Local View: Immigrants can help a community
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By MARK WEDDLETON
In the first six months of this year, Lincoln’s crime rate dropped a record 19 percent. One likely factor contributing to this improvement is the growing number of immigrants in our community.
Wait, you say, that can’t be! Doesn’t everybody know that more immigrants equals more crime?
There have been tragic individual instances of crimes that seem to confirm this common misperception. They stand out in the public’s mind, reinforcing the stereotype.
But study after study shows otherwise. A rise in immigration makes us safer.
Take California, the state with the greatest number of first-generation immigrants. Statistics on all men ages 18-39, the demographic most likely to be in prison, reveal that those who are native-born are 10 times more likely to be in jail than those who are immigrants. Research in Florida, Texas, Illinois and nationwide turns up similar results.
Lincoln mirrors what is happening across the country: the crime rate has been in steady decline since the early 1990s, the period marked by the most recent wave of increased immigration.
For those who make the effort to get to know these newcomers to our community, it’s not hard to see the reason they are having such a positive influence: So many are here to pursue the American dream. They are parents working hard to build a new life for their children or single people scrimping and saving to send money to help their families back in their native land. The last thing they want is an arrest to take away all they’re working for.
Our state’s cultural composition is changing, and change can be hard. In the first five years of this decade, the number of first-generation immigrants in Nebraska grew more than 34 percent. For some of our state’s towns, the difference is dramatic and has brought with it some real adjustment challenges not to be taken lightly.
In such a circumstance, it’s a common human response to react with fear of the change. Things look more positive, though, when we look at the facts and work together to find forward-looking solutions.
For example, it is a common misperception that immigrants who are living and working here without legal status don’t pay taxes and so are using social services without contributing their fair share.
The Social Security Administration estimates that actually three-quarters of these workers pay federal, state and local taxes through payroll deduction. They pay sales tax with each purchase. They also pay property tax, most often through rent.
How much do these taxes add up to? Each year just for Social Security, it comes to between $6 billion and $7 billion, with an additional $1.5 billion in Medicare taxes. Moreover, these workers will never get back the billions they put in because they are here without permission and are therefore unable to collect Social Security benefits. Federal law also prohibits them from receiving most other state, local or federal benefits except for public education and emergency medical care.
Their contribution is especially significant because while the native-born population in the United States is aging, most recent immigrants are in their prime productive years. Through their labor power and the taxes they pay, they make a significant and growing contribution to supporting the rest of us.
When I spent a summer in Mexico a few years ago, a lot of people I met there lamented the loss of a huge part of their most productive work force to the United States. Their loss has been our gain.
It shouldn’t be a surprise these newcomers are helping in unexpected ways. We are a nation of immigrants. Historically, each wave of immigration brought something new and positive to shaping our country despite the initial hostility they’ve faced.
If present patterns continue, in less than 35 years, ethnic and racial minorities will make up the majority of the U.S. population. This change is being fueled by the arrival of new immigrants and the higher birthrate among immigrant populations.
How will we Nebraskans from all backgrounds face this changing reality? Will we rise to the occasion, exhibit a spirit of grace and be a welcoming community? Will we learn the facts about the contribution immigrants are making and join together with our new neighbors to build a new America?
Or will we have a “circle the wagons” mentality, acting out of fear and anger based on stereotypical misperceptions?
Our children’s future, our country’s future, depends on how we answer that question.
Mark Weddleton, a Lincoln schoolteacher, encourages you to visit www.immigrationpolicy.org to learn the facts about immigration.
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Thank you wrote on September 6, 2008 7:02 am:
Yes wrote on September 6, 2008 7:45 am:
Sean wrote on September 6, 2008 8:04 am:
MS13 and workers receiving slave labor wages are a benefit? Really?
You spent a Summer in Mexico a few years ago? Too bad you could'nt make a more recent trip to observe the governments bloody crackdown against the drug cartels. I hear one Mexican mayor has been nicknamed Rambo because he held off a hit squad with an M-16.
