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| "I came because it was free."; What illegal immigrant births cost. | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Apr 30 2008, 04:21 PM (382 Views) | |
| George K | Apr 30 2008, 04:21 PM Post #1 |
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Finally
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Illegal Immigrant Births - At Your Expense It was 5 a.m. and CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts is with a woman who is nine months pregnant. She's rushed to a south Texas hospital to undergo a C-section - a $4,700 medical procedure that won't cost her a dime. She qualifies for emergency Medicaid. She gave birth to a healthy, 8 1/2 pound baby boy - born in America. His Mexican mother gave him an American name: Eliot. Eliot is one of an estimated 300,000 children of illegal immigrants born in the United States every year, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. They're given instant citizenship because they are born on U.S. soil, which makes it easier for their parents to become U.S. citizens. That's because those babies can eventually sponsor their parents - when they turn 21 years old. As for Eliot's mother, no longer as fearful of deportation, she told CBS News her name, Fabiola, and her story. "So your son is an American citizen. What does that mean to you?" Pitts asked. "I am very glad that he was born. That's why I came here - so my children, my husband and I could have a better life," she said through a translator. Back in December, when she was six months pregnant, Fabiola, her husband and their two daughters - ages 4 and 11 - crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into the U.S. Once on the other side of the river they walked for two hours in search of a better life and free medical care for their unborn child. "Do many women in Mexico make the choice to have their children in the United States?" Pitts asked. "Yes," she said through a translator. "I know people who have done that. Things are much better here in the U.S. because they help children so much more." It's a "better" life ... that American taxpayers help pay for. Take healthcare for example -- an estimated $1.1 billion per year for undocumented men, women and children, according to the Rand Corporation. Joe Riley is the CEO of the McAllen Texas Medical Center near the Texas-Mexico border. Forty percent of the children born there, nearly 2,400 last year, were the babies of illegal immigrants. Riley has seen and heard it all. "Mothers about to give birth that walk up to the hospital still wet from swimming across the river in actual labor … dirty, wet, cold," he said. But here to have a child? "Here to have a child in the U.S.," he said. McAllen is part of a large hospital system. Like all hospitals, it is mandated by law to treat all emergency-room patients, not verify citizenship. "We have uncompensated care of over $200 million a year," Riley said. "Of money that you'll never see again?" Pitts asked. "Yes," he said. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said: "It is not fair to the taxpayers who have to foot the bill." Congress has all but given up on comprehensive immigration reform. But lawmakers like Smith want to solve birth citizenship to illegal immigrants, in part by challenging the 14th Amendment, which guarantees U.S. citizenship to any child born in America. "It seems fundamentally wrong that we ought to give the greatest honor of their citizenship," Smith said. "His or her mother came across the border illegally." Many Americans who struggle to take care of their own families think it is unfair that they should take care of a family and they are not U.S. citizens. "I don't understand the resentment," said. "I know that God will help them, too." That's what Fabiola's doing for young Eliot. Relying on her faith, her family … and the U.S. government. |
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A guide to GKSR: Click "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08 Nothing is as effective as homeopathy. I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles. - Klaus, 4/29/18 | |
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| Mikhailoh | Apr 30 2008, 04:30 PM Post #2 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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It strikes me as odd that we have had much of the world rely on us at one time or another, some nations for very long times. I think the squalor we have left much of Mexico in is a blot on our record. A blot on Mexico's record too, to be sure, but I somehow think we could have done more over the years to try to develop that country's economy. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| Piano*Dad | May 1 2008, 06:19 AM Post #3 |
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Bull-Carp
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This is a country that for much of its modern history has held the US at more than arms reach distance. The political dynamic in Mexico has been very hostile to the US. One can believe that this distancing is quite justified (Mexican-American war, Villa intervention, Vera Cruz intervention etc.). But whatever your beliefs about this, the US Mexican relationship is quite complex, and Mexico's development issues are largely home grown. BTW, my wife has delivered a number of those kids. |
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| Free Rider | May 1 2008, 06:37 AM Post #4 |
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Fulla-Carp
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talk about a dilemma. there is no easy solution...Fabiola and others like her are desperate for themselves and their future. Illegal as it may be these are human beings who cannot be left to give birth on the side of the road. I can only imagine how scared these women are about the welfare of their kids. From a humanitarian viewpoint we should help them. From an economic standpoint/legal standpoint it is unfair for US taxpayers. It creates burdens in many ways. Solution??? Good luck! |
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| blondie | May 1 2008, 06:48 AM Post #5 |
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Bull-Carp
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This part of your statement struck a chord with me. Babes & kids & moms show up here for care too. It's difficult to even think this issue when you're on the front lines looking into the eyes of someone who needs care. |
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| Free Rider | May 1 2008, 06:54 AM Post #6 |
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Fulla-Carp
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you rock blondie. as usual!
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| Jolly | May 1 2008, 10:14 AM Post #7 |
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Geaux Tigers!
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Care is fine. Citizenship is not. |
| The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros | |
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| DivaDeb | May 1 2008, 11:08 AM Post #8 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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wonder what would happen to the volume of uncompensated births if automatic citizenship was not forthcoming |
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| Axtremus | May 1 2008, 11:11 AM Post #9 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Alright, who's ready to change the 14th Amendment? Any organization(s) already leading the charge in this matter? Any specific new wordings proposed for the 14th Amendment?
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| kenny | May 1 2008, 11:25 AM Post #10 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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But then we'd pay much more to get our lawn mowed, our restaurant table's bussed, our shirts ironed, our lettuce picked etc.. I suspect if you added up how much those illegal aliens save us compared to paying Americans minimum wage to do all those menial jobs it would be more than they cost us in services. I think this explains the so called political deadlock. Illegals amount to legal slavery, and it's groovy for us rich folk. Stop complaining. |
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| DivaDeb | May 1 2008, 11:50 AM Post #11 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Did you read the article that started this thread? |
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| Axtremus | May 1 2008, 12:08 PM Post #12 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Yes, it says Congress has largely given up on comprehensive immigration reform, but "some lawmakers like Smith" wants to "challenge" the 14th Amendment. "Some lawmakers like Smith" doesn't sound like an "organization", and I certainly don't see any specific proposal on how the 14th Amendment should be amended, or even just "challenged." (You can "challenge" other laws by arguing that they are unconstitutional, but how are you supposed to "challenge" the 14 Amendment, which is itself part of the Constitution, the supreme law of the land?) |
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| John D'Oh | May 1 2008, 12:23 PM Post #13 |
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MAMIL
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I've always felt a little uncomfortable with the citizenship thing - our daughter is an American citizen by place of birth even though we are only here as (legal, obviously) temporary visitors and currently have no plans to apply for citizenship. |
| What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket? | |
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| DivaDeb | May 1 2008, 12:30 PM Post #14 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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okay, so you see the "who" ...that is a start So...in google, you can insert "challenge 14th amendment" and get the rest of your answers. Here's one of them: http://constitutionallyright.com/2007/03/0...14th-amendment/ basically the challenge questions the meaning of the phrase "subject to its jurisdiction" and it's application to children of illegals really though...do your own homework :lol: j/k |
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