North Carolina immigration attitudes
Kyle Pate
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Op/Ed
The central issues of immigration and proper treatment of migrants are of central concern to North Carolina residents, exemplified in the attitudes and actions of many different state groups and institutions. With people and organizations ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the Ku Klux Klan to aspiring, socially conscious college students, many different perspectives concerning legal and illegal immigration arise. Racial relations, immigrant labor and the economy, and equal opportunity in education are just some of the issues facing North Carolina locals.
Illegal immigrants are becoming a significant portion of the North Carolina population. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, illegal alien population is estimated at 405,000 in 2005. Condemning illegal immigration, they estimated in 2004 that the taxpayers of North Carolina spent $771.1 million per year on illegal aliens and their children in public schools.
This boils down the cost of each of the approximately 405,000 illegal residents of North Carolina to $1,903.95 in taxes annually. The North Carolina Tax Foundation states that "North Carolina taxpayers pay $3,663 per capita in state and local taxes … estimated at 9.8 percent of income." This means that if these inhabitants were made citizens and had North Carolina state and local taxes imposed on them, the state economy would benefit by $1,759.05 per person, or a total of about $712.4 million each year.
The portions of the illegal population that make it into the work force face many challenges in getting fair treatment. UNC-Chapel Hill senior Ivey Taylor, double majoring in Spanish and International Studies, spent last summer in an internship with Student Action with Farm Workers as a legal aid. His experiences firsthand look into the darker side of Hispanic immigration. "In a lot of migrant camps in North Carolina, they weren't even required to provide a mattress … up to 20 guys would have to share a bathroom." For them, it is nearly impossible to get health insurance, any type of credit, or even a place to rent. Aspiring ACLU member and long time retail manager Thomas Griffin has had experience working on construction teams with illegal immigrants. In Westchester county, N.Y., they made up more than half of the paint crew he was on. "Most of them could speak English well, because they're all trying really hard to make it," Griffin said.
Illegal immigrants are becoming a significant portion of the North Carolina population. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, illegal alien population is estimated at 405,000 in 2005. Condemning illegal immigration, they estimated in 2004 that the taxpayers of North Carolina spent $771.1 million per year on illegal aliens and their children in public schools.
This boils down the cost of each of the approximately 405,000 illegal residents of North Carolina to $1,903.95 in taxes annually. The North Carolina Tax Foundation states that "North Carolina taxpayers pay $3,663 per capita in state and local taxes … estimated at 9.8 percent of income." This means that if these inhabitants were made citizens and had North Carolina state and local taxes imposed on them, the state economy would benefit by $1,759.05 per person, or a total of about $712.4 million each year.
The portions of the illegal population that make it into the work force face many challenges in getting fair treatment. UNC-Chapel Hill senior Ivey Taylor, double majoring in Spanish and International Studies, spent last summer in an internship with Student Action with Farm Workers as a legal aid. His experiences firsthand look into the darker side of Hispanic immigration. "In a lot of migrant camps in North Carolina, they weren't even required to provide a mattress … up to 20 guys would have to share a bathroom." For them, it is nearly impossible to get health insurance, any type of credit, or even a place to rent. Aspiring ACLU member and long time retail manager Thomas Griffin has had experience working on construction teams with illegal immigrants. In Westchester county, N.Y., they made up more than half of the paint crew he was on. "Most of them could speak English well, because they're all trying really hard to make it," Griffin said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
howard
posted 10/29/08 @ 8:11 PM EST
This artcile is trying to gather sympathy for illegal immigrants. They ignored other facts.
1. They are here illegally.
2. They are working illegally
3. (Continued…)
Brittanicus
posted 10/29/08 @ 8:54 PM EST
NO MORE SANCTUARY CITIES OR STATES PROTECTING MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL ALIENS. THE BATTLE TO STOP AMNESTY WILL BEGIN AFTER THE NEW PRESIDENT STEPS INTO THE OVAL OFFICE>
1. (Continued…)
Jason Vanderkliss
posted 10/31/08 @ 12:56 AM EST
Massive influx of non native populations, change in cultural and national identity. Now I understand how the Romans must have felt around 400 AD! If we don't do something drastric to protect our borders very soon, we will suffer the same fate!
nOrTH cARolINa mOVeRs
posted 1/05/09 @ 5:50 PM EST
Illegal immigrants are becoming a significant portion of the North Carolina population. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, illegal alien population is estimated at 405,000 in 2005
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