Decaying of America “Part III”- Illegal Immigrants

You will hear it argued, especially by the Democrats and Liberals, that illegal immigration are good, not bad for our country.  They tell you that the jobs the illegals take are jobs Americans will not do.  That simply is not true.  The jobs illegal takes are usually job’s that Americans without a high school diploma or no college would take.  The problem is illegal immigrants will work for far less pay than Americans bringing down the pay scale employers are willing to pay.  We presently have the highest percentage of American’s finishing high school than ever in modern times.  Ninety percent of American’s between the age of 25 and 45 have a high school diploma.  That still leaves 10 percent of working Americans without a high school diploma, That is millions of Americans. If these millions of Americans cannot find work they will go on welfare and other government assistance programs which cost the government. Another problem the illegal immigrants create is they take jobs from students who need to earn money to pay for tuition. In my opinion it does affect the U.S. Government negatively. 

In 2014 there were more than 12 million undocumented workers in America that we knew about, many more that we did not know about. The ones we do not know about makes it difficult to determine the real overall effect on America.  People born in the U.S. into low income families are the hardest hit by illegal immigrants.  They lack education, work skills and money. These people are willing to take janitor jobs and similar jobs. If you go to downtown Houston any night of the week after 10 p.m. you will think you are in Mexico. That’s the time janitors start to finish their tour of duty. 

Most illegal immigrants are low skill workers. Can you please tell me how low skilled workers, from a different culture, speaking a different language, are not familiar with our laws and less productive, benefits our economy? Now those that want to argue they work harder than Americans think about the time spent on instructing them to do a job when there is a language barrier.  Do you think that these low skilled immigrants are trained to use the modern equipment we have in America?  In my opinion the greatest harm they do to our American workforce is they bring down the pay scale.  Few know that illegal immigrants qualify for workers’ compensation if hurt on the job. They do not qualify for unemployment insurance. 

You will be told by Democrats and Liberals illegal immigrants do not cost the government anything.  They will tell you illegal immigrants are not entitle to any benefit programs paid for by the Federal or State Governments.  Since 1982, states are required to provide K-12 public education for students with illegal status.  Who pays this expense - local school districts? Local school districts must set aside 15% of their budget for illegal immigrant students.  The local school districts must provide Spanish speaking teachers which are paid more than regular teachers. They must provide special education classes for disable children.  They must provide federal breakfast and lunch programs.  If needed illegal immigrant students must be referred to appropriate institutions for dental, mental, health and other issues. The government pays for these services. We do no pay for American students to get the same services.  There are more than 840,000 illegal immigrant children going to school according to the last data the government has.

Illegal immigrants do not qualify for Medicaid, UNLESS the woman is pregnant or the situation is considered by medical staff to be an emergency.  But, six states and the District of Columbia ignore this federal law and grant Medicaid to illegal immigrants. Politicians claim we do no pay for health care benefits because they do not qualify for them, but Americans shelled out 18.5 billion in 2016 for illegal immigrant health care. They can also go to community health clinics and be treated for free.  The part the federal government paid of the 18.5 billion amounts to $34 for every US taxpayer. Now our politicians say that amount is so small it is not worth fighting over and it is a humanitarian gesture.  Illegal immigrants are eligible for the federal governments W.I.C. programs.  This programs provides food, infant formula, and immunization for babies. 

Even though illegal immigrants are not considered eligible for any state welfare benefits, some states give it to them anyway. The one that determines who gets state benefits is the county social services. They do not have legal jurisdiction to do it nor are they qualified to determine immigration status. Democrats and Liberals still argue  illegal immigrants do not affect America in a negative way, instead they argue it has a positive effect on America.  Immigrants granted asylum are qualified for all federal and state benefits.  Do you remember when Obama wanted to flood American with immigrants seeking asylum.   

Some states have chosen to ignore federal law because they say illegal immigrants pay about $12 billion in state, local and federal taxes per year and receive only about $5 billion in benefits. Another government agency claims they pay about $10.6 billion in taxes. The C.B.O. claims if we increase the number of illegal immigrants we would collect $48 billion over a decade.  Do you notice the big discrepancies?  Who really knows? Remember now illegal immigrants cost Americans nothing and the majority file federal tax returns – I find that hard to believe.

It is possible for illegal immigrants to buy a house without a social security card. The lending institutions get them what is called an identification number (ITIN).  They can also pay cash and do not need any documents.  Let an American try to purchase a home without a social security card. 

