I don’t see where you make the distinction between undocumented and legal immigrant recipients. Undocumented immigrants cannot obtain a Social Security Number, so how do they collect Social Security or Medicare benefits? As you know, it’s already illegal for them to receive those benefits as much as it’s illegal for them to even apply (like voting). We know that applying precludes them from ever becoming a U.S. citizen (moral turpitude prohibition), so if they want to become one, which many do not, why would they attempt it and bring attention to themselves? They may be uneducated but they’re not stupid.
Legal immigrants, on the other hand are eligible and in very specific and limited cases (SCOTUS), undocumented immigrants could be. Politicians and the public falsely conflate the two with no knowledge of the nuance. Well, some of them do…on purpose. You are in a unique position to educate and I would ask you to take the time and explain it when discussing the issue, even if it’s repetitive.
I thought that would be the case, but this is the con. Maricopa County jails published an “immigrant” number in their monthly data, but that included both legal and undocumented. Arpaio used it to make his case that there was a crime wave. That, despite people familiar with the population knowing legal immigrants inflated the number above what you typically found, which is the percentage of undocumented crime was lower than the general population. But hey, why let accuracy get in the way of good propaganda?
That’s my point, though. While the data you’re using may not reflect the full and true picture, mentioning that caveat alerts the reader that people legally entitled will be accused of law breaking and maligned with those who are not. It is a distinction with a difference.
I want to add that after all of these years, you and David are still the best at this. No one comes close. Keep it up, my friend. I’m so proud of you both.
I don’t see where you make the distinction between undocumented and legal immigrant recipients. Undocumented immigrants cannot obtain a Social Security Number, so how do they collect Social Security or Medicare benefits? As you know, it’s already illegal for them to receive those benefits as much as it’s illegal for them to even apply (like voting). We know that applying precludes them from ever becoming a U.S. citizen (moral turpitude prohibition), so if they want to become one, which many do not, why would they attempt it and bring attention to themselves? They may be uneducated but they’re not stupid.
Legal immigrants, on the other hand are eligible and in very specific and limited cases (SCOTUS), undocumented immigrants could be. Politicians and the public falsely conflate the two with no knowledge of the nuance. Well, some of them do…on purpose. You are in a unique position to educate and I would ask you to take the time and explain it when discussing the issue, even if it’s repetitive.
Can’t make such fine legal distinctions in the data, unfortunately. We have some broad numbers regarding noncitizens and citizens though.
I thought that would be the case, but this is the con. Maricopa County jails published an “immigrant” number in their monthly data, but that included both legal and undocumented. Arpaio used it to make his case that there was a crime wave. That, despite people familiar with the population knowing legal immigrants inflated the number above what you typically found, which is the percentage of undocumented crime was lower than the general population. But hey, why let accuracy get in the way of good propaganda?
That’s my point, though. While the data you’re using may not reflect the full and true picture, mentioning that caveat alerts the reader that people legally entitled will be accused of law breaking and maligned with those who are not. It is a distinction with a difference.
I want to add that after all of these years, you and David are still the best at this. No one comes close. Keep it up, my friend. I’m so proud of you both.
And if they weren’t here they wouldn’t use any