Immigrant population up despite cuts in social benefits
By Amy Rafferty/THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY STATEHOUSE PROGRAM
Thu Feb 14, 2008, 01:15 PM EST

Boston - It is an argument heard on talk radio, at work and echoed in letters to the editor columns. Immigrants, some say, are placing strain on the state, crowding our schools and soaking up government resources such as welfare and health care.

The common point of contention is that both legal and undocumented immigrants flock to whichever state offers the most comprehensive benefits package.

However, statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show that following the elimination of state benefits for the majority of immigrants in 2002, the percentage of foreign-born residents in Massachusetts has actually increased by 1 percent.

And dueling studies suggest that group may be bucking national trends by tapping into state benefits at a rate lower than native-born residents

“Immigrants don’t come here for public assistance, they come here to meet their goals and visions. Their dream is not to live off assistance,â€