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Society must stop giving benefits to illegal immigrants

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BY DIMITRIJ KRYNSKY

Saturday, Jan 26, 2008 - 12:48:55 am CST



Several bills to target illegal immigration were introduced in the Nebraska Legislature this session. One bill would bar benefits for people who are here illegally; another would prohibit tax breaks for employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Some people believe we should have compassion and give illegal immigrants the same benefits as legal residents, because they are good and hardworking people who are only trying to escape horrible poverty.

Compassion is a virtue. However, in this case the problems outweigh that sentiment.

First: There are so many poor people in the world it is impossible for our society to care for everyone. Therefore, we should take care of our poor; other societies should take care of theirs.

The second problem is that giving benefits to people who are here because they broke the law to immigrate means to reward bad behavior.

This is a very dangerous and slippery slope. By doing this, we will jeopardize the foundation of our civilization. No civilization can survive when a bad behavior is tolerated, not to mention rewarded.

Third, we should keep in mind that our social services system already is in trouble. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security systems are forecast to become insolvent in the foreseeable future. People who are here illegally are already a burden to our social services system.

On top of it, should illegal immigrants get legal status, they would be able to bring their relatives into the United States. They would become a huge additional burden to our social services system.

Who will pay for it? How will we then finance Social Security and health care for our citizens? How will we take care of our poor?

Advocates for illegal immigrants say such people are essential to our economy because we are short of workers.

I don’t believe it. I believe many job positions are not filled only because wages are too low; therefore, only people who are here illegally are willing to take those jobs. This is shameful exploitation!

My fourth problem with compassion toward illegal immigrants is that if an economy stands on exploitation, it is a moral disaster.

When one group — illegal immigrants — is exploited, another group — shameless employers — flourishes. The third group — average taxpayers — subsidizes it. This is a sick economy. It is time to stop it.

If we really need more people for some jobs, many millions around the world are waiting for permission to come. They also want to have a better life and escape poverty. Let them in — and expel people here illegally!

The fifth problem with compassion toward illegal immigrants is the presumption that such people are only trying to escape poverty; it is suspicious at best.

These people lately have been paying $3,000 per person to “coyotes” to help bring them across the border. This is a significant amount of money even for an ordinary American.

If somebody from among the person’s family is able to come up with this amount of money, he can start a business or a profitable investment in his country. He is not desperately poor.

Therefore, I am not sure how much compassion these people deserve. Maybe they should realign their priorities.

I also can talk about security and cultural issues, about disrespect for our law, about corruption, about criminals — gangs, drug pushers, human traffickers, prostitution, slavery and so on. All of it is coming hidden among huge numbers of people illegally crossing our borders.

The bills in the Legislature are good first steps, and I hope they will pass.

Lincoln resident Dimitrij Krynsky immigrated to the United States legally from Czechoslovakia in 1981.


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Douglas Novak, Crete wrote on January 26, 2008 6:05 am:
" Very interesting letter. Dimitrij delivers a majority opinion in this writing, I'll bet. The current trends are absolutely a financial disaster for the middle class in America. "

 Said wrote on January 26, 2008 8:10 am:
" Just right Dimitrij. I know the do good, feel good, people will condemn your article, but, for most of the taxpayers it says it all. "

 John Fritts wrote on January 26, 2008 10:09 am:
" It is at first amusing but ultimately depressing to read opinions such as the one today by DIMITRIJ KRYNSKY, stating his strong stance against benefits for illegal immigrants. In a long-winded argument, Mr. Krynsky reveals a great many of his personal fears, misconceptions and outright distortions about undocumented immigrants, while shirking any personal responsibility for offering factual evidence on precisely what "benefits" are being depleted by illegals. I read his column twice and certainly didn't get what benefits he was referring to, nor the amount being stolen.
I have had some exposure to various community outreach programs that have brought me into contact with immigrants, some of whom were no doubt here without documentation. What I witnessed was a sub-class of people working incredibly long hours for low pay, and for the most part hiding out on society's fringes, for fear of being discovered and deported. Most of these people wouldn't even know how to seek out our benefits, and in any case, wouldn't, for fear of retribution from a system that despises them. The idea of these people gobbling up our "benefits" is absurd.
This issue is a complicated one, and people claiming to preceive the truth in such a clear idelogical clarity, are missing the facts, or are simply delusional. "

