Houston Business Group Advocates Making All Illegals ‘Legal’
- Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:21am by
Mike Opelka
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A curious suggestion from a group of business leaders in Houston believes that legalizing all of the undocumented workers in the city would bring a huge financial boost to their struggling economy.
With over two million people, Houston is the biggest city in Texas and the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country. According to estimates by the Pew Hispanic Center, Houston also has more than 130,000 illegals working in and around the city, earning a projected $7 billion dollars a year and robbing the federal and local tax authorities of more than $1.4 billion dollars a year in revenue. That $1.4 billion dollar figure caught the attention of a group of local business folks known as the Greater Houston Partnership.
Here’s the math presented in the report from the Greater Houston Partnership:
If all undocumented workers in the region and their employers paid Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and federal income taxes, the additional revenues would exceed $1.4 billion.
- Social Security would receive an additional $851.7 million.
- Medicare would receive an additional $205.8 million.
- The U.S. Department of the Treasury would receive an additional $333.5 million.
- The Texas Workforce Commission would receive an additional $33.0 million.
Also included in the GHP report was additional data showing the income levels of illegal workers in various professions:
Sources: Estimates of Unauthorized in the Houston MSA – Greater Houston Partnership calculations based on Texas Workforce Commission and Pew Hispanic Center data; Average Weekly Wage – Texas Workforce Commission, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, March 2008; Average Annual Salary – Greater Houston Partnership calculations
The subject of blanket amnesty for all illegal workers has ignited impassioned discussions on both sides of the argument. Yesterday, Matt Patrick of Houston radio station KTRH invited Armando Walle, a Texas State legislator, to debate the issue with Jim Gilchrist of the Minutemen Project:
The Houston MSA (Houston-Sugarland-Baytown, TX) currently reports 7.6% unemployment — and that is not counting the estimated 132,000 undocumented workers.
Where do you stand on this idea?
(H/T – KTRH in Houston)
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Comments (159)
nilo
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:04amHow would he feel if the came and just took over his business? That would be fair too, wouldn’t it?
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:01amLet’s give Houston back to the Mexicans.
Report Post »Saltygi
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 12:05pmToo late!
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:57amWhat’s truely scary here, is the make up of the board of directors, none of whom seem to be progressives. The top two Jeff Moseley and Larry Kellner check out squeaky clean against Soros, progressivism, socialism, and the CFR. The rest of the board is a hodge podge of conservatism as well.
Report Post »So what’s the reasoning ?
It’s both simple and smart, they just locked up the Hispanic vote for the republican party in Houston, and likely a much greater influence throughout the entire state as well in the Hispanic demographic.
And like the disengeneous progressive promises to the Hispanic community, “dream act” ect, this too shall in the end turn out to be nothing in terms of real results.
Please make note of one thing, I’m am staunchly AGAINST AMNESTY in any form. I was commenting on the article, not on my own beliefs.
tirepitstop
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:06amIf they deported 130,000 iIlegals, that free’s up 130,000 jobs, then you automatically get the 1.4 billion in revenue. Ever heard the phrase….Two birds with one stone?
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:15amTirepitstop
Report Post »I think my last sentence is wholly in agreement with you, I don’t want illegals given anything but a one way ride OUT!
On a side note, I wonder if anyone else bothered to follow Glenns frequent advice, do your own homework, on this article? By the look and tone of the comments I’m going to guess, not so much.
tirepitstop
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 1:10pm@ Betterdays, We are in aggreement….I did not think we were not. This whole article is unbelieveable, they step over a dollar to pick up a dime. Common Sense has been transformed into Greed & Stupidity. I hope that your username comes true….
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:55amThis is what I think:
If these wages they are earning are true, I think the illegals are very much overpaid. Who makes this kind of cash / salary at a regular job? I will assume this is their take home, since they don’t pay taxes anyway.
Report Post »NeverSurrender
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:01amI agree with you. All we ever hear is illegals are paid low wages. If you do the math provided by GHP:
Report Post »$7,000,000,000 / 130,000 illegals equals over $53k per year. Now can someone thell me an American will REALLY not do the work of an illegal for $53k poer year?
kentuckypatriot
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:08amAmen NeverSurrender. I’d be happy with that salary.
Report Post »NeverSurrender
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:53amI’ve been moved out of Houston for a few years, but when did you guys start mining? Is there gold in dem der bayous?
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:53amThat’s awful Spank, but dam funny!!!
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:52amSpank – I bet the ranchers in Arizona that were killed by illegals wished they could of had better border control. You make some valid points on the hunting. But the government could never allow true Americans to shoot illegals for trespassing on their property. They would be jailed for terrorism.
Report Post »mowspower
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:51amSo we provide amnesty…..or whatever the PC name is………then the illegals pile up again…then aaah more amnesty. Why have a citizenship process????
Report Post »His_Way
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 3:29amHere in SD,CA it‘s rainin and it’s pourin illegals.
“My City was Gone” takes on a new twist here.
Report Post »quicker
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:51amIn other words you think we need to go can plinkin.
