Thread: Flawed studies ignore real impact of illegal immigration

Saturday, March 10, 2007
Last modified Saturday, March 10, 2007 7:30 PM PST

Flawed studies ignore real impact of illegal immigration

By: DENNIS HOLLINGSWORTH - Commentary

Recently, two lengthy immigration studies were released that made headlines across California for their unbelievable claims made by the authors on the impact of illegal immigration in our state.

These so-called immigration experts at the Public Policy Institute of California and the Immigration Policy Center came to the misguided conclusion that illegal immigrants living in California actually help American workers earn higher wages, and break fewer laws than other demographic groups in our state.

When asked about his conclusions, the co-author of one of the reports, Ruben Rumbaut, told a newspaper that he hoped his work would "reduce prejudice" ---- thereby admitting his research is politically biased. The conclusions drawn by Mr. Rumbaut and his colleagues are clearly motivated much more by partisan politics than by an honest look at the effect of illegal immigration on jobs, schools, highways, hospitals and jails.

Perhaps illegal immigration is not a problem for liberal politicians or college professors, but a closer look at the statistics in our community tells a different story. Make no mistake, hardworking taxpayers across San Diego are struggling to endure the impact of illegal immigration every day, and it's time to take action to secure our borders.

In a 2005 report, researchers at the international asset management and investment firm Bear Stearns estimated that as many as 20 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, roughly 40 percent of whom are thought to live in California. It simply defies logic for the Public Policy Institute to claim that immigrant workers, most of whom work very long hours at back-breaking jobs for low wages, are not adversely affecting opportunity and prosperity for American workers.

When it comes to immigrants and crime in California, the facts speak for themselves. A 2001 study from the International Population Center at San Diego State University found that San Diego taxpayers spend a whopping $50.3 million every year just to arrest, jail and prosecute illegal immigrants and provide them with emergency medical care.

Statewide, the numbers are even more alarming. Recent figures from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation found that illegal immigrants comprise over 11 percent of the inmate population at prison facilities across the state. These undocumented criminals are adding to an overcrowding problem that has prompted an irresponsible movement for the early release of dangerous criminals.

Even worse, California will spend upward of $750 million this year to process and house illegal immigrants who commit crimes in California, costs that are supposed to be reimbursed to the state treasury under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. Unfortunately, we receive only pennies on the dollar back from the federal government, leaving state taxpayers stuck footing the bill for Washington's inability to protect our borders and keep Californians safe. We hope our bipartisan congressional delegation can work together to change that in the months ahead.

But the problems with illegal immigrants and crime are not just confined to our jails and prisons, they are being played out in our neighborhoods every day. In 2004, the North County Gang Task Force reported arresting 408 gang members who committed crimes in our community. Of that total, 260 were illegals!

We will never forget the brutal murder of our local hero Tony Zeppetella, the Oceanside police officer, husband and father who stopped a twice-deported illegal alien for a traffic violation and was gunned down in cold blood. We would invite the authors of the studies to tell the loved ones Officer Zeppetella left behind that illegal immigrants don't commit violent crimes in California.

Ideologues like Mr. Rumbaut may use name-calling; there is no doubt that it's time for lawmakers to get serious about reducing the impact of illegal immigration in our state. The burden of illegal immigration on California taxpayers is wrong. It's destructive, it undermines our economy, and it forces all of us to pay more in taxes for programs and services for those who are here illegally.

In the coming months, we hope Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature can work together to set aside politics as usual and focus on securing our borders, reducing the number of illegals in California and helping state and local governments deal with the financial impact of illegal immigrants in our communities.

Above all else, we hope our colleagues will be motivated to act based on the real world experiences of Californians affected by rampant illegal border crossings, not on flawed studies driven by a political agenda that ignores the real experiences of San Diegans in coping with illegal immigration.

Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Murrieta, represents the 36th Senate District, which runs from Murrieta in the north to Rancho Bernardo and Mission Valley in the south. Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Carlsbad, represents the 38th Senate District, which covers most of North County, including Camp Pendleton, and parts of southern Orange County. Assemblyman Martin Garrick, R-Carlsbad, represents the 74th Assembly District, which includes Carlsbad, Del Mar, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Vista and portions of Escondido, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, San Diego and San Marcos. Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Murrieta, represents the 66th Assembly District, which stretches from the southern outskirts of Riverside through western Corona and Lake Elsinore to take in the entire communities of Murrieta, Temecula and Fallbrook, and parts of Bonsall, Valley Center and Ramona. Assemblyman George Plescia, R-La Jolla, represents the 75th Assembly District, which includes parts of Escondido, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Del Mar and San Diego.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/03 ... _10_07.txt

Comments On This Story

Randy wrote on March 10, 2007 9:24 PM:"Most countries would be happy that people wanted to come to live in their countries instead of fleeing their countries. Not the U.S.A. "Give me your tired, your poor..," is a tired slogan whose day has past. "

SenorGuapo wrote on March 11, 2007 3:27 AM:"Hollingsworth never addressed the findings of the report. The report was about impact on wages and impact on wages only. The report didn't even address crime."

Linda Rapoza wrote on March 11, 2007 6:13 AM:"How long to you think it will take, with the help from liberal nincompoops, to turn the United Staes into a third world country?"

tom wrote on March 11, 2007 7:14 AM:" sorry randy you could not be anymore ignorant if you tried. we have no problem with people coming the right way, but todays illegals have no respect for the law or this country. all they are interested in is money to send home. im sick of supporting these criminals"

G. Chell wrote on March 11, 2007 7:45 AM:"Tell your constituents and taxpayers to stop buying cheap goods produced by illegals. Otherwise you are a plain RACIST!!"

Connie wrote on March 11, 2007 8:08 AM:"Sen. Hollingsworth is right on all his statements. But as we sit here and read this article, Carl Rove and his cronies are secretly in the White House preparing legislation to make these lawbreakers legal. Wake up America, we have a fight ahead of us. If you choose to just sit back and watch, well then, you get what you deserve."

Randy wrote on March 11, 2007 8:22 AM:"Hollingsworth, et al, cling to positions of political power by scapegoating! But can anyone name one single thing that they have accomplished while clinging to office?"

DEPORT THEM ALL wrote on March 11, 2007 10:47 AM:"and if your senators and legislators don't vote for it and do then grow some you know whats and kick them out of office. You liberal CA voters had the perfect opportunity to get rid of Boxer and you didn't. She will continue to support illegal immigration despite the phone calls and fax's to her office. Her office staff is RUDE when you call to tell her you want her to support an anti illegal piece of legislation."

Howiek wrote on March 11, 2007 11:24 AM:"Hollingsworth needs to seriously get back to his cows.. he is about as useless as Hunter…Johnny one-notes! Any original thinking on his part is a non-starter, and that goes for the ilk that voted him into office in the first place—where are term limits when they are really needed? "

Wes wrote on March 11, 2007 12:06 PM:"If you didn't vote last year, you can't complain. Oh, that's right, all you need is a mailbox to vote. Imagine that! I tried to show my DL, the senior citizen wouldn't even look at it. If you want accountability from your elected leadership, then hold them accountable."

Jay wrote on March 11, 2007 4:49 PM:"Businessmen are responsible for bringing these illegals in, backed by both Democrat and Republican politicians whom they own. It is not a party vs party situation. The two political parties are in step with this though individual politicians often deny it. As for lowering our wages and running up the cost of housing, that's a no brainer. When was the last time you saw an American construction laborer, butcher, factory worker etc? Some of these were once good paying jobs until the illegals drove the wages down. Where do you think all of the American-born welfare recipients and the homeless come from? They would be working in these jobs if not for the illegals. Housing? When you jam a dozen illegals into an apartment (which by the way is illegal in most cities, the normal regulation being no more than two people per bedroom) they have no problem meeting the rent. Landlords also like them because they can let their properties deteriorate without fear of complaint. The rest of us have to compete alone with that buying power. The list is endless and the cure is simple: mass deportation of all that are not working in the fields and close monitoring of those that stay. "

glenn wrote on March 11, 2007 5:20 PM:"Good article!"

