Illegal immigrants ?

It's absolute bullshit. DH and I are both legal immigrants. We were not eligible for any benefits for 10 years after getting a green card, and, because I already had a green card and he didn't, I was financially responsible for him for 10 years. Illegal immigrants get by by working their asses off 6 and 7 days a week, usually doing backbreaking work for little pay (minimum wage doesn't apply to them and they are taken advantage of by employers), living in very crowded situations so that they can afford the rent, and sending their kids to school to learn English. All while also sending money back to family in Mexico or whatever country they came from, where they are even worse off.

I suspect your friend doesn't understand the difference between refugees and immigrants.

Refugees do get some government support for a limited time period.

Immigrants, whether documented or undocumented, do not get government support.

I'm not an immigration expert, but I work with refugees and immigrants. In my area, only refugees with children under 18 qualify for welfare. My experience with undocumented immigrants was that they had jobs. That was the reason they took the risk of entering the US- they came here to work. Many people don't realize that many undocumented workers pay taxes.

from Wikipedia:
IRS estimates that about 6 million unauthorized immigrants file individual income tax returns each year.[22] Research reviewed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicates that between 50 percent and 75 percent of unauthorized immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes.[22] Illegal immigrants are estimated to pay in about $7 billion per year into Social Security.[23] In addition, they spend billions of dollars per year, which supports the US economy and helps to create new jobs. The Texas State Comptroller reported in 2006 that the 1.4 million unauthorized immigrants in Texas added almost $18 billion to the gross state product, and contributed $1.58 billion in state revenue, while costing the state about $1.16 billion in services used.
"Research reviewed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicates that between 50 percent and 75 percent of unauthorized immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes. Illegal immigrants are estimated to pay in about $7 billion per year into Social Security."

I believe it didn't go through as of June of this year though children and pregnant persons can get coverage. I believe there is also a program of disabled immigrants so the child is cared for.

I personally was hoping illegal immigrants would be able to buy into ACA/Covered Ca but it was stopped. Any person should be able to have coverage.

Yes any student here gets free breakfast and lunch and during summer any child 0-18 gets free breakfast and lunch at certain city sites.

They also pay sales tax for every purchase and they pay property taxes through their rent (or mortgage if they buy a home with a documented spouse). They’re generally not eligible for any safety net programs except for their children.

The economy of Texas (and probably other states) would look very different without undocumented labor. No one wants to talk about that. They come here, work hard and contribute in most cases, and are treated like a political football by both parties and like parasites by folks like your friend.

Tell her to stop watching Fox News-it's brainwashing her as much as Hitler brainwashed the Germans with false propaganda against the Jews in Germany. Back then most Germans didn't believe they were being brainwashed either. Same thing with folks today watching Fox News day in and day out. 

I agree with the above. I don't think anything will change her mind. The other thing I hear is people make more in unemployment than they do working, so no one wants to work. I call BS on that, too. In the beginning of the pandemic, we were furloughed for a few weeks. The money I got from unemployment was minimal. There's no way people were living off of that.

Please don't use the term "illegals". It dehumanizes people.

Things to know about the labor shortage. This is something that is related to the immigrant issue and may help.

If we have a labor shortage - which we currently do - there are only 3 ways to solve the shortage.

1. People who currently don't work - students and retired people - will need to enter the labor force, whether they want/need to or not.
2. People who are currently working will need to work more hours, whether overtime at their current job or picking up a second/third job.
3. We will need to bring in immigrants to fill the open positions.

Our immigration system is broken. We NEED immigrants to come in and do a lot of jobs that Americans won't do, or won't do for the wages they would be paid. A lot of candidates and politicians talk a big game about "getting rid of the illegals" but the reality is that they wouldn't be coming if there weren't work for them. If you want illegal immigration to stop, start arresting those who are hiring them.

It's weird to me - we have a huge drug problem in the US but everyone feels sympathy for the poor victims of addiction and wants to punish the ones making money off of the drugs. But with immigration, it's the opposite - we don't feel sorry for the victims of illegal immigration and we want to punish them while ignoring the ones who are making money off of them.

Everyone forgets who picks the crops. Those who follow the crops all across the United States. They start in the warmer states and work north, then most go home and come back next year.

The majority of Americans choose not to take low wage jobs doing what is famously called, 'stoop labor'..

How quickly you forget that Abbott has been bussing immigrants all over the country and dumping them. BTW: most immigrants are not bringing drugs in, if at all.

If you are so sure of what is going on at the border, go help!!

Remember IMMIGRANTS made this country!! We are all descendents of Immigrants! Indigenous people were here before any of us were, as is the case to our south when the Spaniards arrived!!