Reply to How LONG Until Immigrants Get Welfare?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What kind of welfare, entitlement or social service programs is OP referring too that illegal immigrants are getting now?

My DH is an immigrant and recently became a citizen.  I also work in public housing so I have a pretty good background and experience with social programs re public housing/ HAP vouchers and SNAP benefits.  I cannot think of "welfare" programs that don't require proof of citizenship or residence, but I don't know all the programs.  The only one I can think of off the top of my head would be enrolling in public school and qualifying as a FARM student.  But as for other programs, what do people think illegals are getting?

1). Illegals usually are terrified of getting caught, they usually would not apply for assistance (or qualify for) food stamps, public housing, Medicaid/Medicare, etc.
2) illegals usually seek help elsewhere, such as free clinics, clothes trees at church, food pantries at organizations, angel tree gifts, etc.

Like a previous poster mentioned, under current law, in applying for a green card you must have a sponsor and that sponsor must certify (which confirmation from their bank and employer) that the sponsor alone has enough wealth and income to support both the sponsor and the applicant to keep them at a level high enough to not qualify for welfare programs.

I don't think the majority of illegal immigrants are bums, sucking our welfare programs dry.  I do think the majority are hard working people, who often out of fear are prime for being swindled and abused, and often are willing to do the kind of jobs other people who claim they are looking for any job are not willing to do.[/quote]

OP here, and again....you didn't read my original question. I KNOW the illegals don't get free stuff now. And I also know (or think....) that legal immigrants must wait 5 years before they are "entitled" to These programs. So my question was "how long until they DO get benefits?" I was saying that if LEGAl Immigrants, who obeyed our laws, must wait 5 years, then we need to make the illegals wait longer.

Also, you don't think the majority of illegal immigrants are sucking our welfare dry, but the majority of immigrants are using these programs, compared to only a third of native-born. So now that we know that immigrants do use government assistance programs disproportionately, together with the fact that we are $20T in debt, it's certainly a reasonable question to wonder how long until the illegals-turned-citizens start pulling from programs that are already becoming insolvent.

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They never qualify while they are undocumented PP. And the only way to become documented legally would be to leave the country and re-enter legally and since they have accumulated unlawful presence they would have to wait in their home country for like 10 years before they could re-enter legally. So to answer the precise question you have asked. If an undocumented immigrant currently living in this country would like to legally acquire access to US welfare programs they would have at least a 15 year wait in front of them.

There is no timeframe that they could do to gain access to welfare programs legally. If you are here and unlawfully present you have no path. [/quote]
Op here. Thank you. NOW we are getting somewhere.

But what you've explained is how the system works currently. Hillary is twlking about creating a path to citizenship so the illegals do not have to leave and come back, as you've described. It sounds as if once they are citizens - without leaving, if Hillary's wish passes - they would eligible for full welfare and other benefits in five years. My opinion is that is too soon, given that it is the same timeframe as availablr to people who entered the country the lawful way. In other words, the lawbreakers get the same advantages as those who patiently waited their turn with respect to our laws.[/quote]

Hillary can't do that unless congress passes immigration reform. Ask Obama, who has done more than any President since Reagan to try to help poor immigrant populations, how much can be done via Executive Action. The answer is not much.

Any and all proposed immigration reform including a path for illegal immigrants that has been proposed in recent years puts them at the back of the line with time and financial penalties.

It would be political suicide to do what you are describing, so don't worry, democrats sense of self preservation will protect you from this future. A president COULD grant amnesty broadly but Hillary most certainly wants to be relelected so will not do it in her first term. I don't think she'll do it at all. GWB almost did it though. [/quote]
I hope you're right. Obama was stopped with his illegal executive action because of the makeup of the SCOTUS, which will become more activist under Hillary. And if the Democrats win both houses of Congress, it's Katy bar the door! If that happens, though, there WILL be a big schelaking (sp?...Obama's term) either at the mid-terms or her re-election bid.

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In my personal opinion (I am the PP of the last two posts in this chain that you responded to), as a bleeding heart liberal who works with immigrants as a part of my job, I do not think that this specific fear you have is likely to come to fruition. This specific fear of immigrants who were undocumented becoming magically documented and getting access to welfare programs in 5 years.

If the house flips there will be absolutely no chance they enact broad amnesty, they would have a more bipartisan approach which, while possibly including a path would most certainly not put them immediately behind legal immigrants, they would almost certainly get something like the DACA program (no longer accumulating unlawful presence and able to work and pay taxes). HRC is a moderate democrat, she will not want to grant blanket amnesty and will therefore attempt to go about it legislatively instead.

Additionally, if the House and Senate flips than everyone would likely know that it would be a one term thing. Democrats would have to pick one big thing they wanted to get done. Personally I think Hillary would prioritize family and women's issues (like childcare and mandatory paid family leave) because that is what she will want to leave as her legacy. You have to remember that while Trump has made immigrants the cornerstone of HIS campaign, she has not made it the cornerstone of hers. His #1 priority would be keeping them out, but honestly I don't think she cares that much about immigration. She has much higher priority items on her list. Obama would have done immigration next, but not HRC. [/quote]

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