How reform helps communities

A year ago President Bush appeared on prime time television (May 15, 2006) and addressed the immigration reform issue. At that time he said: “Illegal immigration puts pressure on public schools and hospitals, strains state and local budgets, and brings crime to our communities.” See, he knows the impact of illegal immigration on local government.

So how will this immigration reform package CHANGE the local situation? Public schools: No change. Hospitals: They will still be eligible for free emergency and labor/delivery care. Local budgets: I can find nothing in the legislation that will prohibit them from putting four families in a single family home. Crime: Same old, same old…

They will still be here, living in poverty, with a birth rate twice that of citizens, taking entry level jobs away from youth and the unemployed, and receiving social services. What will change is that de facto authorization to live here will become official authorization.

Big business will still have a source of cheap labor, with the taxpayers providing the benefits package. And all of Washington will be able to stand up and say, “I helped bring about reform. Vote for me, por favor!”

The whole deal stinks for local government, schools, and taxpayers.