Costs to you from Obama’s Executive Amnesty

By Frosty Wooldridge

When the full cost of Obama’s executive amnesty tallies on the American taxpayer, it will grow ugly, uglier and most ugly. 

Dan Stein, president of Federation for American Immigration Reform, www.FAIRUS.org, spoke to me about it.  Few Americans understand the underlying and long term costs that will run into the trillions of dollars with medical, educational, free lunches, chain migration, incarceration and many more costs.

“The President’s recent Amnesty-by-Executive-Fiat raises a number of questions, none of which were adequately answered by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) ”Frequently Asked Questions,” said Stein.  “That document was designed to inform illegal aliens of their rights. The American public deserves some answers as well.”

Who else will be eligible for amnesty?

“The press release and guidelines say that illegal aliens who came to the country as minors and are currently under the age of 30 will be eligible for deferred action,” said Stein. “However, in statements to the public, including a CNN interview on the day of the announcement, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano made clear that they will also not enforce laws against the family members who brought these “kids” into the country illegally. So how far reaching will this amnesty actually be?”

What resources will be used to implement the amnesty?

“According to DHS, the Department is already dealing with massive backlogs from its current caseload,” said Stein. “How would such a bureaucracy cope with administering a massive amnesty program for an as yet unknown number of applicants? Will the Department request additional resources to implement the amnesty? Will DHS divert further resources and personnel away from enforcing immigration laws?”

How will massive fraud be prevented?
 

“Since most illegal aliens have lived surreptitious existences using a variety of aliases, bogus identification documents and working off-the-books, documenting their eligibility for an amnesty program is likely to rely on a variety of self-serving attestations and easily acquired pay stubs, rent receipts, and utility bills,” said Stein. “Under such circumstances, what would DHS prevent millions of additional people from taking advantage of an amnesty program?”

What benefits public benefits will these illegal aliens be eligible for?
 

“Some states are already working under the assumption that illegal aliens granted deferred action will be eligible for unemployment benefits – putting state budgets under even more strain,” said stein. “What publically funded benefits and services will they be eligible for?  Can they participate in taxpayer funded health care exchanges created by the recently upheld so-called Affordable Care Act?”

How will illegal aliens be documented moving forward?

“Under the new directive, illegal aliens given deferred action will also be eligible for work authorization,” said Stein. “How will that be documented? Will they receive a Social Security Number or a tax ID number? Will illegal aliens be given other identification and travel documents?

“Several Members of Congress have submitted similar questions and concerns to the President and DHS. Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) letter documenting implementation issues was signed by 19 other Senators. Additionally, U.S. Representatives Ben Quayle (R-Ariz.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), and Lou Barletta (R-Penn.) have introduced legislation to either deny funding for the directive or study the impact of the massive amnesty.”

Most of Arizona’s Immigration Law Already in Effect

“Amnesty advocates and civil rights groups said they won because only one of four provisions was upheld. In reality, a majority of the law is still standing and already being enforced.”

Never Challenged, Currently Enforced

• Section 1:Declares attrition through enforcement the official policy of state and local government agencies in Arizona;
• Section 2(A):Prohibits local police agencies from adopting sanctuary-type policies that limit or restrict enforcement of federal immigration laws;
• Section 2(D):Authorizes law enforcement agencies to securely transfer verified illegal aliens into federal custody;
• Section 2(E):Prohibits state officials and agencies from imposing bans or restrictions on sending, receiving, or maintaining information relating to an individual’s immigration status, or exchanging it with any other federal, state, or local governmental entity for these purposes;
• Section 2(G):Allows legal residents of Arizona to sue if they feel a government agency adopts a policy that limits or restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws;
• Section 9(A):Requires employers to maintain a record of an employee’s E-Verify eligibility verification for either (a) the duration of employment or (b) at least three years;
• Section 10:Authorizes the impoundment or forfeiture of vehicles driven by illegal aliens, or used to unlawfully transport them;
• Section 11:Establishes the Gang and Immigration Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission Fund to use fines and penalties for gang and immigration enforcement and for county jail reimbursement costs relating to illegal immigration.

Upheld by the Supreme Court

Section 2(B):

• During a lawful stop, directs law enforcement officers to determine immigration status of individuals who they reasonably suspect to be illegal aliens, and for all persons who are arrested.
• Provides that persons who present any federal, state or local identification documents that require verification of lawful status (e.g., an Arizona driver’s license) when issued are presumed to be lawfully present.

While Americans foot the bills for all immigration, the Federal Government continues to fail in enforcing the laws on the books.  It will cost Americans billions and billions of dollars over the coming decades because immigration laws have not been enforced.

Dan Stein is the president of The Federation for American Immigration Reform, www.FAIRUS.organd directs a team of experts to drastically reduce mass immigration into America.  Join the team: www.FAIRUS.org

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Frosty Wooldridge is a member of the board of directors at FAIR.