tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20766270.post4002686309084577658..comments2023-11-03T10:47:15.035-04:00Comments on andrew mook - with abandon - blog: immigration in ri: a brief historical perspectiveandrew mookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11006673413283076745noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20766270.post-64336520747764018082009-03-04T14:07:00.000-05:002009-03-04T14:07:00.000-05:00Amen, Eric! Kudos for offering important facts an...Amen, Eric! Kudos for offering important facts and making an important distinction.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20766270.post-72840473983744809122009-03-04T13:04:00.000-05:002009-03-04T13:04:00.000-05:00interesting. how does this relate to the legality ...interesting. how does this relate to the legality of living here illegally? is there a distinction in this debate between legal and illegal immigrants? <BR/><BR/>we have qualms with stealing, or the draft, but when you add unnecessary burdens on the public to support illegal immigration everything suffers: increased water demand on public systems, over-capacity roads and highways underfunded by additional non-taxpayers, 1300 acres of open space being sold for development each year, increased air pollution due to population (we have an "F" so far), increased poverty, +18% increase in classroom sizes, etc....<BR/><BR/>there needs to be some balance here. i don't think this is an issue of solely how we RELATE to immigrants. we also need to be aware that there are existing laws to deal with illegal immigration, and our state taxpayers (specifically) can not afford to continue to pay for it at this rate.<BR/><BR/><BR/>some facts:<BR/>-12% (35,000) of rhode islanders were born in another country.<BR/>1/3 of them (~4% of rhode islanders) are here illegally.<BR/><BR/>- emergency medial care, education, and incarceration cost us over $100 million in 2008 <BR/><BR/>- ~5% of rhode island's prison population is illegal immigrants <BR/><BR/>- state health care for illegal immigrants cost $8 million in 2008<BR/><BR/>- on average, an illegal immigrant will cost taxpayers $22,500 per year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com