ILLEGALS a drain on our fiscal wellness

dnj.com
February 6, 2011

Most American's would agree that the number of extreme issues currently confronting the United States is of epic proportion.

The constant barrage of national doom and gloom has simply got most of us changing channels or flipping right to the funny pages. After all, how could any administration effectively deal with near 10 percent unemployment, record deficit/debt, ever increasing national security/terrorism issues, a rapidly declining education system and healthcare spiraling out of control. ... just to name a few!

There is not enough room here to elaborate on all these issues and that's not the point. The point is, that we have to deal with this out of control freight train as quickly and efficiently as possible. For too long now, all of us — Republicans, Democrats, Independents, etc. — have been putting our heads in the sand when it comes to the "common denominator" that is rapidly crippling our state and our nation.

For whatever reason, be it the new era of political correctness or the fear of losing votes or corporate support, that most politicians and media outlets tactfully evade the Illegal Immigration issue. Before you label me just another cold-hearted fear monger, please understand that I fully support "legal" immigration. Hard working individuals that have come here seeking the American Dream and all the freedoms that Americans have fought and died for is what has made the United States the greatest country on the planet.

That said, it is simply unrealistic to continually allow virtually anyone to flow across our borders and still provide a quality lifestyle to everyone.

By listing a few of the jaw dropping statistics provided by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, it becomes evident how Illegal Immigration negatively impacts many other areas of concern. Unless otherwise stated, this data pertains to the year 2010.

# 13 million illegal immigrants residing within our borders. They continue to enter at a rate of up to 2,000 per day, costing us (taxpayers) $13 billion, of which 75 percent was absorbed by the states.

It cost us $52 billion to educate the children of illegals.

# It cost us $3 million per day for the incarceration of illegals.

# Over 425,000 children were born here to illegals. In 2006 in one Dallas, Texas, hospital, 70 percent of all women that gave birth were illegal aliens. Those births cost Medicaid $34.5 million, the federal government $9.5 million and Dallas taxpayers $31.3 million. That's over $75 million in one hospital in one city in one border state. These figures don't even address general healthcare or emergency room costs.

# Estimated cost to the state of Tennessee in 2010 was $547 million.

Currently in Tennessee we are lucky to have a few politicians that are not afraid to address this sensitive topic. We all need to encourage our elected officials to strengthen and enforce our laws pertaining to Illegal Immigration and stress that amnesty in any form is not an acceptable solution.

The next time you hear the "talking heads" spewing about our imminent economic/financial collapse, give some thought to the "common denominator."

Ans Wishing is a resident of Indian Place in Murfreesboro.

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