 Edgar Pearlstein wrote on January 26, 2008 12:48 pm:
" My friend Dimitrij dismisses too readily the idea of compassion for these people. They are here trying to support themselves and their families, and they are not evil. Although the law is not on their side, government should be compassionate rather than hard-nosed. . . . And these hard workers should not be demonized with words like ‘gangs, drug pushers, human traffickers, prostitution, slavery and so on.’ "

 stignob wrote on January 26, 2008 5:01 pm:
" Mr. Fritts, you are joking right? Low pay, unskilled, then they put their kids in OUR schools, but no they are not using any of OUR "benefits". Then you can't go to OUR schools without going to see the doctor and I'm sure they got great health insurance, shall I go on? What part of illegal don't you understand. It's not the people, it's how they got here, that's Dimitrij point. "

 whatever wrote on January 26, 2008 7:09 pm:
" I wish I would have written this, very good piece Mr. Krynsky. Some who have commented here claim they understand the issue. I work with immigrants, some legal some not. My kids have friends that are immigrants some legal some not. They certainly aren't living in constant fear, nor do they deem themselves subclass. In fact they believe themselves entitled to all the opportunities legal citizens have without going through the process like Mr. Krynsky and others have. I know some who have kids in predominately Hispanic schools in Nebraska looking for ways to get their kids to, and in their words, "white school". As the funds/benefits in their "Hispanic Schools" have dried up under the sheer weight of numbers. And the idea that the illegal immigrants are not "gobbling up services" is naive`. No one who has "worked in outreach" who is honest can possibly support such a moronic stance. Unless of course they are delusional. "

 Vested Czech wrote on January 26, 2008 7:49 pm:
" As a fellow Czech, I believe Mr.Krynsky suffers from the drawbridge syndrome. "

 Immigrants welcome wrote on January 26, 2008 8:32 pm:
" I come from German immigrants. They came through Ellis Island and did it all the right way. I welcome all immigrants that come into our country the right way, the legal way. I am not happy with and do not support those sneak across the border. Yes, there are those looking for a better life, but there are also criminals. Every country has immigration laws and they all try to enforce them. Compassion for the poor or for those trying to better themselves has nothing to do with enforcing laws. Imagine if you will if every poor or down trodden person came freely into the US, we would then find ourselves not unlike a third world country unable to feed and care for all our citizens. Our lifestyles would change dramatically as all our money would be going for taxes to pay for services for those who cannot or are unable to work and we will all become poor and need assistance. "

 Dave wrote on January 27, 2008 7:34 am:
" I think we all agree that there are Illegal Aliens in Nebraska.The children of those Illegals that are born in the United States are American Citizens by birth. As American Citizens they are entitle to the same benefits that others Americans receive.By Federal law Illegal aliens are entitle to basic free medical care,also by Federal law their children are entitle to a free education which includes Translators if needed and free school lunches.For those of you that believe that Illegal Aliens and their families receive no benefits from the state of Nebraska,you're wrong. "