For Randy wrote on March 11, 2007 5:40 PM:"The statue of Liberty does say give me your tired and poor. It does not say to disrespect our laws regarding immigration. It is a line. Many are waiting in it. I am on the side of those waiting in line. Lady Liberty never said jump our fence and sneak in. She never meant for criminals, gangs and leeches on our government services meant for citizens and legal entrants to just latch on to us. Can you even say, "We broke your laws and we don't care and what's your is ours?" That is about right. Right, RANDY???"

To poor Randy wrote on March 11, 2007 8:37 PM:"In Randy's little mind, everyone who can tell the difference between legal and illegal is a racist! Poor Randy will never get it."

Henry wrote on March 11, 2007 10:06 PM:"I sumbit Marie Waldron for President and Senator Hollingsworth for Vice President. What a great asset to our country. Clear thinkers. Articulate. Brave. Able to tackle tough issues. Wow, what a concept. "

ConstructionGuy wrote on March 11, 2007 10:09 PM:"It took me years of apprenticeship and schooling to get licensed. But somehow it's okay to hire illegals above me, without licenses to do the work I was trained to do. And want to do. "

Mike wrote on March 12, 2007 12:17 AM:"Excellent article..."

Kevin wrote on March 12, 2007 3:16 AM:""For Randy" - I'm all for getting everybody into the legal immigration line, and then cracking down on illegal immigration. But have you looked at our immigration laws lately? Legal immigration is in such a horrendous mess that it is pretty much impossible to even get in line for most people (even by marrying a US citizen, you don't always qualify!) - and for those lucky enough to qualify, it takes decades, up to 25 years. "

Aangita wrote on March 12, 2007 6:11 AM:"To Construction Guy: And this is an example of how illegal immigrants affect the US workforce. And now, anyone—illegal or non illegal—can get a construction job just by knowing someone or accepting a really low wage!! "

Hollingsworth is just as political wrote on March 12, 2007 8:24 AM:"What a ridiculous article. he attacks the original report as political and then tries to make his case by proposing carefully chosen anecdotes from sources favorable to his position. How about some real analysis, or is the NCT just trying to fill space in the paper without regard to content?"

Alice wrote on March 12, 2007 8:29 AM:"Congress is to blame for this illegal disaster. They blame business and they blame the President but we should be looking to them. Isnt simple to end the benefits and freebee granted these aliens and above all anchor babies? This is why they are here and Congress knows it. We neede to physically rally and not just complain on paper."

Reardon wrote on March 12, 2007 10:55 AM:"Sorry, Randy: The phrase you quoted was NOT part of the French donated Statue of Liberty...it was added decades later and reflected the need of the country for immigrants. LEGAL immigrants, who responded by coming in droves through Ellis Island...where they were processed and many were denied for medical or criminal reasons. That is wholly unlike the current chaos. The immigrant needs of then are not the immigrant needs of now...actually the nation has a permanent Green Card program for investors who are willing to establish businesses that will hire Americans, because we need more people pulling the wagon and fewer people riding in the wagon. We have a sufficient number of home-grown illiterates; we do not need to import more of them!"

There is a law... wrote on March 12, 2007 1:42 PM:"that enforces illegal immigration? Wow! What a concept. Then why wasn't the police and INS out in droves when all the illegals were protesting? Why don't undercover agents pick up the illegals that are standing on street corners? Why aren't the Americans prosecuted for hiring or renting to illegals? Mexicans are not the only illegal aliens in this country. They are more prevailant in CA and make up the vast majority of undocumented immigrants but by no means are they alone. Why are the immigrants that came here legally and paid the fees and took the tests making more of an uproar? You would think that these people above all would be the angriest. I am sick of people bashing someone or calling them racist b/c we want all people living in our country to be here legally. I do not want someone living beside me or riding the bus with me or attending school that my children go to that are criminals - That is what illegal aliens are! Learn to speak English - It is the language of the land that you are living. Aren't you embarssed to have to rely on your children to translate? Aren't you emabarrssed to not be able to communicate with others? Aren't you ashamed to be living your life as a criminal? You SHOULD be!"

