Debunking false myths about undocumented immigration.

I have a lot of fire these days.

I caught myself feeling a little miffed this afternoon when a family member—who shall remain unnamed—forwarded me an email titled “Financial planning 101 for our elected officials: Joe Legal vs. Jose Illegal”. As suggested by the title, the content was both offensive and incendiary:

“You have 2 families… “Joe Legal” and “Jose Illegal”. Both families have 2 parents, 2 children and live in California. “Joe Legal” works in construction, has a Social Security Number, and makes $25.00 per hour with payroll taxes deducted. “Jose Illegal” also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash “under the table”.

Joe Legal.. $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week = $52,000 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax. Joe Legal now has $31,231.00. Jose Illegal… $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week = $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays for Medical and Dental Insurance with limited coverage …$1000.00 per month = $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $19,231.00. Jose Illegal has full Medical and Dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal makes too much money to be eligible for Food Stamps or Welfare so
Joe Legal pays for food… $1,000.00 per month = $12,000.00 per year. Joe
Legal now has $7,231.00. Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for Food Stamps and Welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00.

Joe Legal pays rent of $1,000.00 per month = $12,000.00 per year. Joe Legal is now in the hole -<$4,769.00>.

Jose Illegal receives a $500 per month Federal rent subsidy, which entirely pays his rent of $500.00 per month = $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00. Joe Legal now works overtime on Saturdays and gets a part time job after work to make ends meet.

Jose Illegal has nights and weekends off to enjoy with his family…Joe Legal’s and Jose Illegal’s children both attend the same school.

Joe Legal pays for his children’s lunches while Jose Illegal’s children get free government sponsored lunches. Joe Legal’s children go home after school. Jose Illegal’s children have an after school ESL program which, again, is provided free of charge.

Joe Legal and Jose Illegal both enjoy the same Police and Fire Services, but
Joe Legal paid for them and Jose Illegal did not pay.

ARE YOU MAD YET?!?!?! YOU DAMN SURE SHOULD BE!!!!!”

For those of us who have been in touch or have worked with immigrant issues, these statements are nothing short of false and infuriating; yet by citing superficial statistics, they can appear logical and subsequently spur sentiments of intolerance and xenophobia. Indeed, many anti-immigration groups have effectively used arguments of this sort to fan public anger and discriminatory movements.

With immigrant groups’ well-being and the social harmony of communities at stake, it is of utmost importance that the arguments be wrestled away from those who stir up hatred, and be reframed to address the matter’s root causes. Referencing the quoted email, I will briefly attempt to refute common accusations utilized in the email, and highlight some of the core issues underlying the challenge of undocumented immigration.

1) Wages
It is highly unlikely that Jose would get $15.00 an hour, especially in current economic conditions. It is equally unlikely that average citizens would work in agricultural fields or at Home Depot to earn $3.00 / hour. Should “legal” citizens start taking these jobs and demand livable wages, corporate America would be up in arms in a hurry, while Americans would no longer be able to consume at the prices they are accustomed to. I personally would like to see fair wages for all, and have no complaints about the cost hikes that come as a result; but I am not certain that those who field complaints against the undocumented understand the implications of their demands.

2) The myth of Jose’s happy family time, and the abuse of social services
Most undocumented immigrants reside in cramped areas deprived of services and infrastructure. Access to health, amenities and recreational space are virtually non-existent in many immigrant neighborhoods, as evident in Santa Ana, South Central, Pico Union and other areas of Southern California.

Moreover, undocumented immigrants are much less likely to utilize social services for fear of revealing their undocumented status. Just today a social commentator at the National Public Radio reported that many immigrants are reluctant to report sickness due to the fear of deportation, and the unwillingness to surrender poorly compensated work hours. Since many immigrants cannot afford the exorbitant healthcare costs of the country, they simply neglect persistent health issues. Now would “Joe legal” use the few underfunded, poorly equipped community clinics that exist in immigrant neighborhoods? I am doubtful.

3) Assimilation, civic engagement, and investing for the future
The term “undocumented immigrants” usually conjures up images of poor, uneducated families plagued by problems of family planning. What many fail to realize is that most immigrants assimilate rather quickly and become contributing, civically engaged members of society. The investment in their children—who hold American citizenships and is fluent in two languages—is particularly essential as they will become the pillars to the nation’s economy when baby-boomers retire. Not to mention that the numerous properties of boomers will need to be taken over to prevent another housing market meltdown.

4) Trends of undocumented immigration
Undocumented immigration is declining quickly in California; the state has simply become too unaffordable for many, let alone those without papers. According to recent studies, undocumented (and documented) immigrants are now heading to states such as Georgia, Nebraska and North Carolina; although there are no official statistics stating the impact of their arrival, some accounts point to the positive contributions of these recent transplants – in New Orleans, they now constitute a significant part of the city’s arduous—and often less-than-desirable—rebuilding efforts. Meanwhile, states losing population—such as New York—have discretely (or not so discretely) encouraged immigration as a means to sustain their economies.

I am not saying that undocumented immigration should be encouraged – it is a serious and long-term concern that requires the devise of multi-faceted solutions. As the country continues to grapple with this complicated problem, many have resorted to demonizing powerless immigrants in search of a living, while forgetting their roles in the fostering of current conditions. If people would really like to see the curtailment of undocumented immigration, they should start examining themselves and their habits – how about the companies that they consume from? Companies are hiring undocumented persons because their customers desire cheap goods; such has formed the bases of many corporate business models – Wal-mart, Monsanto, and the list goes on and on. Knowing and unknowingly, we have created a demand for cheap labor, and in turn, subjected many undocumented immigrants to exploitation and injustices.

Perhaps we should just remind ourselves that the only difference between us and the undocumented is that we were not born in abject rural poverty.

It feels good to let out some of that fire.

N.B. For those interested in the topic, I recommend reading the book “Immigrants and Boomers” authored by Dowell Myers.