 Sylvia wrote on January 27, 2008 8:43 am:
" Maybe Dimitrij could write some sort of "how to" kit for these immigrants to show us all how to immigrate legally, show us all how he did it. Oh wait, the legal requirements have changed significantly and he can't sell skin-bleaching creams with it! If he could make this kit, he would make a billion dollars, no matter which language it was written in. It is nearly impossible for those here legally to meet all of their legal requirements and attorney meetings and attorney fees to do things the right way. It seems like it is impossible too to prosecute the large business owners who cut salaries for CAFOs, hog confinements, and dairies down to the point where a real American can't afford to work there and have enough money for soap to clean the smell out at the end of the day. "

 zeezil wrote on January 27, 2008 8:59 am:
" Illegal aliens come to America and expect us to turn our country - its laws, its culture, its system of citizen benefits - on its ear to benefit them. Then they accuse us of being racist, bigoted, and hateful xenophobes for requiring them to follow the law that countless LEGAL immigrants took the time to follow. They refuse to acknowledge how their actions can rightfully be interpreted as insulting. They’re essentially saying, “We don’t give a damn about you, your laws, your country or your culture…gimme, gimme, gimme.”

I’m quite sure that anyone who opposes illegal immigration would have no problem with immigrants of any stripe coming here legally, according to our laws, to make a better life for themselves. But by countless millions invading our country and overwhelming our schools and social systems, criminal justice system, hospitals, degrading our economy, taxing our already fragile infrastructure, crowding our cities and elbowing their way into jobs that are required by law to be given to citizens and legal workers; its just a bit of a problem to those of us who demand that our immigration laws be followed. It’s not racist or bigoted to demand that anyone who wants citizenship show their dedication to their new country by following its laws pertaining to immigration. Breaking those laws as your first action in your “new country” does not sit well with the vast majority of American citizens nor will they ever accept it.
"

 db wrote on January 27, 2008 9:53 am:
" This reads like a high school or junior high essay assignment. Not that there's anything wrong with that. "

 Terry wrote on January 27, 2008 12:38 pm:
" Nobody wants to break up a family. But there is a solution. When they take the illegal parents away take the legal children away with them as well. That way, there is no more crying, no more blaming evil Americans for having the audacity for not wanting illegals here in the first place. Yes, the bleeding hearts have their poster child pawns in the game! The fact that we are even debating this whole thing as a country is disgusting. There shouldn't even be a debate! When are we going to wake up! When our social services are drained? When our public schools are drained? When are social security is drained? (Which will happen a lot sooner than we realize) If two illegals have a child here that child should be illegal as well. That way the evil, horrible ICE men who cometh will not break up families. They can all be deported! End of problem. Illegal immigrants here deserve NOTHING! Once we give them NOTHING they will quit coming. Very, very few Americans have a problem with legal immigration. Very few. We welcome it! But I for one American am sick and tired of hearing every excuse, sob story, paperwork mix-up, lost green card, etc justifying there continued existence here. Wake up America! Only we can fix this. Our politicians (both parties!) won't do a damn thing about it. " "

 Send them home wrote on January 27, 2008 2:07 pm:
" A belated welcome to our shores to Mr. Krynsky, who stood in line patiently and came here legally. As to the rest, who come here illegally - perhaps 20 million of them - it is time to send them home. We should do it humanely, and over time so as not to disrupt our economy, but we should send them home. Children born here to illegal immigrants should not be citizens. Employers who knowingly recruit and hire illegals should do jail time. At the end of it all, a few upper-middle class people will have to clean their own homes, and construction firms and meat-packing plants will have to improve their job conditions, but thses things should have been true all along. Furthermore, our teenagers who want after-school and summer jobs will find good, hard work avaialable and an opportunity to prove themselves to future employers. And, we won't have a mass of frightened, abused, and vulnerable people in our midst who don't speak English and shouldn't be here. "

 Lindsay wrote on January 27, 2008 3:30 pm:
" Whatever happened to punishing the companies that hire and exploit illegal workers? Aren't we, in essence, creating the problem? "

 levotb wrote on January 27, 2008 3:38 pm:
" I only disagree with Ms. Krynsky's terming them "immigrants". They are, legally speaking, ILLEGAL ALIENS!! Calling them "immigrants" gives them credibility, and lawbreakers--particularly foreign ones who have broken into our country illegally--HAVE no credibility! "

