WV Farm Bureau Magazine July 2013 | Page 4

presidential paradigms Common Sense Missing from Immigration Reform Charles Wilfong, President, West Virginia Farm Bureau The ongoing battle over immigration reform should have the attention of all Americans. Included in the Senate-approved version of the bill is basic amnesty for people who have come to this country illegally. I believe our rule of law is being destroyed through this process. If this bill passes the House, we would be rewarding those who have no respect for our laws and regulations. All illegals would be given immediate legal status with a pathway to citizenship. This immediate status is referred to as “Registered Provisional Immigration Status”, or RPI status. Even the illegals who have criminal records would receive RPI status. All illegal immigrants would then be immediately eligible for welfare and other governmentfunded benefits. Approximately 50% of the illegal immigrants in our country today have children who were born in the U.S. and thus are eligible for welfare programs including food stamps, medicaid, children’s health insurance, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and more. It is estimated that each illegal household today consumes over $14,000 more in benefits than they pay in taxes, because we provide them with 4 West Virginia Farm Bureau News public education, police and fire protection, water and sewer service, road maintenance and other services on top of the welfare programs. And the extension of these benefits will not be limited to the 11 million current illegals, because there will be many more family members of current illegals who will be allowed to come to this country with their families. The total cost to taxpayers will