Some illegals benefit through their children
Sonia is undocumented. Her two young daughters are U.S. citizens, eligible for social services. For Sonia, who lives paycheck to paycheck, those services would mean security for her children.
"I think about it all the time," said Sonia, who asked to be identified only by her first name. "Both girls are little. I don't know what I'd do if they got sick."
Sonia said she applied for food stamps and Medicaid for her daughters because she can't afford health insurance, but her income was too high. She is pregnant and is thinking about applying for social benefits again after her third daughter is born.
As Washington politicians continue to debate immigration reform, Sonia represents a growing number of immigrants who are getting a footing in American culture, in part through their citizen children.
Households with at least one immigrant member who isn't qualified to receive social benefits account for only about 5.5 percent of Utah's food stamp cases, according to Utah Department of Workforce Service statistics.
The ineligible immigrants include the undocumented and some legal immigrants. Some examples of non-citizens who are eligible are permanent residents who have lived in the United States for five years, legal immigrant children and refugees.
Benefits for these households aren't given for members deemed to be ineligible.
Sonia moved to Utah from Mexico City 13 years ago to be closer to her mother. She speaks English fluently. One daughter will start kindergarten in the fall, and her younger daughter is ready for Head Start.
"Youths have a lot more opportunities here than anywhere else," Sonia said. "It's important to me that they stay here and that they are U.S. citizens."
Activists against illegal immigration say Sonia represents a social cost that is spiraling out of control. Immigrant rights activists counter with claims of the economic benefits of illegal immigration. They add that illegal immigrants and others who aren't eligible are cut out of the benefits equation.
Even if some of those to whom the 5.5 percent of benefits is going are illegal immigrant-headed households, the numbers counter the "invasion" argument often used by activists against illegal immigrants, said Michael Clara, spokesman for the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force.
"They are contributing in taxes they'll never benefit from and paying into Social Security they're not benefitting from," Clara said. "The benefits far outweigh the services we are paying out."
You can be the first to comment on this story.