This is an idea that I think has some merit. Nutshell: Texas State Rep Lyle Larson has written a letter to Mexican Presidente Filipe Calderon stating that the State of Texas spends between $6b and $8billion on support services, including healthcare, for illegal immigrants in Texas. His desire is to “start a dialogue” between Texas and Mexican authorities regarding reimbursement from Mexico for these expenses.
Larson’s critics, including a labor activist named Jaime Martinez (founder of the Cesar Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation), state that this is just an advancement of Larson’s agenda, and that the illegals pay taxes in Texas, among them, sales and property tax.
To that, further in the article, it is stated that illegals pay “more than” $500 million in taxes, but cost an estimated $1.3 billion in uncompensated hospital services and $141.9 million in incarceration expenses. The hospital costs, of course, are very difficult to pin down, because hospitals either do not, or are prohibited from, collecting data on immigration status.
Looking down in the comments, it is pointed out that this would never happen in reverse – a letter would never come from the Mexican Government to a U.S. Governmental entity asking for reimbursement of support services, because Mexico does not allow any kind of illegal immigration.
What do you think? Is this a good idea? Is it just a politician “rattling his saber”? Is it time for a conversation like this with the Mexican Government? Or is it slated to go down in flames, labeled as “racist” by those who oppose it?
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Great idea.
Well, it will most certainly be labeled “racist.” That goes without saying.
I think the Mexican president will laugh it off. Texas can’t force Mexico to pay. (Unless they could seize assets – but I’m assuing not.) It follows that the Texas guy is just doing this to make a point and earn a point with Texas taxpayers / voters. Most people in the USA won’t take this seriously since Mexico is a poor country compared to the USA (at the moment, anyway).
But it is interesting to know the statistics. Someone always pipes up “but they pay taxes!” I am skeptical that they pay their full share, considering that it is illegal for them to work here. How many of them are working “under the table”? They aren’t about to pay taxes if that’s the case. Also, if they are working in “the jobs nobody else wants,” as we always hear, then they don’t make enough money to pay income taxes. As for property taxes – are you telling me that the illegals own lots of big houses, boats, etc.? Yeah, um . . . I wasn’t born yesterday. The illegals I know don’t own any property because they (a) need to stay under the radar, (b) can’t afford it, and (c) could get deported and have to leave behind anything they can’t carry. So, I’ve heard all the rhetoric, but show me the real numbers.
I believe that nobody who is in the USA should be refused emergency medical services. I’m more irritated by the way the illegals are handled with kid gloves overall. I mean, so you’re illegal and we’ve saved your life. Now you’re discharged from the hospital, what’s next? Shouldn’t they be headed back to Mexico? But no, we need to leave them be and even figure out how many other free services we can give them. How about a free education all the way through college? What kind of heartless person would deny an illegal alien that?
Could you see yourself going to any other country and demanding all these services, whether you can pay for them or not? Ha! And no, I don’t think that enabling illegal and irresponsible behavior makes us better people.
I thought the same thing as you did about paying taxes. Just how can they pay taxes on something they’re doing that’s illegal?
I guess some of them use false IDs and their payroll taxes would be collected and paid under some fake social security number. Though, you’d think the government would be able to figure that out if they really wanted to.
It is a very interesting post and I have no idea how it is possible that so many illegals are living here. Some I can understand, but so many? And indeed, they cost tons of millions because they do not pay health insurance and still go for an headache to the ER. This all is still “understandable”, but refusing and not willing to blend in, becoming a legal resident and speak proper English, is to me a sign, you only want to profit and not contribute. And regarding the state authorities who are not able to do something about it. I think a lot are too bureaucratic and maybe even somewhat corrupt, Like in every other country.
I have to agree that Mexico is just going to laugh this off. But I also think that it’s an interesting way to bring attention to the situation. Those numbers that were quoted in the article, as a reason to NOT do this – that they pay $500m in taxes, and that somehow balances out the billions that are spent on them – is just ridiculous. To me, it is a reason to do it!
The solution, that nobody will acknowledge – at least not seriously – is to lock down the borders. Yes, it will cost money, yes it will be labeled as xenophobic, but it is becoming absolutely necessary. I find it absolutely appalling that if I want to send Josh to the University of Illinois, I’ll have to pay “out of state” tuition, which is crazy-expensive, but someone who is here illegally gets in-state tuition, scholarships, and everything else to ‘give them a boost’.
I agree… give them the healthcare that they need. It is one of those humane things that make us American. But then go back home. If you want to live here, welcome. Do it the right way. Follow the rules, take the tests, pay the taxes, just like millions before you.
And Mexico, stop making comic books that encourage your citizens to come here illegally and break our laws.
I agree with Laura. I think our borders should be locked down. I know it would be expensive but would it be any more expensive that it is right now? Why isn’t this a problem with Canadians when our borders go from coast to coast? Just like Ellen mentioned is that they are everywhere down in those states. My dad summers in AZ and he said you could take great big trucks and fill one up in minutes. Then what?? He’s not sure at this point what can be done. And having babies over here and then they belong to us??? That’s got to go too.
The thing is I understand that people want to come here but do it the right way. My dad did it and I know many others that do it too. It’s not impossible. But what’s so out of whack is they make the people trying to be here legally jump through hoops and then others they treat like kings. Just how does that work?
Yep, that Anchor Baby legislation should be shut down immediately. Nowhere else in the world can you cross the border, give birth, and automatically have your child be a legal citizen. That legislation goes back to slavery. Slavery is done, the legislation should be closed down.
Ive always been so perplexed by this.How are they let in so freely from Mexico,or at least not sent home?About 10 years ago I was thinking of moving to MN but they make it so hard for us to move down there I just let the idea go.I have friends who have but boy it was tough on them.I dont think his idea is realistic,sounds good maybe but will never happen.
I agree with everyone here, also. Why we pay for their medical expenses is beyond me. It’s the “American Way”..help, help, help…but to who’s expense? Ours.
Joy hit it right on the head when she said, “I think our borders should be locked down. I know it would be expensive but would it be any more expensive that it is right now?” Probably not, and more worth it to us.
At the very least, it’s bringing attention to it. However, I don’t see it ever evolving into anything but that.
I don’t get it.
I don’t mind the emergency medical care, but what does bug me is when the Mexican president then has the nerve to accuse us of being inhumane because we, for example, want to deport criminals back to his country.
Well of course he’s gonna be ticked about that. He sent them here in the first place so he doesn’t have to deal with them!!