 BurningAtlanta wrote on January 27, 2008 3:57 pm:
" I'm glad to see that Mr. Krynshy gets it. These are people that have shown a total contempt for our laws, our borders, and this nation. A nation that allows more legal immigration than the rest of the world combined. The worst are those that feel entitled to be here and deserve all the rights of any other citizen. Thankfully, in areas where anti-illegal laws have gone into effect, they're leaving. No cattle cars needed. "

 Bobby wrote on January 27, 2008 3:58 pm:
" Society isn't giving them benefits. Taxpayers are being forced to give benefits, that even they don't receive. Hey, this may just be a new definition of STUPIDITY. Vote for Senator John, "Americans won't pick lettuce for fifty dollars an hour", McCain, and he will take even more away from you and give it to them. Stupid is as stupid does. "

 Mike wrote on January 27, 2008 5:07 pm:
" Document fraud, being involved in human and drug trafficing, prostitution and other illegalities would prevent, under present immigration Law, any entry to or residence in our country on moral grounds. "

 K. wrote on January 27, 2008 5:45 pm:
" An exceptional article written by Mr. Krynsky! He took the words right out of my mouth, this is the kind of articles LJS should be publishing, stories of respectable people immigrating to the United States legally. I have the utmost respect for Dimitrij. "

 Frank wrote on January 27, 2008 6:04 pm:
" If illegals are not using benefits, why are so many opposed to laws that take benefits away from them? This law should not effect them in any way. "

 Bobby wrote on January 27, 2008 6:07 pm:
" Americans have to take back THEIR nation sooner or later. It does not belong to Mexican nationals, Guatamalan nationals, Irish nationals, English nationals, or any other group claiming to have "RIGHT" to be here. It is scary to think it may all lead to violence, because if there's one thing I know about Americans, when pushed they push back harder, a warning to all the racist ethnci groups hiding under the label of human rights groups. "

 Lee wrote on January 27, 2008 6:31 pm:
" I agree with this article and its writer's opinions. While I admit that immigrants are what contributed to making our country strong over the past several hundred years, the large number of ILLEGAL immigrants who choose to bypass our laws should not receive ANY benefits or rights provided by our constitution or governing bodies. Those that argue that we should have "compassion" and allow them to continue in this country and receive various benefits make me shake my head. People, the word is ILLEGAL!!! Laws are in place for a reason. By continuing to allow them to reside in America and assume the rights and benefits of Americans, we are, in a way, punishing those immigrants who came here legally with intentions of citizenship in this country.

As for businesses who are employing illegal aliens, stiff fines should be assessed against them along with a "probationary" period during which they and their hiring practices would be strongly monitored. "

 legalatina wrote on January 27, 2008 8:29 pm:
" Excellent commentary, Dimitrij and welcome to America! Know that thousands of Americans of Hispanic heritage, stand with you and agree. See, www.dontspeakforme.org
Enforce the law, secure the border, stop the job and benefits magnets. Ya es hora! (It's about time!) "

 Legal Immigrant wrote on January 27, 2008 9:49 pm:
" Wow, great piece, powerful and right on. "

 tim wrote on January 28, 2008 9:13 am:
" i love it when you liberals use undocumented immigrant instead of illegal immigrant. they people have broken our laws and should not be given legal status, period. to answer the question what services are they getting? health care every time they're in an auto accident that requires treatment or have a baby, we pay the medical cost. this increases our taxes and our auto insurance. i'm forced to care insurance for non insured motorist with every premium. grant illegals citizenship and the welfare system will be bombarded with people. no one should get citizenship unless they can assimilate into our culture without government assistance. "

 Jimi wrote on January 28, 2008 10:34 am:
" For those of you supporting mass illegal invasions to the USA, I have a question for you:
How many is too many? 100 million, 500 million, 2 billion? Yes, that's how many would come here tommorrow if they could sneak in. How's the crowding in your kid's schools? Been in any traffic lately? How's your local crime rate doing? Seen any grafitti?
Come to Los Angeles, the capitol of the third world if you want any answers to these questions.
So, how many is too many? "

