Abolish all the trappings of the welfare state....Then any immigrants would be here to work and not mooch.
Not just cheaper than the wall, but it would actually free up money.
Isn't that the LAW already Oddball? Even legal immigrants, here with a green card, by law are not eligible for Welfare (TANF) until they have been here 5 years is my understanding of the law?
Food Stamps, I am not certain about... but welfare for illegal and legal immigrants, is against the law. Those with Refugee status, (those who have been accepted by a judge as legitimate) might be eligible for some benefits like food stamps, but I believe they too are not eligible for Welfare (TANF)?
Those delivering babies here, the American child would be eligible, but not their parents or their siblings, if they were not born here.... and it really is not that much money for the American child alone.
I've never seen a Mexican man that was not working... I've seen them in construction, and in Lawn care, and in farming, and laying ceramic tile and in Restaurants....even way up here... don't know if they are legal or illegal....? but from my experience, I've only seen them working...
NOTE! I am not on the southern border or even near the border, so my perspective with this is limited... but the ones I have come in contact with, seemed to be hard workers.
We do have a lot of Canadians that cross the border of my state up here.... we even send buses up to Canada to pick them up and bring them here to go shopping at the mall that is closest to the border....or to go to the Casino in the city, we welcome Canadians and wouldn't know if they were Canadian or American in our every day lives, and no one is bothered by it... we were even busing our seniors to Canada to buy cheaper prescription drugs once a month... lot's of sharing of resources between Maine and Canada with the logging industry here and there too.