The reason crime is down is because Immigration, more specifically ICE is finally enforcing the law. Admittedly not to the extent they could be. Crime and the other social ills resultin from illegal immigration are being forced back across the border. Where they belong. "
russell wrote on September 6, 2008 8:22 am:
secondthoughts wrote on September 6, 2008 9:34 am:
Pokey wrote on September 6, 2008 9:58 am:
Roberto wrote on September 6, 2008 1:21 pm:
Yup wrote on September 6, 2008 2:23 pm:
shaky after Backer mistreatment wrote on September 6, 2008 3:38 pm:
cops, but I do agree that people of all races with a strong work ethic desire to avoid being part of the criminal justice system; those with even minor differences from the mainstream,however, are at a strong disadvantage in Lincoln. "
Immigration laws were set wrote on September 6, 2008 5:27 pm:
RussianMike wrote on September 6, 2008 7:33 pm:
I wonder if most folks who criticize "illegals" as good-for-nothing, job-stealing, law breakers know what is required of immigrants who wish to enter the country legally, in terms of time, qualifications, and money. I don't know the answer; I'm asking sincerely.
I do understand that it is complex, lines are long, and it requires money. Time and money aren't things that many immigrants have to spare, and when you combine that with a complex, difficult-to-read rule book, I don't find it very surprising that so many people decide to come without legal documents.
Oh. And just to turn the tables a bit. A US passport is a little like Charlie's Golden Ticket - if you're a tourist. Acquiring a work visa is considerably more complicated, even if you are an American. I have run into an awkward Catch-22 over and over, being required to have a job to get a work visa, and needing a work visa to get a job.
I have received similar (non-official) advice from almost everyone I've talked to, from students who have already been to this country, to professors at my university, to employers in South America: enter on a tourist visa, work illegally, and "renew" your tourist visa every three months by taking a vacation across the border.
Americans sometimes bend the rules a bit too. Is this ok? "
kudos wrote on September 6, 2008 8:13 pm:
whatever wrote on September 6, 2008 8:50 pm:
erik wrote on September 6, 2008 9:15 pm:
get over yourselves, xenophobes, you know quite well that new Americans or undocumented residents don't live off fraud and crime but doing the hard work you clearly don't want to do. "
not the whole picture wrote on September 6, 2008 10:06 pm:
Brian wrote on September 7, 2008 1:15 am:
Re not whole wrote on September 7, 2008 7:07 am:
Kudos to you, though, for going beyond the typical approach of just basing your views on impressions and trying to find out the facts. It would be helpful if someone would do more in-depth research on how Nebraska's statistics compare with other states. And if we are in fact out of sync with the rest of the country, what can we change in our approach to have the positive impact of immigrants on crime reflected here? "
no wrote on September 7, 2008 7:23 am:
crime isn't simply a personal choice - it's a part of larger systemic problems. "
Noel Epke Yuma AZ wrote on September 7, 2008 8:57 am:
Racecrime wrote on September 7, 2008 12:58 pm:
It would be more helpful to have the economic and educational background of those in prison reported, since those are the two factors -- not race -- most likely to lead to "doing time." Since minorities are more likely to be poor and have dropped out of school, their percentages in jail are higher. This tells us that the best way to fight crime is to work to reduce poverty and increase high school graduation rates. That's where our resources should go if we're looking for effective solutions.
This also highlights how important the statistics about the low rate of incarceration of immigrants are. Certainly there are many immigrants who bring to this country a strong educational background and are professionals such as engineers, doctors, etc. However, most are unskilled laborers who have lived a life of poverty and lack of opportunity in their country of origin. Despite that, they are able to buck the trend among other low-income communities in this country. How do they do it? We have much to learn from them. "
Racism wrote on September 7, 2008 1:02 pm:
Thanks Brian wrote on September 7, 2008 5:34 pm:
karwied wrote on September 7, 2008 5:38 pm:
Thanks wrote on September 7, 2008 7:08 pm:
Forrest wrote on September 7, 2008 7:57 pm:
Catch wrote on September 7, 2008 9:06 pm:
My great grandparents came to the U.S. seeking "government handouts" via free land, just wanting a better life for their family. Just because I was fortunate enough to be born in the U.S. doesn't mean that I should be upset that others want a better life for their family. "
Lindsay wrote on September 8, 2008 9:41 am:
Russian Mike, I agree that most people commenting on here have NO IDEA what going through the immigration process is like. And if they did they would probably be able to see why we have a problem with undocumented workers. My husband came over on a k-1 visa (fiance visa). The initial application was about $600. Then you are requested to send in more information in a second packet. Following that there are two more sets of info packets you must send in. Not to mention various types of records you must procure (in foreign countries it is sometimes difficult to procure certain legal documents). There is also a mandatory medical at an USCIS approved doctor's office that cost $200. After that you must return a month later to do the formal interview...another $500 for the visa and with courrier fees top that with another $100. I'm not even counting in the lost wages work missed and the traveling expenses for the medical and interview. There are also police reports that must be ordered which was probably another $100.
