Illegal immigrant labor isn't cheap

I don't normally use any unsolicited e-mail correspondence in this column because much of that information cannot be verified. And as everyone knows, much of the so-called "facts" you receive over the Internet are much closer to urban legends than they are to facts. But I'll make an exception in this case.

First, the federal government on Friday (and this is a fact) issued a new estimate of the number of illegal immigrants in this country. The feds says there are just over 11 million illegal immigrants here now which represents a drastic increase from the 8.5 million who had arrived just five years ago. You can do the math yourself and see where we may find ourselves in a decade or so.

Immigrant reform supporters - such as myself and millions of others - believe we must take much more drastic measures to halt this daily flow of illegal immigrants. I won't bore you with the doomsday prospects unless action is taken and taken quickly.

But many within the business community say that without the "cheap" labor performed by this illegal population, our economy would virtually shut down. They argue that many segments of the business society demand the "cheap" labor simply to remain in business. And though California, Texas and Florida are home to most of these illegal immigrants, there are many local business leaders who mount the same "cheap" labor argument.

Here's where the e-mail comes in. I know the basic information contained is correct and I'll accept the conclusion as well.

Cheap labor? Let's make the assumption of an illegal immigrant who, along with his wife and five children, enter the United States so he can work at a $5 an hour "cheap labor" job in the field of California. If that illegal immigrant files an income tax return - for which he is required - he qualified for a $3,200 earned income credit from the feds. He also qualifies for Section 8 housing and food stamps. He qualifies for free health care and free school lunches for the children. He can receive energy assistance and if he becomes disabled, he qualifies for SSI and, once qualified, for Medicare.

All of these expenses are paid for by taxpayers, not some nameless, distant federal government.

If you total the potential benefits for this "cheap" labor it tops $20 an hour and more in terms of the cash outlay by the federal government - and yes, that's we taxpayers once again.

There is so much more to the debate over illegal immigration than the ability of some employer looking for qualified "cheap" labor. What may seem like cheap labor actually ends up costing all of us billions of dollars each and every year. And the numbers support the fact that nearly one million illegal immigrants enter and remain in this country year in and year out.

I'm tired of arguing with my friends who point out that their business depends on this steady form of labor. I'm tired of paying much of the tab for this "cheap" labor. And I cannot and will not accept the impending fact that my children and their children will carry this burden to their graves.

We either decide as a society that we want to address illegal immigration or we accept a lower standard of living for generations to come. That should be an easy choice.