Paul wrote on March 12, 2007 3:42 PM:"It's time to wake up. Kennedy and McCain are preparing to ram amnesty down our throats just like they did in 1986. Sending emails is too easy, put a pen to paper or pick up the phone. Call your elected officials and let them hear your opinion. SEND THE ILLEGALS HOME!"

wayne wrote on March 12, 2007 8:16 PM:"This is not just a CA problem but a national problem. The politicians are the ones to blame. They will not get tough with illegals fearing they will upset the Hispanic voters and lose their next election. Take the Governor of MASS. 350 illegals were arrested and taken to TX for departation. He wants them returned to MASS and released. More Americans are killed everyday by illegals than killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. Just ask the people of NC. "

To Wayne wrote on March 12, 2007 9:16 PM:"There is no such thing as the "Hispanic vote". Hispanics are white, brown, black and every shade in between. Hispanics are Republicans, Democrats, Anarchists, Communists, Marxists and Independents. The so-called "Hispanic vote" is a myth. Pandering to illegal aliens to get the Hispanic vote is a dead end."

Dennis wrote on March 13, 2007 6:28 AM:"...not to mention the effect these illegals have on the healthcare system. I live in a medium size city in Texas about 150 miles from the border, what used to be the envy of most cities our size, doctors are leaving town regularly because of all the "persons" (mostly illegals) which pass thru town, use the emergency rooms, clinics, doctors and don't pay their bills and skip town. I believe this is one reason why the liberals are so much pro illegal immigration as it gives them a back-door excuse to institute "national healthcare". 70% of this city is made up of persons of hispanic decent, yet illegal immigrants are not welcomed freely here. SEND THEM BACK!!! "

what would you do? wrote on March 13, 2007 9:36 AM:"Most of you have miscoceptions about immigration issues. For example, undocumented immigrants do pay some taxes (property taxes, sales taxes, etc..). You all are lucky to be born to an affluent nation. Most of you have probably never suffered through any form of poverty. Have some compassion. What would you do if you could increase your wages from 10 dollars per week to 10 dollars per hour (by moving to "el norte"). Would you just continue to allow your family to suffer? Maybe the US shouldnt make it near impossible to legaly process immigration papers. If you want Mexican Immigrants to stop crossing the border then you need to look at your greedy selves first. Immigrants will keep coming until they can financially sustain themselves in their home country. Look at the NAFTA agreement. This agreement allows American companies to sell goods to Mexico without taxes, implying that the US can sell good at a cheaper price to Mexicans than Mexican goods. This has led to increased poverty in Mexico and increased immigration. Its your own greedy fault immigration has continued to escalate. I bet most of you dont know that the US gives automatic refugee status (and residency) to any immigrant from Cuba that manaages to touch American Soil? Do you see any irony in that?"

Ken wrote on March 13, 2007 10:20 AM:"If you come into this country illegally, then you need to be deported back to your own country. If you come here like so many others, LEGALLY, then you would be welcomed. President Bush needs to stop all of this crap, and let us secure our borders, period. If Mexico's President Calderon calls the border fence the "Berlin Wall" then so be it. It truly needs to be done. Round up all of the illegal aliens, both in jail and around this country, and deport then out of this country. If we go into any other country, we are supposed to live according to their laws, so why should it be any different here?"

To, what would you do wrote on March 13, 2007 12:31 PM:"You are a foolish .. Don't sit there and say "what would you do" You need to get your government to help you. Not come here illegally and expect to be taking care of by all legal citizens money. That is in itself criminal. "

Linz wrote on March 13, 2007 9:33 PM:"I guess, before ANYONE should recieve medical attention in a life or death situation, we should first figure out if they are illegals or not, huh Hollingsworth? Because, ya know, if they are illegals, I guess their heartbeat isn't as impt. as yours, right? What I don't understand is how people like you can state these facts over and over again, but how are you going to help make their gov't a better place for them to raise their children? Or should we just send them packing because YOU are more impt. then them? Think about it, you're not."