Illegal Immigrants Are Bolstering Social Security With Billions

NY Times ^ | 4/5/05 | Eduardo Porter

[teenyelliott]

So, what is your take on this article?

[CindyDawg]

How does this balance out with education, health care and public assistance though?

[jocon307]

Great system we got going here, ain't it?

[Nachum]

In Los Angeles, the money they contribute to Social Security is more than spent in free medical care, free education for their children, and the destruction of the environment. They have clogged our freeways, crowded our hospitals, schools, and prisons. They have been a blight on our culture and way of life.

[Fast1]

Billions????? the numbers are popcorn rubbish! the COST per dirtball is like $320,000

[socal_parrot]

Pure BS. The vast majority of illegals don't pay into Social Security. The government services the receive, medical and education for their dependents, far outweigh anything they pay in.

In California, illegals cost the state at least 6 billion dollars a year.

[B4Ranch]

Why is there no mention of the almost daily $20,000 medical-helicopter flights every time one of these idiots trys to outrun lawenforcement?

[Waco]

Completely wrong, false! IF they pay any S.S. taxes, the $ go into the US Treasury. As do all "revenue$".

[Coyoteman]

Since its illegal to hire them, many are paid "under the table." That means, no social security, income tax withholding, etc.

Do you know what that means, boys and girls?

I knew you did.

[kingattax]

not to mention the vast sums of money taken OUT of our economy and sent SOUTH .....why don't we ever hear about that ?

[staytrue]

The government services the receive, medical and education for their dependents, far outweigh anything they pay in.

Please provide figures please.

Also, currently the federal govt. on a cash accounting basis is providing 1000 dollars per person more in services than taxes collected (300 billion deficit for 300 million people)

[judgeandjury]

Illegal immigration, Marcelo Suárez-Orozco, co-director of immigration studies at New York University, noted sardonically, could provide "the fastest way to shore up the long-term finances of Social Security."

I think the same thing could be accomplished using legal immigration, if it were deemed necessary.

[WilliamofCarmichael]

Last year, Mr. Martínez paid about $2,000 toward Social Security and $450 for Medicare through payroll taxes withheld from his wages.

So how did the SSA get that? They got it when his employer sent W-2 earnings data to Washington. HINT: Washington knows who hires (as W-2 employees) ILLEGAL aliens.

And, YES Mr. Martínez will get credit for his SS contributions -- if he becomes legal and gets a valid SSN. His contributions are in the Earnings Suspense File. It is not unusual for the SSA to transfer the earning data to a valid SSN once an ILLEGAL becomes legal. Imagine the work load when the millions become "guest workers."

Left out of the NYT's employee's article is the fact that SSA sends out app. 130,000 employer "no match" letters to employers who submit earnings data on ten or more employees. HINT: Washington knows who hires (as W-2 employees) ILLEGAL aliens.

Hint: we don't need another shiny new law for government and business to ignore.

[Texas_Jarhead]

Here's a quick thought without reading the entire article and just off the cuff. If those jobs were filled by legal workers then the worker would earn the same or more (market dictates) and would therefore pay the same or more into SS than illegals. I got no problem with illegals paying into SS and being unable to receive benefits. Such are the drawbacks to living as a law breaker. Legal immigrants have no o such worries. Now I beetter finish reading the article. Hope I don't turn out looking too foolish.

[CaptainK]

I'm sure that these alleged billions are more than offset by all the off the book money that never pays any form of tax.

[Wormwood]

I'm sure that these alleged billions are more than offset by all the off the book money that never pays any form of tax.

And then gets sent right back to Mexico.

[perfect stranger]

Every illegal I know is paid in cash; No taxes taken out.

They don't want to become citizens because then their earnings will be taxed just like us.

[Fast1]

Where is the mention of the $1000 per month for each "anchor Baby" they receive??

[socal_parrot]

There is no way you are going to seriously argue that illegals don't cost the taxpayers money.


I was wrong about the 6 billion dollar figure by the way. It's more like 10.5 billion.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/immigrationnaturalizatio/a/caillegals.htm