"Of the 230 migrants interviewed, 219 cited the primary reason for migrating to the United States was the perception of U.S. immigration laws granting free passes or permisos to UAC (unaccompanied children) and adult females OTMs (other than Mexicans) traveling with minors,” the report said."
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/07/16/misperceptions-about-us-immigration-policy-behind-surge-illegal-children-report/
That's 95%, a staggering figure, of illegal immigrants who come not because of violence, according to this report, but because of promises of free passes, or permisos.
Now, this is not to say we shouldn't try to help these individuals, in particular, the minors once they come here, but we have finite resources. That is the point to having a yearly budget.
When Obama comes to congress and asks for more money, he should be told to put it in his yearly budget - or plan for it next year.
Let's look at the break down of the $3.7 billion Obama is asking for,
"Officials said the largest share of the money, $1.8 billion, would go to the Health and Human Services Department to provide food, housing and medical care to thousands of youths who are crammed into emergency detention sites at U.S. Border Patrol facilities, on military bases and elsewhere as they await processing."
L.A. Times, http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-obama-border-20140708-story.html#page=1
$1.8 billion more would go to Health and Human Services (HHS)?
According to http://www.hhs.gov/budget/fy2015/fy-2015-budget-in-brief.pdf
These are the figures for HHS.
In 2013, HHS spent $886 billion.
In 2014, HHS spent $958 billion.
In 2015, HHS plans to spend $1,010 billion.
That's a rise of $124 billion in two years. $1.8 billion is just a drop in the bucket of money HHS receives.
The bigger question this reveals is why is the HSS growing so fast in a time with such gross Government deficits? Our total expected spending in 2015 will be $3.9 Trillion.
The HSS takes up over one quarter of our Government spending already.
Defense is $495 billion (a change downward of .4% year over year).
That's less than half of what the US Government will be giving to HHS in 2015.
That 27%, called Medicare & Health in the cart, is the HHS.
HHS provides medicare and medicaid. It's 85% of their expenditures.
But the other 15%?
8% discretionary programs
3% children's entitlement programs
2.6% other manditory programs
2% TANF
Inside that number is $868 million marked for refugee related programs.
According to the budget located here, http://www.hhs.gov/budget/fy2015/fy-2015-budget-in-brief.pdf
"ACF anticipates 70,000 refugee arrivals in FY 2015, together with 55,000 asylees and other entrants eligible for refugee benefits. These benefits consist primarily of time-limited cash and medical assistance but also include social services, primarily job training and English instruction, so adults can become self-sufficient as quickly as possible. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, HHS anticipates decreased refugee medical assistance costs as more refugees are covered by the Medicaid expansion in participating states. ACF has worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to translate the enrollment application into languages most often spoken by refugees (11 are currently available) and has developed a training curriculum so that Navigators and Certified Application Counselors can ensure that refugees and other entrants have equal access to benefits under the Affordable Care Act. The Budget includes sufficient funds to provide eight months of cash and medical assistance to these arrivals and maintain funding for social services and victims of torture."
Three things to take away from this.
1. It's clear anyone who seeks entrance to the United States under the ACA is grouped with refugees automatically.
2. Once classified as refugees, they are offered "time-limited cash" and medical assistance and social services.
3. No where does HHS say directly they provide food or housing.
The LA. Times article may indeed be right about HHS providing medical care for many of the illegal immigrants, but food and housing are not part of that deal. It would have to be offered outside the normal operation of the HHS.
868 million is already going to this refugee fund. Now Obama wants to add 1.8 billion more - more than double it's current funding.
Why double? Because estimates say the amount of illegal immigrants will double next year, from 80,000 to 160,000. It makes sense if you look purely at the numbers.
But it's not about the numbers. Obama could stem the tide by tightening up on deportations, showing that the US Government won't allow open borders. Or he could offer to put the money into the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). But that's not what Obama is asking for.
He's asking for a 1.8 billion dollar blank check to go to HHS.
The L.A. Times apparently doesn't understand that in it's rush to defend Obama's bill. They give the readership a false impression that HHS is going to be providing the essentials people need.
What is needed? Decent food, water, clothing and shelter.
What will be provided? Time-limited cash, medical treatment, and social services (including access to public schools for minors).
Which, because these benefits must be given wholly to each "Refugee", it will put a strain on other school and social services. This will include the free lunch program, which is under the control of the USDA.
Instead of issuing food stamps, they are offering what seems to be cash EBT cards. Anyone familiar with cash EBT knows they can be abused for purchases of non-food items. In fact, in California, it's been reported that cash EBT cards have been excessively abused.
"In a 2010 Los Angeles Times report, EBT cards were being used in places like Indian casinos and strip clubs.
According to The Times, it was discovered that nearly $5 million in cash benefits were spent or withdrawn from ATMs at casinos and poker rooms between January 2007 and May 2010."
http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/ann-mariemurrell/2012/07/03/free_obamadollars_the_ebt_card_for_cigarettes_and_alcohol/page/full
Not to mention cash EBT cards being used for alcohol and cigarettes instead of say, diapers, that happens daily.
So it is not the HHS that is providing food, it will be the USDA that will need more revenue to increase the amount of school lunches it provides.
This doesn't even mention that all these children will be exposed to radical anti-colonialism, anti-religion, and anti-moral bigotry that is prevalent throughout the US public school system and University system, helping to foster a new generation of radical anti-Americans such as Frank Marshall Davis, Bill Ayers, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, and Saul Alinsky.
Of that $3.7 billion Obama is planning on using, $1.8 billion goes to HHS, and $1.6 billion to Justice and Homeland security. That's still 300 million left unaccounted for, but no where does any of the reports specify that the funds go to the USDA or HUD.
So sadly, those in favor of Obama's bill, are supporting it based upon their hopes and dreams that they project upon the bill.
Instead, the reality is that the bill will burden the USDA school lunch program, and the taxpayers, while continuing the HHS's unprecedented levels of funding under false pretenses. A questionable action in light of just how much money the HHS is receiving (27%) and how much our deficits are blossoming when we are supposed to be tightening our belts.
From the Congressional Budget Office,
Why?
"Federal spending for Social Security and the government’s major health care programs—Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and subsidies for health insurance purchased through the exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act—would rise sharply, to a total of 14 percent of GDP by 2039, twice the 7 percent average seen over the past 40 years. That boost in spending is expected to occur because of the aging of the population, growth in per capita spending on health care, and an expansion of federal health care programs."
14% of GDP by 2039. Today, our $3.9 Trillion Government expenditures is from a GDP of 16.8 Trillion. That's 23% of our total GDP. Going from an average of 7 percent, to 14, on just Social Security and major health care programs, is going to balloon the deficit without even giving us room to pay for other important services, such as defense.
That's clearly unsustainable. HHS, plus our national debt interest payments, and welfare payments, are expected to grow to such tremendous amounts that only incredibly high taxes will ever be able to pay for them. Even the drop in 2013's deficit, is minor, because the debt just keeps tallying up faster than before.
The deficit in 2013 was still $560 billion.
Making for an increase to 17.6 Trillion total debt.
The notion that Obama is acting fiscally responsible in any sense of the matter needs to be dropped. In fact, his policies are leading the US into economic collapse through creating unsustainable, unspecified, and unanswerable programs and services. Resulting in future needs to dramatically increase taxes. Obama's policy is a terrible burden and excuse to indenture future generations.
