>>the only thing that concerns me is your statement:
>>
>>You wrote:
>>
>>
>>And of course there is a great difference in immigration policies we have received a lot of chanceless refugees from all over the world that would not have been excepted in the US.
>>
>
>>Are they legal immigrants?
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>Yes and no, they're request often is pending. Sometimes it takes many years before they know whether they can stay or should go.
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>>Do they work
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>Yes and No, often they don't because they are not allowed to work unless they have a certain status. Unless I'm wrong, but if I want to emmigrate into the US I have to show that you're economical beneficial to the US and someone is guarantor for you personally. This is not the case up here, unfortunately. Here you can get a permission to stay if you can convince the government you cannot stay in your country for safety reasons. So we get a lot of people from africa and the middle east.
>
>>and receive the same benefits as indigenous people in your country?
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>If they are accepted as legal immigrants, yes they are. Of course when you're illegal you'll be excluded for all, except very exceptional cases (I think education and inmediate medical care are examples).
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>>I ask because we have an estimated 10 million illegal Mexican immigrants in the U.S. today. I don't know of any country with more people crossing its borders each year illegally to live and work there.
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>Hmmm, that is a two adge sword. At one hand they are illegal. OTOH, they don't cost much as they don't have any rights as well. They also help the economy, though some of the money might be flowing to the family to mexico. Illegal people are not so much of a problem in a society where there are limited governmental benefits. The european society is a bit different in this respect.
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>BTW, I do not know how many illegals we have up here, but in summer there are a lot of people illegally working up here (e.g. from poland), but proportionally I'm not that shocked.
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>Walter,

Walter;

This is a topic that has no end. Illegal aliens are treated for any medical ailment for free. The taxpayers pay for it. If you are a legal resident without medical insurance or cash you will have a problem obtaining medical care. The laws are in favor of illegal aliens.

The children of illegal aliens receive free public education paid for by taxpayers. Regarding higher education (college) illegal aliens in California (perhaps other states) are treated as residents of California and qualify for much lower fees then if they were residents of other states.

California has about 40% of the illegal aliens from Mexico, and that figures out to perhaps 5 million out of a total state population of 35 million.

Illegal aliens cannot legally obtain a drivers license in California. You must have a driver’s license to have automobile insurance in our state. It is required by law to have automobile insurance if you drive a vehicle.

An aside – my family was involved in a very serious automobile accident caused by an illegal alien. After laying on the gurney for 14 hours in emergency the doctor told me that I was going to die. I am lucky to be here.

Tom