Immigrants Are a Drain on the U.S. Economy.

"Often the same people who champion the right of U. S. corporations to operate freely in other countries also scapegoat immigrants in the United States for draining social programs, stealing jobs, and dragging social down wages. The National Academy of Sciences calculates that each immigrant and his or her descendants will provide $80,000 more in tax revenues over their lifetime than the will use in ser vices. The Urban Institute calculated that all immigrants who arrived in the United States between 1970 and 1992 paid between $25 and $30 billion more in taxes than they used in welfare and social services during this period."

Taken from the book "Rethinking Globalization" by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson (page 16-17)

Thank you LeslieQ and CommentOpportunity! I am from Guatemala...
I would probably feel as you LeslieQ if i was in your position. I can't blame you. I do blame society and the media. We all know that half of what we watch in the news is crap. If i was told everyday that immigrants bring down the economy, i would also oppose to them coming in here illegally. Please, consider the following points.

On Immigrants not paying taxes:
The truth is, that immigrants do NOT bring down the economy... in fact it helps it. For instance, both of my parents, me and my brother work, we all get paid in checks. The money that they deduct from our checks will never return to us. Me and my family, we all do taxes yet we never get any money back because you can't if you do not have papers. Trust me, there are many, many immigrants who pay taxes and do not get any money back. So what happens to that money? The govt. keeps it. I know rumor has it, that immigrants only work and don't pay taxes...false. The majority of illegal residents in the U.S. pay taxes...And what when we buy things at the market? Nobody says "Oh, wait...that is an illegal alien...don't charge him tax."

On immigrants draining social programs:
Well, what can I say about this? Let's say I am unemployed, and want to get monetary help from the govt. The first thing that they ask you for is proof that you are legally living in the United States. This is also truth for WIC, Welfare and any other type of help from the govt. that you can think of. So how can I take advantage of these services if I can't prove that legally living here? Of course, if you are illegal you can't get federal help to go college. I have two jobs and I am a full time student so I can't be the reason why a legal resident of the United States isn’t doing something with his life.

On immigrants corrupting the American youth:
Many times I have been told that immigrants bring drug habits to the United States. I've also been told that we are stealers, abusive and the nastiest people. Well, in reality segregation among ethnic groups in the United States would make it hard for me to "teach my bad ways" to other people. I've never stole anything from anyone. And you are not abusive just because you are illegal. I am an educated person, I've been told that I am polite. Your legal status in a country does not determine the kind of person you are.

Finally please consider this: I was forced to come to the United States. I remember that when my parents told me that we were moving I refused. But what could I do? I couldn't stay by myself in Guatemala. I was just 14 years old and my sister was 7.

I want to thank you LeslyQ because you are so polite, you are open to what I have to say and not everyone is as tolerant.

Thanks to everyone else for reading!