...
    I came here legally. My visa expired and then I stayed illegaly. I love this country and I REALLY HOPE to get in the path of citizenship one day.
    Meanwhile I am working hard, my children are in private schools and we all have private health insurance. And I haven't stolen anybody's SS#. Like me many other people are doing the same.
    One day we will became American citizen too. PERIOD!
    May 29, 2009 12:02 AM"

    How did you get a SS# to work?
    How many exemptions do you claim on your federal and state W-4 forms? Do everyone in your household speak English? How many offspring did you bring with you? How many offspring have you had since you entered the country illegally?

    NO YOU SHOULD NOT BECOME AMERICAN CITIZEN JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE HERE AND YOU ARE "WORKING" AND HAVE YOUR CHILDREN IN "PRIVATE SCHOOL" AND YOU HAVE "PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE". Do you have a spouse? Does he/she have a valid SS#? Do your offspring have valid SS#s?

    You are WRONG to think you have a right to be allowed to stay in the US. The first time you broke the law was when you entered this country illegally. How many times have you broken the law since???
    Or do you think you have the right to decide which laws are ok to break?

    Go back to where you came from and take your family with you!

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  93. This is why I stopped subscribing to CO. They are anti-American and pro illegal. The illegal scum should go and take their scum anchor babies, that you and I pay for, with them. Illegals have many more kids than citizens and taxpayer pay for.

    Yep. I am angry at them.

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  94. This is such an explosive issue, that the author is sucking up all the hits to his blog like a "reporter bucking for a raise".

    If the author was worth half his salt he would pose up some kind of debate for illegals and against illegals in a pro vs. con fashion. I mean what would happen if all illegals, throughout the country were to suddenly disappear.

    Would the lack of menial laborers
    be offset by an equal drop in drain on welfare resources.

    What benefits besides future democratic ticket votes do the illegals provide?

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  95. Good point Vincent.

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  96. eres racista tu jusgas por las apariencias y ya veras muchos de ellos obtendran la ciudadania quieras o no independientemente de la forma como ingresaron a este pais, esto es lo maravilloso de este pais empezo mucho mas antes que tu y yo de eso esta formado este pais de inmigrantes legales que algun dia fueron illegales.
    This is the translation for all the english speaking population some racist coments; like it or not some people will obtaint citizenship it dont matter how they entry this country, this is the wonderful thing about this country .Stars before you and me this is how this country is made of legal inmigrant some were illegal too .
    you see!!!! like it or NOT.

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  97. Yep, the illegal hordes won't stop coming, that's for sure, but we don't have to make it TOO comfortable for them....

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  98. It seems like most people have forget that this country is form by immigrants, everyone is immigrant except Native Americans. Also for your information undocumented immigrants do pay taxes,income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, social security that they wont ever receive and so much more. Please inform yourselves before making ignorant comments. Have you ever question yourselves why is that immigrants come to this country? why are American companies going to other countries to affect their economy? Undocumented immigrants come to this "country of opportunities" in the search of a better life. why is that illegal? if the government gives no opportonities to come to this country "legally," then people have to find a way to survive and support their families. Oh by the way babies who are born in the States are definitely not illegal, they are American citizens! These people are not stealing anyones jobs, instead they are doing the jobs that non-immigrants are not willing to do and they do it for a very low wage.

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  99. Like it or not, the majority of these comments reflect the true opinions of the majority of American citizens.

    We are SICK AND TIRED of ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS overpopulating our country and draining our precious resources.

    Speaking from first hand experience at a company where I am required to process payroll for illegals, I can tell you for a fact that 9 out of 10 will fill out their W-4 withholding showing 8 to 10 exemptions because they have learned that little federal and state tax will be deducted. Many illegals know how to work the system to get the most they can. If I listed 8-10 exemptions on my tax form you can bet that I would be hearing from the IRS and the NC Dept of Revenue and probably asked to provide documentation of the excessive number of exemptions claimed.

    Furthermore, I read one post here from someone stating problems with getting their tax refund because of an illegal using their SS # to file a tax return and the illegal immigrant is getting the taxpayers refund. Yet there is probably no action taken against the illegal. American citizens do not need this kind of problem.

    It's simple. If the federal state and local governments would ENFORCE EXISTING IMMIGRATION LAW, many problems would be solved.

    Illegal immigrants have NO RIGHT to be in this country and NO RIGHT to any government funded benefits.