 Right On! wrote on January 28, 2008 11:27 am:
" Totally agree with this! These people are ILLEGALLY in the US. WE are PAYING for them to be here. They are hardworking? Guess what, SO AM I!! I work hard for my family - not to subsidize ILLEGAL ALIENS! I support this article and the bills in the Legislature. REMOVE this burden from our borders!! Let them come legally, pay taxes, register, etc and i'm all for it. "

 D. L. Cavazos wrote on January 28, 2008 12:07 pm:
" Tim, the people who use, 'undocumented immigrant' are the kind of people who would use 'undocumented pharmacists' for drug dealers or 'undocumented withdrawers' for bank robbers. "

 Hey wrote on January 28, 2008 12:26 pm:
" Sylvia. These pay mules to get them into the country. As high as 5 thousand dollars. Don't tell me they can't get in here legally for 5 thousand dollars. Get Real. "

 Dimitrij Krynsky wrote on January 28, 2008 2:44 pm:
" Dear friends, I am grateful for all of your comments, which support my column. Because we are coming from the same position, we can work for the common goal. I believe that illegal immigration is threatening the soul and future of this country. Together we can stop it. Please contact me. My e-mail adress is: krynskydm@neb.rr.com my telephone, (402) 484 - 0574 is in the Lincoln telephone book.
I am also grateful for the comments of those who disagree with me. I would like also meet with them. We are all Americans; we can exchange oppinion in a civil manner. Dimitrij "

 Bob wrote on January 28, 2008 7:21 pm:
" At present birth rates, states starting in California and working east will be eventually majority Hispanic voters. It is inevitable. Deal with it. "

 Tod wrote on January 30, 2008 2:51 pm:
" I have to agree with Dimitri and Jimi - the real question is how many is too many? The last time I checked, the US LEGALLY allowed over 6 million immigrants from Mexico and Latin America in a 10 year period. That sounds like alot to me. How many is too many? Raise the number and let them in legally. For those that come here illegally, fine the employers and kick them out. "

 Rxwoman wrote on January 30, 2008 9:54 pm:
" I have to say I got a real kick out of very opinionated letter. What tickles me is how the illegal immigrant problem has suddenly become this election's wedge issue. I mean really, has the problem suddenly gotten worse? Has there been a dramatic increase in illegals? No. It's not a new problem, it's not a new issue, it's just being brought up so much more.
Secondly, why is it the only answer to this issue that anyone seems to be able to come up with involves persecuting those with the least power, and most to lose, the desperate poor immigrants? How about going after the employers? Why is that no one ever talks about prosecuting businesses who hire illegals? And why do I never see any hatefull, and angry letters directed towards these businesses? After all, as long as there are jobs to be had, there is no way to keep people from finding a way over here. "

 They're not all the same. wrote on January 31, 2008 12:01 am:
" If only you guys knew first hand. You are so quick to judge, but think about how many Americans commit the same crimes. Drugs, prostitution, etc... I know so many people that come here to better their life. They don't commit crimes, they don't go on welfare. The opportunities here are so much better than their homeland. Our immigration laws do not allow people to come here if they are not financially stable, that is why most of them come here illegaly. I am an American Citizen, born and raised. Yet, I have to move to Mexico (to an area of poverty) because my spouse (of 7 years) and I do not want to be separated. Yes, love is everything. If people just looked beyond status, maybe they would give an illegal alien a benefit of dought. Just try to understand both sides of the story. It might make you a better person. "

 Just remember... wrote on January 31, 2008 2:49 pm:
" Our glorious country was founded by illegal immigrants.

What did they want here? The freedom to prosper in the best possible way they could conceive of for their children.