In the Philippines and many other countries foreigners cannot own land.  The Philippines does allow foreigners to own a condo, but they cannot own the land the condo is built on and 40% of condo owners in the building must be Filipino.  If a foreigner is married to a Filipino the land will always go to the Filipino and at death it will go to the heirs of the Filipino that are natural born Filipinos.  In the Philippines it is nearly impossible to get a work permit.  To own a small business you have to employ a minimum of ten Filipinos.  Large corporation like Ford and others must  allow a Filipino to own at least 40% of the Philippine operation.  If people think U.S. immigration laws are tough, they should check the immigration laws in other countries, especially third world countries. 

Now one thing I agree with the Democrats and Liberals on is many illegal immigrants use false social security cards to get jobs.  They usually use the numbers of dead people are infants, those not paying into Social Security.  They cannot ever draw that money out, so it does increase the funds in Social Security.  The money paid in by illegal migrants is about $100 billion over ten years according to SSA.  Since about 1937 the SSA has kept a suspense file of social security payments that cannot be matched to legitimate claimants.  They estimate about 3 million files fall into that category.  Hillary Clinton, Democrats and Liberals say that that it is not fair for us to keep their money. They want the law changed where they do not pay social security at all or can draw a social security benefits upon retirement.  The employer pays half of the social security tax and the employee pays half.  Don’t you think if a law was passed that illegal immigrants did no have to pay social security the employers are going to take advantage of it. They would not be hiring Americans if they could fine illegals to do the job.

The proposals that President Trump is talking about are the exact laws that President Clinton got passed in 1996.  Now President Trump wants to enforce those laws and the Democrats and Liberals are all up in arms. They say illegal immigrants should receive the exact benefits as American citizens because America's uneducated poor citizens do not contribute to the country as much as illegal immigrants.

Do you think we need a border wall? Hillary Clinton, Democrats and Liberals say we don't.  They claim it would weaken the U.S. economy.  They claim open borders improves a countries economy.  They claim with  open borders we could give all immigrants full participation in our government and we would collect more taxes. They are already pushing for illegal immigrants to have the right to vote.  Frankly, I do not want anyone that is not a citizen of the U.S. voting in our elections.  Why should they have a say on who leads our country. California already allows them to vote on school board members.  They also say better skill workers would come if we had open borders.

Is 18 billion too much to pay for a wall?  I believe the wall would pay for itself if it reduced illegal immigrant entry.  President Bush constructed a wall in El Paso, Texas and I did not hear anyone complaining.  Federal data shows that walls do work.  Where Bush constructed the wall, illegal immigration decreased by 89% over a five-year period.  Homeland Security say 1.7 million more illegal immigrants will enter from Mexico in the next ten years if a wall is not constructed.  The I.R.S. pays out billions of dollars each year for child tax credits to illegal immigrants.  The Dreamers Amnesty Act has cost $26 billion the first ten years. These two government illegal immigrant benefits would pay for most of the wall.

The latest U.S. Census Bureau’s count said 62% of illegal immigrant head of household are on the federal dole.  More than double that of American head of household.  Surprisingly the benefits they are not supposed to be getting are the ones they use the most - Food Stamps and Medicaid.  They obtain them through fraud, administrative errors and green card holders.

President Trump often speaks of illegal immigrant crimes.  It has upset four universities so much they have completed a study and claim illegal immigrants do not increase crime rate.  They claim the crime rate for undocumented immigrants shows immigrants commit less crimes than American’s.  I believe there are far more American than illegal immigrants in America so I would expect more crimes would be committed by Americans.  They stated those that say different are racist. Now government federal records say 26% of prisoners in federal prison are illegal immigrants.  The records show 146,243 illegal immigrants  make up the population in state prisons. I suppose if you compare it to the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. the number is not staggering, but who is paying to lodge, guard, feed, clothe and provide health care for these illegal immigrants?  American's of course.  They did not mention the damages done by the illegal to Americans.

One thing is certain illegal immigrants are increasing tension in our country. Some citizens say deport them and other say let them stay and welcome them into our communities.  That is what the Sanctuary Cities are doing. I believe Sanctuary Cities are a violation of Federal Law and I was taught federal law supersedes state law.   

