[Patty M.]

Do Latino/Hispanic people who have just arrived in the United States feel they should be entitled to all the benefits, medical, housing, jobs, etc. without having to apply for citizenship?

User Detail :  

Name : Patty M., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Multiethnic, Religion : Spiritualism, Age : 49, City : White Plains, State : NY, Country : United States, 

[lea-james]

Its the same in UK where Bangaldeshi, Somailians, Eastern Europeans flood our cities because of our very generous benefit system and favorable treatment of so-called aslyum seekers – unlike many other european countries who expect such people to contribute to the host country before qualifying for handouts. Ironically, we have a high indiginous population of homeless people and those who could be classified as living in poverty

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Name : lea-james, City : london, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, 

[Lea-J]

It’s the same in the United Kingdom, where Bangaldeshi, Somailians and Eastern Europeans flood our cities because of our very generous benefit system and favorable treatment of so-called aslyum seekers – unlike many other European countries that expect such people to contribute to the host country before qualifying for handouts. Ironically, we have a high indigenous population of homeless people and those who could be classified as living in poverty.

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Name : Lea-J, City : London, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, 

[Lisa22797]

Why do you mention only Latinos? Why not all immigrants? Do you feel Russians and Germans should be allowed to reap the ‘benefits’ of being an American without proper citizenship? After all, they’re immigrants, too. My intention is not to be flippant, but I’m not sure of what angle you’re coming from.

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Name : Lisa22797, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, City : Gaithersburg, State : MD, Country : United States, 

[ACC25095]

I have to agree with Dan, but also add to it that even legal immigrants, like my own wife, have a terrible time. They get practically NO benefits that US citizens are eligible for, no welfare, food stamps, medical care except emergency, nothing at all except grants for college which are the same as for citizens and barely cover tuition at a public university. In fact they have to sign a declaration upon entry to the US specifically pledging NOT to ever apply for public assistance and can be deported for breaking it. The idea that ‘immigrants come over to here to sponge off taxpayers’ is just one more ugly racist and xenophobic myth. And the fact that you single out Latinos when Latinos make up only about half of all immigrants underscores just how racist that myth that you have fallen for is. My wife had to deal with employers who underpaid her (often off the books) by ‘forgetting’ to give her overtime pay and even tried to pull a fast one by deducting allegedly ‘normal’ expenses (but not from the other employees) plus plenty of rude and racist a-hole customers and other employees who picked on her because of her accent and their false assumption she did not understand their English. I can only imagine how much worse it must be for those who come here without anyone already here to help them out and make sure they are not taken advantage of.

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Name : ACC25095, Race : Mexican and American Indian, City : San Antonio, State : TX, Country : United States, 

[Lucy22445]

I grew up in an agricultural community in California. There were a lot of immigrants from Mexico and Central America, most working in agriculture, and others working in low-paying janitorial or other service positions. There were a few who tried to work the system and get what they could out of the government, but that is true for every group. The vast majority of the immigrants I knew – both those here legally and illegally – were amoung the hardest working people I have ever known. Everybody worked, and many families pooled their resources to make ends meet. They live together, share cars, share household and childcare responsibilities. A lot of immigrants from Mexico and Central America do not have healthcare insurance through their jobs, so they are in the same situation as many other low-income Americans. Medical care is all home remedies unless there is a servere illness and in that case the county emergency room is their only option. The people I have known do not feel they are entitled to anything. They are only here looking for the opportunity to work and make a better life for their families. They are really no different from the ancestors of any other American. It is the natural-born Americans who tend to feel that they are entitled to something without having to work for it.

User Detail :  

Name : Lucy22445, Gender : F, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Age : 26, City : San Jose, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : Engineer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Dan31700]

Your typical undocumented immigrant is unable to recieve any governmental medical benefits. If they applied, they’d have to compromise their undocumented status, and most are too fearful to do so. They cannot apply for welfare or apply for HUD, either. They would risk exposing themselves. Typically, undocumented workers will band together and share rent for an apartment (it is not uncommon to see 4 or 5 families sharing an apartment in the low-rent part of town) as soon as they have income. Some of them work 90 to 100 hours a week on up just to keep themselves afloat, and they mostly work at the bottom-of-the-barrel jobs that your average blue-collar American wouldn’t touch. It is also common for them to draw a 9 on their paychecks so they won’t have to do any reporting to the IRS. As for medical, they would pretty much have to go to the County ER just to get flu medication. As a result, they generally have to rely on mom to heal the sick. Essentially, U.S. society derives an enormous amount of cheap labor from them, they consume products just like any lower-income Americans and, with the exception of those paid under the table, they contribute their fair share of taxes, and they are mostly decent people who came here out of desperation and the desire for work. Their work ethic puts that of the average American’s to shame.

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Name : Dan31700, Gender : M, Race : Hispanic/Latino (may be any race), Religion : Pentecostal, Age : 22, City : L.os Angeles, State : CA, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Nelson-A20178]

Absolutely yes!!! After you invest half a million dollars or more in the USA, take two years of paperwork, etc, just to get an L1 visa (visa for businessmen) to be able to live there because it’s safer, organized, cleaner, and cheaper (everything is about half price) even though American society is not the best spiritually (selfish, racist, money-hungry, etc), you DO expect to receive at least the same ‘benefits’ as any other immigrant (though many consider themselves ex-patriates instead of immigrants). This is the case of the thousands of Venezuelans that are moving to Florida. Most don’t want to be ‘americans’ they just want to LIVE in America until things get better in Venezuela.

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Name : Nelson-A20178, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 31, City : Caracas, State : NA, Country : Venezuela, Occupation : lawyer/business, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[John MacFarlanne]

I don’t understand you Americans!! Making such a fuss about immigrants – when you are all decended from immigrants (and criminals) Is the reason for this, the fact that you all feel an enormous, subconscious burden, with respect to your treatment of the only true Americans – the Native American Indian?

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Name : John MacFarlanne, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Buddhist, Age : 34, City : Edinburgh, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Occupation : Software Engineer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[J. Ewing]

I thought that it was the law for everyone to be paid the same in a blue collar job? I work with several several Mexicans ( I dont know if they are legal or not) and everyone gets paid the same. Most cant speak English and they still get paid the same. Please dont take offense. My boyfriend is a Mexican and I am trying to learn as much as I can about the culture and the rules. Also my experience with other races is very limited so any insight would be helpful. thanks

User Detail :  

Name : J. Ewing, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 20, City : Monroe, State : GA, Country : United States, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

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