And, oh yeah, they definitely didn't speak the native language. "

 georgestraitfan wrote on February 11, 2008 7:15 am:
" I have been telling people about this problem for years now. America is digging itself a deeper hole and drowning in their own messes. I hate to see how it will be like if we DON'T take away the benefits from the illegals. They wouldn't be coming here if we didn't have anything to offer (free food, healthcare, etc.). They are also going to have to stop letting any baby born in the U.S. to become an automatic citizen as well. America...is going downhill all the way if we don't change the way we are doing things. "

 Sean1 wrote on February 23, 2008 12:34 pm:
" Illegal immigration is the abhorent importation of labor at slave wages. Those who advocate turning a blind eye to it are more concerned about their $2.00 a day nannies, maids and gardeners or whether they'll have to pay a few cents more for lettuce and tomatoes than they do about human diginity. They are no better than those who stood at the blocks prior to the civil war and made bids on ownership of their fellow human beings. "

 Dave wrote on April 27, 2008 7:29 am:
" For being poor,they sure send a lot of money back to Mexico and other points south.

Source: Inter-American Development Bank, March 2006 report, “Remittance 2005”. Mexico remains the largest recipient of remittances, at over US$20 billion, followed by Brazil and Columbia which for the first time reached over US$6 and US$4 billion respectively. Central America and the Dominican Republic combined to reach over US$11 billion; and the Andean countries totaled almost US$9 billion.

http://www.iadb.org/mif/v2/files/guemez_remitforum05.pdf

As much as 50% of remittances are unreported. As published in the Development Prospect Group Briefing #3, "This amount only reflects transfers through official channels. Econometric analysis suggests that unrecorded flows through informal channels may add 50 percent or more to recorded flows. Including these unrecorded flows, the true size of remittances, is larger than foreign direct investment flows and more than twice as large as official aid received by developing countries."

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTPROSPECTS/Resources/334934-1110315015165/MigrationDevelopmentBriefingNov2006.pdf
"

 dewboy wrote on April 27, 2008 12:24 pm:
" Feed them, bath them, educate them, house them. sooner or later we will be in the same shape as Arizona. BROKE. We are already taking a hard hit in schools. "

 I agree wrote on April 27, 2008 7:13 pm:
" Last week I had the opportunity to listen to the candidates for Sen Hagel's seat. I will tell you that if you agree with Dimitrij, you should take a look at the candidate websites. The following is one candidate's view on the illegal alien issue.


(1) Uphold the current laws. Keep employers and the service industry accountable in their hiring practices. No government handouts for these illegals also.

(2) No amnesty

(3)Repatriate the illegal aliens and have them sign up for the US-VISIT program if they haven't already left because of upholding the law.

(4) Strengthen Citizenship by having English as our common language and; clarifying birthright citizenship.

(5) Policy must benefit the American Economy - Don't import poverty; emphasize high skill immigration.

(6) Have a Real Temporary Work Program - Keep it temporary; have it Employer Sponsored.

"

 Reality slaps face wrote on June 5, 2008 11:12 am:
" Mr Dimitrij is completely wrong as are many of the posters here due to a common belief started as a non-issue by the Republicans as a way to shift focus from the war. It lives on among the uninformed and the bigot. Here is part of a report on the reality of what the so called "illegals" do to the economy. The report is as follows:
" A report by the top financial officer of Texas claims illegal immigrants are more a boon to the Lone Star State’s economy than a drain, adding another layer to the immigration reform debate.
Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn found that illegal immigrants not only contributed more than $17 billion to the state’s economy in the last fiscal year, but that they also pay more than enough in taxes and fees to cover the services they receive.
The report - billed as the first comprehensive analysis by any state financial officer - is being hailed by immigrants’ rights groups.
Strayhorn’s report said they added $17.7 billion to the gross state product in fiscal year 2005 and produced $1.58 billion in revenues by paying taxes and fees and by playing the lottery. They received $1.16 billion in state services, the report said.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform, which supports tougher border security and an end to illegal immigration, estimated illegal immigration costs Texas $3.7 billion a year. The conservative Lone Star Foundation came up with a similar number in a June report." "

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