In closing I want to share a list that Democrats and Liberals say that makes illegal immigrants important to America: we are culturally enriched; employers have a ready supply of cheap labor; employers do not have to report them to the government in turn companies save on taxes; employers do not have to provide job benefits, which allows products to be produced cheaper and  consumers can purchase their products cheaper; wealthy American’s and upper middle class have access to affordable labor for jobs around the house, such as child care, cooking, cleaning, drivers, etc. and to care for elderly sick parents.  They also say it is another type of international aid to poor countries.  Am I the only one that read that list and did not find anything that helped middle class or the poor?  It seems to me Democrat politicians are only looking out for themselves and their rich friend.  Do not forget that during the last campaign Democrats harped Republicans are only interested in the top  1% of Americans.   It also appears to me Democrats and Liberal do not respect the law of the land too much and are encouraging people to disobey our laws.

---

 [TM1]

Philippine National Bank

I have had several accounts at Philippine National Bank since 2005.  I actually opened one of the accounts before I ever came to the Philippines in Houston, Texas

The service is not the best, but I have not changed because I know I could get a worse bank.  My major problem has been with wire transfers from my trust fund in the States.

For instance on March 1, 2017 my transfer was made just as it has been done every month since January 2005.  For nine days I fought with PNB Customer Relations in Manila.  The only response was your bank in the States is lying they have not transferred the funds.

This morning I got the confirmation from the U.S. bank proving the money had been wired and I immediately sent it to PNB.  A MIRACLE, within 15 minutes after they received the proof that they were the ones that made the mistake (as they had done on five other occasions) they credited my account the funds.

I have never received and apology!

On one occasion they did admit they had credited the funds to someone else's account and they would have to find whose account the money was in before they could credit me.  I never understood why I had to wait since they made the mistake.  It was obvious they did not put it in any of my three accounts.

Another occasion I did not get my Social Security check that normally is credit on the third until the 15th.  The lady in The Davao Branch told me it was because I now had over $50,000 in assets and the U.S. government does not allow anyone on Social Security to have more than $50,000 in assets.  I told her she did not know what she was talking about and of course she got mad.  I told her if I have more than $50,000 in one foreign bank the bank has to report it to the U.S. Treasury.  If she would look she could see that is why I never keep more than $40,000 in PNB or BDO or Maybank or Peoples Bank.  She rudely told me I needed to talk to my Embassy because she knew she was right and she guaranteed I would not get another check until I got rid of assets.

The Embassy found out that the Social Security Department made a mistake and listed me as DEAD.  I got the past due check immediately and the next months check and every check since on time.

I have my caregiver on one PNB account since I am now homebound due to health issues.  A transfer had come to that account for over five years in my name.  They held the transfer and finally after my attorney in the States got involved they said it was because the wire transfer had to be in my name and his name.  Never was before!  I did have my attorney make that change and I have not experiences any other problems.

ALL EXPATS - check out all the banks in the Philippines before you settle on one.  All my U.S. accounts and Social Security is setup for the PNB accounts or I would change immediately.  I wonder if they delay crediting money transfer so they can use our money for free for a few days.

I have savings at BDO and Maybank and have never had any problems and their people are always courteous.  It seem at PNB it is the managers that are horses behinds.

If Philippine banks delay OFW remittance by just a few days it is a considerable amount of money for the bank to use free, based on 2016 28 Billion dollars was remitted from overseas.  It is approximately 8 percent of the Philippine total budget.

Expats - Immigration Laws - Senior Citizens

I wonder how many U.S. citizens would become expat's if they could use some form of government medical care abroad?  All the talk about Obama Care and cost of maintaining our senior citizen population and that the system is going bankrupt has any of our intelligent politicians ask this question?

First off the senior protection programs are going broke because our intelligent politicians stole from the fund to finance projects that would get them reelected. They not only mismanaged the fund they ROBBED the fund.

They are robbing the younger generation by borrowing money to finance projects in hopes it will guarantee them a lifetime job in government. Sadly some have even found a way to enrich themselves while service in government - they are corrupt!

I have spend more than a decade in the Philippines and have cost the United States Government NOTHING!  I also have paid on average $2500 a quarter Income Tax in the United States  for NOTHING!

I am now in bad health and not able to return to the United States. I am home-bound and need a caregiver. Thus far, I have been able to manage on my extra income from investments that will end shortly and my only income will be Social Security. What happens after the extra income ceases is a mystery to me.

What would it have cost the United States Government if I would have remained in the United States?  My medicine in a Third World country cost over $900 a month which I pay for.  What would that cost have been to the Social Security System in the United States $10,000 a month or more?  What about the cost of about two hospitalizations a year that run about $1000 each time.  The hospital expenses would be ten thousand plus yearly in the United States.  Again it cost the United States Government NOTHING.

Now I am in a situation since I am not married to a Philippine citizens I must leave the country every three years for twenty-four hours and then return. I am unable to meet those requirements.  I am in the process of trying to get some type of exception and praying it goes through or in two months I face a real problem.

You mean the United States Government could not establish some countries as places where Medicare or OBAMACARE could be used. In the Philippines there could be limited private hospitals and doctors allowed to except United States Government elderly insurance in Cebu, Manila and Davao. It would only take limited personnel in the Embassy to monitor these programs and prevent corruption.  The money saved the United States Government could probably be a billion dollars a year if done around the world.

I ADVISE ANYONE CONSIDERING BECOMING AN EXPAT TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN YOU CAN NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY.  THE IMMIGRATION LAWS ARE CRITICAL AND YOU MUST CONSIDER THEM FOR ONE DAY YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO SATISFY IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS.

I do not know why countries like the Philippines have actively not pursued these benefits for it would help their government and the United States Government and those that chose to be expat's.

Most American's consider expat's as some kind of traitor or deserve what they get for living abroad without thinking that most chose to live abroad because they can no longer maintain their lifestyle in the United States because of politicians and the laws they pass without considering the repercussions.

Quite frankly, I do not desire to receive handouts from food ministries because I cannot afford medical care, utilities, food, clothing, etc. in the United States. EXPAT'S DO THE UNITED STATES CITIZENS LIVING AT HOME A FAVOR - WE LEAVE MORE HANDOUTS FOR THEM THAT ARE NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE CHANCE ABROAD.

President Duterte says President Elect Trump is his friend.  If that is so why doesn't he approach President Elect Trump with this idea. I bet he would be speaking to the DEAF!

One thing President Duterte could do would be influence the Philippine politicians to change Immigration Laws immediately and not demand people to leave the country as long as they meet all other requirement for Immigration.  NOT EVEN THE UNITED STATES DOES THAT.  President Duterte talks abut fairness in Immigration Laws in the United States then why doesn't he make Philippine Immigration Laws fair to SENIOR CITIZEN EXPAT'S who can no longer travel and do not want to marry a Philippine citizens because they are already married or like me took vows of celibacy. Mr. President Duterte your predecessors and you plus your men and women in Congress and Senate have talked about attracting Medical Tourism and Senior Expats then why don't you do something to really attract them to the Philippines!

For those that believe this is a matter for my Church please keep in mind that I am RETIRED from my Church and do not want them dictating my life any longer nor do I want their handouts. I have always paid my way and have taken care of myself and I want to continue to do so until I die.

****I just learned from Immigration today (3/15/17) if you get dementia or alzheimer's and are not married to a Filipino you can be deported regardless of how much money you have in the bank even if you have a power of attorney designating someone to take care of you and have access to your funds.  You cannot qualify for one of the resident visa regardless of what size bond you put up if you are over 55 and do not have a health insurance policy that is valid in the Philippines and can pass a physical by a doctor they designate.  The doctor has to certify you are in good health and can take care of yourself if not married to a Filipino. I do not want to leave the Philippines, but if I knew what I know now it certainly would have influenced my decision to spend the remainder of my life in the Philippines.    

Should Social Security and SSI laws be changed immediately?

The U.S. budget deal comes with a Social Security surprise: the media reports a provision could take $50,000 out of some Americans' lifetime benefits.   The media should report that it takes from Americans that are abusing the system.

The deal President Barack Obama and congressional leaders have reached would end a strategy, called ‘file and suspend’ that retirees are using to get more money out of the Social Security System. A strategy that should have never been allowed in the first place!

The rules for claiming Social Security are enormously complicated, and a law passed in 2000 made them even more complicated by creating the opportunity to 'file and suspend'. File and suspend is a rule that practically no one knows about unless they are financially secure and have tax consultants or financial advisors. It certainly does nothing to help the poor elderly or middle class trying to survive on Social Security and it certainly depletes the Social Security fund faster.

The longer you wait to start receiving your Social Security benefits, the higher your monthly benefits will be. File early and you lock in a lower benefit. Wait until 70 and you lock in your maximum benefit. The monthly check for a single person who files at age 70 can be 76 percent higher than if he or she had filed early at 62.

Under 'file and suspend', married workers can file for Social Security and then immediately suspend their benefits. Their benefit checks won't start arriving in the mail, and the value of their eventual benefits will keep rising as if they hadn't filed. In the meantime, their husband or wife can apply for a portion of the spousal benefit they are entitled to once their spouse has filed. In other words the couple does not really need their Social Security benefits to survive. They allow their spouse to draw the spousal benefits and wait until age 70 for the other one to draw. This allows the one to draw benefits immediately and the other to get about 76% more when they begin to draw at age 70. This is but another example of the rich getting richer and the poor worrying if their Social Security benefits will last until they die. GREED!

Couples who 'file and suspend' are double-dipping. They're getting the extra benefits that come from waiting until age 70 to file, while also accessing benefits early. Boston University Professor Laurence Kotlikoff estimates that file and suspend can boost lifetime Social Security benefits for many couples by $50,000.

The loophole even provides a clause if you try 'file and suspend' and do not like it you can suspend it and be paid a lump sum for all the back benefits from age 62 that you did not collect and it is paid in one check. I wonder how many wealthy elderly use the program as an insurance policy.

The legislators and President now call 'file and suspend' an "unintended loophole," and there is evidence that Congress never meant to create the strategy. The 2000 law that allowed it was the Senior Citizens' Freedom to Work Act, aimed at encouraging older Americans to work if they wanted to. It only took 15 years for them to discover the loophole and try to correct it. I have to give credit to President Obama for proposing to close the loophole last year claiming it was a strategy that mostly benefits wealthier retirees. Nancy Pelosi said that the Obama health care bill had to be passed before they could read it.  I guess the same happen with the Senior Citizens’ Freedom to Work Act.

If passed in its present form, the bill would end 'file and suspend' for future retirees. It would make it impossible for people to access their spousal benefits while their spouses are still waiting to access theirs.

It also stops children of Social Security beneficiaries, who have their own version of 'file and suspend'. Social Security sends a monthly check to children of beneficiaries who are either under 18 or are adults who were disabled when they were young or attending college. These children wouldn't get their checks until their parents start getting theirs.

The budget deal would end 'file and suspend' in six months for everyone using the strategy. They are trying to amend the bill so it would not affect those presently using the strategy and would only affect those that intend to use the strategy in the future. I SAY STOP THE STRATEGY FOR ALL NOW!

Most people don't know how to take full advantage of Social Security. The Social Security Agency Administration should be doing more to help retirees find legal ways to maximize their benefits. The truth is that a larger percentage of rich people than poor people are eligible for government money because of the gap in knowledge. Most people don't even know about the thousands of government giveaway programs because most of these programs are funded by Washington, but administered through either the states or little-known organizations. The 1% know about the venture capital and special "loans" they can get from the government and do not have to pay back.

Did you know that a legal alien that has a sponsor, a person who signed an agreement with DHS to provide support for them can have the sponsor’s income and resources count as their income and resources which may entitle them to more S.S.I. benefits? If a sponsor agreed to support the alien why is the government involved in supporting them. SSI is not Social Security it is a U.S. Welfare Program.

Did you know legal aliens from Haiti or Cuba are automatically eligible for SSI for a maximum of seven years from the date DHS granted their immigration status.

Did you know legal aliens who are blind or disable can draw lifetime SSI?

Did you know you can be a “deemed qualified alien” for SSI if you, your child or parent were subjected to battery or cruelty by a family member while in the United States?

Did you know alien immigrants seniors are allowed to collect SSI even if they have children who have money and could support them. I know of an alien from India who owns two dry cleaning shops in Houston, Texas who has brought his mother, father, mother-in-law and father-in-law over and they all draw SSI. I wrote my Congressman to have it verified and he advised me that it was legal. I question the man from India who was renting space from me in a strip center and he told me that his pastor in India teaches them how to do it. To make matters worse his father owns a drug store in India being run by another son.

It is no wonder the U.S. is trillions in debt. The government admits billions of dollars are paid in fraudulent funds each year for Social Security Disability Benefits. The Government Accountability Office identified 36,000 people who have received $1.29 billion of disability overpayments at the same time they were working and earning wages.

It is worth noting that current Federal law prohibits the Social Security administration from paying a financial reward to an American citizen who reports a case of Social Security disability fraud. This law should be changed immediately. Give an incentive to report fraud!