Report Post »boca_chica
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:50amThis is all just hot air until the border is closed as tight as a frogs a**.
Report Post »jagr1850
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:49amif the illegals are so dam valuable, give them back to mexico and they can contribute improving mexico…….long term problem fixd…period. we do not want illegals ever !!
Report Post »Collbuzz
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:53amHere, here! Agreed. Now we need someone with some b@//s to actually DO IT!!
Report Post »christianUSA
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:49amOpinion: illegals are illegals kick them out give US our jobs stop medical and school cost to mexicans etc government officals should be for US citizens not foreigners! CoruptCorp should be fine big their un-American-USA!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:26amAgree with you, and scholarships for study in colleges and universities should be for USA citizens and students, not for foreigners, ever. Sealing us off for a while would be a real good idea, like a very sick patient is in ICU until that patient can be exposed to other influences. I think AMERICA needs to heal first, then rehab, exercise, eat well, sleep, recover. After that, we can re-enter the world, or not.
It’s time to take care of us, get us well, get us healed, then we can help others.
Illegals O-U-T and N-O-W. That includes the illegals in OUR HOUSE in d.c.
Report Post »His_Way
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 3:52amKICKAGRANDMA
Report Post »Could you get that through to Gov. Moonbeam Brown cause he thinks I should help pay for illegals college??
“Illegal immigrants can now apply for state-financed scholarships and aid at state universities after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the second half of a legislative package focused on such students”.
More incentives for illegal behavior?.. What a farce.
JLGunner
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:46amHow many times do we need to discuss this? Seal the border first then lets talk about ignoring criminal behavior.
Report Post »sacwoodpusher
Posted on January 15, 2012 at 1:06pmWe don’t need to seal the border to keep illegals off. All you have to do is enforce the laws concerning the hiring of illegal aliens. Then, no benefits for illegals.
No jobs, no influx of immigrants.
Report Post »His_Way
Posted on January 16, 2012 at 3:38amNo need to wait around to “seal the border”. Enforce our current the laws. Send the criminals back to their country of orgin. Quit playing “buy the hispanic/ La Raza BS” vote games. End the bleeding of money from our bankrupt cities, states and country now.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:42amRead my lips, houston~~~ NO WAY IN HELL!
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:01amWe don’t want Illegal Aliens Paying into Unconstitutional Programs like Social Security and Medicare and the Dept of treasury.
We need to get rid of all of them. The Invading Aliens and the Programs.
Social Security began in 1936 after the ‘GREAT U.S. BANKRUPTCY of 1933′
You were pledged to the Federal Reserve as collateral for that Bankrutcy and the S.S. card is a Bond held by YOUR receiever, which is now the U.N.
WAKE UP !!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlCs7u1ihws
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:41amHere’s an idea: DEPORT all illegals and let Americans take the jobs. The tax revenues would be the same, but with LEGAL Americans doing the jobs. And before anyone says “The illegals are doing jobs Americans won’t do.” Well, gather up all the people on welfare and give them the choice of taking one of these jobs or getting cut from the welfare rolls.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:48amWell stated.
Report Post »unsafe
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:11amBeen saying that for years
Report Post »ProbIemSoIver
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 11:42amIt makes too much sense. Thats why the Powers that be (Global Elite and their club – the United Nations) will never allow it.
The UN has a Map of it’s new Subsidiary, The United States of America.
They received it as the World Bank and IMF in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Agreement before they became the UNin 1945.
Haven’t you seen the AGENDA 21 MAP? look it does NOT acknowledge a border between Mexico and America. It refers to it as the ‘LA PAZ SIDEBAR AGREEMENT of NAFTA – 200 MILE WIDE ZONE of COOPERATION’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_q8bGPnL50&feature=related
WHY?
Report Post »Because the UN wants to merge Canada, America and Mexico into the North American Union (N.A.U.)
The same as they did in Europe. This is why Spanish is Printed on almost everything in the United States. A forced Merger.
If people knew the UN owned the US, the PEOPLE would storm D.C. and N.Y. and it would be over for the Global Elite Banksters.
That is why they buy up all the media, and keep things clandestine and out of the public’s eye.
MetalPatriot
Posted on January 14, 2012 at 12:05am@problemsolver
I always enjoy your posts.
Report Post »democritusoilder267
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:41amHas all America gone insane. Giving illegals citizenship would not help us in anyway. If we really want to help them we would fix Mexico to encourage them to stay there. Now before you think I’m some White supremacist with a beer belly then you have the wrong person. I’m a biracial American with Mexican heritage on both sides of my family. America has the influence to make Mexico a better country for Mexicans to live in and prosper.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:43amWhy should we spend our hard earned tax dollars “fixing” Mexico? If the people that come to America illegally want to live in a better country, then THEY CAN FIX THEIR OWN COUNTRY!
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:44amWould we stop spending 338.3 million a year on these people in the form of welfare., imprisonment and education? Would our kids no longer be forced to pay for their own education plus that of one of these..No? Didn’t think so..
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:47amWhat? Their legs and brains don’t work when south of the big river? Deal with the cartels, deal with the corruption, entice businesses to return. There. Help. Take it and run with it, my gift with no strings.
Report Post »How much more money, time, and effort do you want for a people that can’t for some reason do for themselves…from those damn racist fence building gringo crackers in the land of the big px?
Reconquisto Mehico, then we will see about the rest of the la raza pc racist drivel.
ashestoashes
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:48amOOPS I said we spend 338.3 million a year on them..What I meant to say was $338.3 BILLION a year.!!.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:50amTons of oil and 2 prestine coast lines. How are they not prosperouse?
Report Post »teammommy
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:40amWow how many US citizens would move to Houston NOW if they thought they could get one of these illegals’ jobs? Open these jobs to Americans! You get your taxes, and Americans are working!
Report Post »WIN-WIN!!!
sWampy
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:46amIf they can count them, they can arrest them and deport them.
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 5:36pmDoes not work that way
1> Most of these illegals do not work 40 hour work weeks, 50-60 hours with no overtime pay is common. That by itself rules out alot of “American” workers.
2> The company does not have to pay Workers Comp, Health Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, Social Security, Medicare, Sick Time, etc etc
3> The company does not have to pay an expensive accountant or payroll service to process the unending government paperwork needed to maintain a legal workforce
That is just the 3 main issues, there are countless other regulations and considerations to factor in
If on the above chart you see Job Paying 18-20/hr, in Legal Wages that would be 9-10/hr
Report Post »gmoneytx
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:39amLove the knee jerk reaction…Texans don’t think this way…this is a fringe group, take a breathe before you leap off the cliff for God’s sake.
Report Post »SoupSandwich
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:57amSounds like a fringe group that needs local pressure to seek relocating, or getting some sanity.
Report Post »Yeah_Buddy
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 5:04pmI’d like to knee that jerky group in their crotch.
Report Post »azjeff1963
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:38amDidnt WE try this Once With RON the CON?
Report Post »IT DOESNT WORK….they will just KEEP Coming.
and there is already to damn many here.
Jim in Houston
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:37amMy God am I ashamed of my home town!
Report Post »the_ancient
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:36amThe problem is, the employers and illegals would never pay taxes if they were legal
The entire Reason a company hires an illegal (often times at HIGHER direct wages than a legal employee would make) is it get out from under the crushing regulation and taxation that comes with being an employer.
If you want to fix the illegal “problem” start by fixing the crushing regulatory and tax burden on employers so they will not have a reason to hire an illegal in the first place
Report Post »carbonyes
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:53amTHE_ANCIENT, very true. Obama and his cronies would love to see another 130,000 Dumograt voters for his slave plantation, but he wants a bigger influx, like about 15,000,000. Then the conservatives would see their country going down the tube at warp speed. We are in a war – with Big Business and the Democrat Party, for Big Business gives substantially more to Obazo than to any conservative candidate. For Obama, the fools in Big Business, the fools in labor, the blinded teachers, the Plantation loving blacks, and the list goes on are all taking this country down the tubes. They more than likely not will not realize it till it’s too late.
Report Post »Steve Neiling
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 12:25pmAbsolutely correct. Illegal immigration is a simply a symptom of a diseased system. When the system incentivizes illegal behavior, the system needs cured.
Report Post »Yeah_Buddy
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 5:14pmI was thinking same thing. What makes you think 100% of these people would pay taxes and suddenly be above-board with our laws? Yeah, maybe they will all get car insurance, stop jaywalking, give up their gang ways and home language too. And maybe bats will come flying out of thier butts!
Report Post »Then they can all ask themselves the same question: why am I in foreign land paying all their taxes when I can go home where my take home pay is about the same and have more freedom?
Locked
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:35amCorrect me if I’m wrong… but can a state (or a community within a state) even grant amnesty? I believe that’s granted at the federal level, not below it, right?
It’s an interesting mental exercise, but it doesn’t seem like it has the potential to accomplish anything.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:31am.
Crap like this is why Texas Sucks……….
Rick Perry has never meet a Illegal Mexican he didn’t like…………
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:39amTexas DOES NOT suck, but this does!
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:39amhow about a novel idea………get rid of illegals and let americans have the jobs………….we pay taxes
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:42amSheet bro da reezin I gots ta steel carz iz not acuzz I iz a ghetto thug, its acuzz the price iz too freekin high to get ones the leegill way…
Liberalizm is a mental disorder.
Report Post »mr.goodvibe
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:41pmJust moved here recently and so far I love Texas but as great as it is it is still not progressive free, being able to carry and buy firearms with ease and drive 65 on county roads and the best is the seemingly endless amount of work in my industry makes it great for me. God Bless Texas!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:30amNo suprise, Obamas cronies among the unions see the immigrants as sources of future plunder via forcing them to join the unions while Obama sees them only for the votes they will provide.
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on January 13, 2012 at 10:27amInsanity.
Report Post »