Once my husband came over, he went through passport control where he had another interview. Once we got married he was able to send in paperwork to adjust his status...another $1100. He will hopefully get a temporary work permit in the next few weeks but his green card will take about a year to process. That green card is only good for two years...we then have to apply to remove conditions and pay another (approx) $2000 to get his 10 year green card. We haven't even looked into the cost of the naturalization process yet and the requirements of that.
So basically, we are doing everything right and by the book. Since arriving 3 month ago my husband hasn't been able to work despite him wanting to...it took well over a month to get his Social Security number so now he is just able to get a bank account, state ID etc. If you've spoke to legal immigrants about this process, it is daunting, expensive, and you are often met with bureaucratic ineptitude. In short, the USCIS is a true nightmare to deal with. And this is my experience with a British person coming into the country...it is even more difficult dealing with the US consulate in Mexico.
I can't truly summarize the process here. It is extremely difficult to go through without a lawyer. You have to prove certain income requirements. You rack up lots of traveling expenses for interviews. Once you get into the country you have to have money to support yourself because you can't work for at least several months. I really don't think the problem lies with the immigrant...it looks like our system needs a major overhaul. "
karwied wrote on September 8, 2008 6:40 pm:
Lindsay wrote on September 9, 2008 12:09 pm:
I did not use a lawyer at all in fact...we very carefully did this all on our own. I would be happy to show you all the documentation, copies of the checks etc. Acutally, I would reccomend checking out the forums of www.visajourney.com to understand the frustration and nightmares that are possible going through the USCIS system. We're very lucky as our case was fairly straight forward.
There are many different types of visas all requiring different fees, paperwork etc. I used my husband's case as an example of how difficult and complicated it can be. "
Tzi wrote on September 9, 2008 12:09 pm:
I don’t think anyone has a problem with LEGAL immigrants coming to live in the United States.
My problem is with ILLEGAL immigrants – who despite what you say are raising the crime simply by being here, hence the word “illegal”.
Illegal immigrants we can live without. Many of them are uneducated, going right to the bottom of the economic ladder. Unfortunately the swelling of that class is felt everywhere else. There have been cases of hospitals in California who legally cannot refuse to anyone coming for aid going out of business because illegals can’t pay their bills. They’re also flooding our socialist programs like welfare and housing subsidies and college aid. I know people who are actual citizens who don’t own houses and can’t afford to go to college. The thought that these people who have no respect for our laws getting first dibs makes me sick.
Our southern border is becoming a very scary place indeed. Drug gangs are committing murders as well as running their illegal products over our border. There are known serial rapists and car thieves who hop the border, commit their crimes and run home secure in the knowledge that Mexico won’t extradite them. Related to this are the political extremists being chased out of their homelands. There are pockets of immigrants starting to form that are demanding that they not only that they live separately from the United States, but that they’re owed territory that they will make into a new homeland. "
RussianMike wrote on September 9, 2008 4:41 pm:
(Karweid, the law is not static. It can be changed, and often does. I certainly hope our immigration laws are cleaned up to be easier to navigate.)
Mr. Weddleton has demonstrated how illegal immigrants actually contribute substantially to The System, without getting much back. If you can demonstrate evidence to the contrary, please do share with the rest of us. However, to the best of my knowledge, if you don't have papers, you can't participate in welfare programs or receive state-sponsored financial aid.
I am always baffled that people place the blame on hard-working individuals rather than the employers who hire them. Clearly, hiring people who have no legal right to be here is in the interest of some businesses. You can pay them next-to-nothing for difficult, dangerous work, fire them on a whim (even job-related injuries), and generally treat them however you'd like, since the law does not protect them.
The folks flooding across our borders are only a symptom of underlying issues. The complexity and cost of our legal immigration system turns would-be legal immigrants away, while the promise of illegal job offers draws immigrants to the country illegally. "
Jim C wrote on September 11, 2008 5:12 pm: