With immigration issues so popular these days, I thought I'd see what you think about the financial ramifications. How do you feel about immigrants who come to our country earn money, but then send it "home" to their country? Are immigrants hurting or helping our workforce/economy? What do YOU think?

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O.K. Here is my opinion, since you did ask for opinions. I think it is hurting us. Here is why....I live in IL. At the state agencies of business, there are a lot of foreigners that are getting good paying state jobs and tehy are on WORK VISA's. They are bragging to everyone at these agencies that they have no intentions of "staying here". They are working long enough to get $$$$ saved up so they can go back to "their home" to live like a king or queen. This is preventing someone like me, a US citizen, from getting one of these jobs, and I plan on retiring and staying here in the US! The are also getting all the "financial help" to go to school to "better themselves". WTH???? O.K. Now, let me clarify.........I am NOT against all foreigners. There are a lot of "good ones" as well as "bad ones"......just like US citizens......good ones and bad ones. But, this is what I see first hand, and it infuriates me to no end. Again, this is JUST MY OPINION! So, no flaming since Kim did ask for opinions.

I really do not know enough about the economy to comment on that, but along the same lines...You know what bugs me? When my dh was in college, I was working my butt off, we had 2 kids, no assistance. Then we would grocery shop and see foreign students who said it was against their beliefs for the women to work, they all had food stamps and WIC!!!! They were only in this country to get an education, why should our government be giving them aid?

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I think every generation of immigrants have sent money home to help the family. One would come here for an auto job in 1900 & send $ back to Poland or whatever. I think the difference is whether or not they plan to make a life here, become productive citizens, or are just using the opportunity as a pit stop. I know here in the Detroit area many of the 1st generation arabic immigrants do not identify with the USA at all. They are only here waiting out the war at home, going to school, working, making money, so they can go back home after the war. They maintain dual citizenship with their countries. I don't care for all that. It's one thing to honor & respect your home country, to miss it, but if you're making a new life here & raising your kids here, you should try to be American.

I think if they earn the money legally, they have a right to send it wherever they want to. Look at us, sending money to China, however indirectly!

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I live in a farming community and they are essential to the workforce and economy here because people(Americans) do not want to work in those conditions. They, so far, are not entitled to Social Security benefits. But they do pay sales taxes here.

I see them as a burden in other areas because they do not have medical insurance, car insurance(this is why I think NJ is now a no-fault state), ect.

There are also people(Americans) on welfare who have the same benefits that they are using and hurting our economy also. I do not have a problem with people on temporary assistance.

I think it is hurting us. We as Americans pay these immigrants (legal or not) for their hard work and they do NOT invest their money here, and they do NOT spend it here. It is NOT going back into our economy one bit. So essentially we have money going out, but not coming back in.

I lived in South Florida for two years, and saw many situation which made me stop and think.

Immigrants, mostly males are living here...many times 10 or more in one house with one vehicle (a van), driving to work on the interstate, packed in, making a living for what?? For their families back home.

Why not earn your money, and save, invest, whatever HERE in the US, and bring your families HERE to the US.

Why do we allow them to take advantage of us.

Also, I worked with a few people that were here from South America, who sent their money home every week. And not only were they sending money home to their families....they had their mother moved here....to collect social security, never having worked a day in her life here in the US. For what....to send it back to their families back "home".

I get that it is "their" money and they can do what they want with it. BUT it is most definately hurting our economy not being reinvested back into our companies and our well-being. JMO

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Stacey

The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls. ~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton

I think you hit the nail on the head. I just wanted to add that illegal aliens have really hurt our healthcare system as well. They come over here illegally and if they get hurt or sick hospitals have to treat them and we pay for it OR if they come over to have a baby, we pay for it and then they move their families in (not just a mom and dad and 2 kids - mom, dad, grandparents, sisters, uncles, kids - and we pay for them and it's never ending. I think it's fine to come here to work but come her legally and become an American citizen and part of the solution not more of the problem. n my soapbox:

I am not sure this is totally correct. So they are getting free housing/food/gas? there are plenty of living costs that must be met so u are assuming that all of them are getting everything free.
Personally I think if these immigrants were lighter in color we would not be having this discussion.
allgirls

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allgirls, mom to 3 girls

YES!!!!! I agree.

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