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There are many different ways to define and to measure poverty. However, if
we assume welfare use suggests family income provides an unsatisfactory
standard of living, one might conclude the U.S. is importing poverty. For
example,
among households in the U.S. in which the head of household is U.S. born,
approximately 15% use one or more basic welfare programs, i. e., Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, Supplemental Security Income
(SSI), and/or Medicaid. However, among households in the U.S. in which the head
of
household is not U.S. born, approximately 23% use one or more basic welfare
programs. (Source: Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) analysis of March,
2002 Current Population Survey data collected by the Census Bureau.)
Why should this be the case? As Dr. Steven A. Camaroto of CIS
wrote in a March, 2003 report, "The high rate of welfare use
associated with immigrants is not explained by unwillingness
to work. In 2001, almost 80% of immigrant households using welfare
had at least one person working. One of the main reasons for
the heavy reliance of immigrants on welfare programs is that
a very large share have little education. The American economy
offers very limited opportunities to such workers, and as a
result many immigrants who work are still eligible for welfare
because of their low incomes." Thus, employers who hire immigrant
workers at low wages let taxpayers pay for services such workers
can't afford.
In this era of "Not one child left behind," there may be need for an
organization working to ensure immigration policy is not designed to increase
the
number of U.S. households, most with children, requiring welfare to live
minimally healthy lives. If you know of such an organization, please click on
"Contact Us" and tell us about yourself and about this organization.
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