    DEPORT ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS NOW!

    The jobs will still get done. Yards will be mowed, houses will be cleaned, hotels and restaurants will not be out of business.

    Illegals take way more from this country than they contribute.

    I suppose some of you ignorant bleeding hearts think that anyone and everyone has a right to come here "seeking a better life". At the rate illegal immigrants have been flooding here for the last 10-20 years, "a better life" will be a thing of the past.

    Just how many people do you think can live in this country? Common sense should tell you that there are not enough resources to accomodate an infinite number of people.

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  100. If you're going to call people scum, you need to have the balls to put your name on your post.

    My name is a pen name. Anyone can find out who I am.

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  101. The kind of words that YOU use to express your feelings against illegals is because you are not better than them.

    whatever you said is not going to change what it is certainly coming. Illegals will be LEGALS SOON.
    Get the picture?

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  102. Just the tip of the iceberg. Illegal immigrants are stealing people's identities, ruining their credit, taking the identities of children, too. The ones not using a stolen SS number are not paying taxes. They take jobs and hold down wages in every industry they work. They have become an additional burden to social services, hospitals and our schools. When my parents came to this country from Greece, they did it *LEGALLY*. They had no Greek words plastered on everything and there aren't any special Greek classes in public schools. They had to learn English and they did. I am so tired of this country bending over backwards to make it easy for *illegal* immigrants to invade our country. Enough already. Enforce our laws!

    TWO LIVES, ONE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

    HIDDEN COST OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: ID THEFT

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  103. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  104. Illegal immigrants are stealing people's identities, ruining their credit, taking the identities of children, too. The ones not using a stolen SS number are not paying taxes. They take jobs and hold down wages in every industry they work. They have become an additional burden to social services, hospitals and our schools. When my parents came to this country from Greece, they did it *LEGALLY*. They had no Greek words plastered on everything and there aren't any special Greek classes in public schools. They had to learn English and they did. I am so tired of this country bending over backwards to make it easy for *illegal* immigrants to invade our country. Enough already. Enforce our laws!

    Every country has immigration laws; a lot of countries have much stricter laws and hasher consequences than we come close to. Our immigration laws are quite liberal in comparison to Mexico, Central and South American countries. Especially, our path to citizenship and what foreigners can own are much looser than many countries. I get so tired of the hypocritical blather that leaders of other countries spew against the US about our debate on *illegal* immigrants. It's ironic the massive amount of insults and criticisms hurled at the US, and yet so many are beating down our doors and dying to come here... year after year after year.

    The US accepts more legal immigrants, every single year, than any other country- 800,000 to 1,000,000. We don't want legal immigration to stop. But, the overwhelming flood of *illegal* immigrants must stop. We cannot afford it; we can barely take care of our own citizens. People need to wake up, stop this insanity. Without *enforcing* our *laws* the situation has gotten out of control. Resentment and anger are resulting from this lack of enforcement and seemingly the government just ignoring the situation. The government's unwillingness to do its job is really responsible for the increasing backlash against illegal immigrants, which is spilling over to all immigrants in general. People want something done, they want the laws enforced. Or, they start getting angry, some even taking the law into their own hands. Because the government, local, state and federal have let things get this point, it is harder to fix. It's like many things the government does, ignore it until it becomes a looming disaster. Enforce our laws and enforce them now.

    People's lives, US citizens' lives are being ruined and turned upside down because of this mess. Because- our government doesn’t want to upset those that are breaking the law or condone such activity. Think about that for a minute. It's a ludicrous situation and simply is *not* right. Powerful business interests love the cheap labor and Democrats love the idea of future voters, since the majority of Hispanics typically vote for a Democrat. Enough is enough.

    The articles below are just the tip of the iceberg. It's past time to do the right thing, and the right thing is to enforce the laws of this country. Enforce our laws!


    TWO LIVES, ONE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

    HIDDEN COST OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: ID THEFT

    Her ATM card, illegal immigrant's face

    The secret list of ID theft victims


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  105. Franco,
    Your article is helpful many people do not see what is going on with immigrants and people are not mature enough to see different side of the story as well. The immigrants want to come here for freedom and some come for bad reasons. The immigrants do cause a problem in the United States and we should solve it by sending them back. I do not want to offend anyone but the economy stinks right now and California is known as the state with the most immigrants. It has caused California to loose alot of money.

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