Do you think immigrants are only interested in welfare?

That's the line from the right, but is it true? The only immigrants I know (I don't know whether they're illegal or not) are very hard-working. So going by anecdotal evidence, I would say "no".

My one qualm would be they all seem to have large families and their families keep getting larger. Seems like if your financial resources are limited, you might put less of an emphasis on a large family, but I'm just saying. That happens with "native born" Americans as well.

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Mamapolo2016 · F

In my experience, most immigrants are hard-working, decent folks - just like Americans in that regard.

In our country, when farming was a common way to make a living, big families were common too. Home-grown farmhands.

I am heartily in favor of immigration. It's new blood, new ideas, new strengths.

I am equally heartily opposed to illegal immigration as much as because of what happens to illegal inmigrants both on their way here and after they arrive as dangers they represent to American citizens.

The country's law opposes unrestricted immigration and if that is not what the American people want anymore, then the laws should be changed, not ignored and subverted. The ambiguity of immigration law enforcement is not only unfair, it's dangerous.

SW-User

@Mamapolo2016 Agreed completely.

Mamapolo2016 · F

@SW-User 😊 I hear that so rarely. Thank you.

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mamapolo2016 I agree too but there needs to be some sort of law where people who immigrate don’t become welfare sponges like the example I gave. I think it’s much worse in certain groups nowadays. People know what they can get by with and those are the ones most motivated and come to the USA as though the streets are paved with gold. The ones who do want a decent life and to find opportunities to work are solid though.

Mamapolo2016 · F

I can only tell you I worked as a Dept of Welfare caseworker for years in a small city where the population was about 80% white and 20% not white. My caseload was 93% WHITE.

There are disgusting examples of welfare abuse, to be sure, but never kid yourself that people who grew up here aren't at least equally guilty - and, again in my experience, most people seeking benefits are in genuine need of help and MOST of all races, creeds, and ethnicity do not abuse it. Some do, of course, they do, and when people who are identifiable' as 'other than us' do it, we notice it more.@cherokeepatti

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mamapolo2016 The thing is if they immigrate they need to look for work or go to school.

JoeyFoxx · 51-55, M

@Mamapolo2016 well said

Mamapolo2016 · F

They should do that if they were born here, too. Not all do.

It is the welfare system that is to blame, not the recipients. It is a shoddy network of vague laws and rules that change every five minutes, but the bottom line is that bureaucracies love power and they love the prestige and power that cones from enormous budgets and they do everything they can to keep it that way. If you went to a new country and learned you could get free food and medical care without working for it, you'd be tempted too.

But illegal immigrants without false documentation are not eligible for benefits and legal immigrants are, I think, still required to show they can support themselves and/or have sponsors who will guarantee their income.

The bottom line problem with welfare is not the applicants - it's the administrators. @cherokeepatti

Mamapolo2016 · F

Thank you.@JoeyFoxx

SW-User

Sent you a message @SW-User

cherokeepatti · 61-69, F

@Mamapolo2016 How long ago did you work in welfare? I know someone who’s son was saying it was about 40% of the ones getting food stamps were illegals and that was 2011-2012. He works for the Oklahoma dept. of human services.

Mamapolo2016 · F

I left in May 2009.

I'm usually pretty cautious about what somebody's son said, but then, you don't know me any better than that. @cherokeepatti

Mamapolo2016 · F

At this site you can find the "Who's eligible for food stamp guidelines". Illegal immigrants are not eligible. In order to qualify, they'd have to present false documents, and how would the caseworker KNOW if they're legal or illegal?

https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/snap-policy-non-citizen-eligibilityl@cherokeepatti