To the Editor:
What happens when we deport Dreamers back to their original country?
These are people who take the same path through society that average American citizens take. The school system and the activities that it provides. After-school jobs. Maybe onto college and then become a functioning member of society. They pay taxes, including FICA and possibly property taxes if they purchase a home. Some have been here for decades. At the point they become aware they are not a citizen, they then fill out government forms that may let them become citizens. At that point they are deemed a Dreamer.
Now we have citizens who say to deport the Dreamers. They are criminals. But they may be friends with your children. The older ones may even be an in-law if they married into your family. They work next to you or maybe even for you. They walk among us and you may never even know it. But we are deporting them back to a place many only know on a map. Have we figured out the cost of getting rid of productive members of society? First is the actual cost of deporting someone and the court system, detention and cost to relocate them back. Next we take taxpaying folks out of the system and leave a hole that can hopefully be filled. We are in an economy that has many businesses begging for employees. Economically, fewer people filling jobs should drive up costs, which will be passed onto customers in the form of higher prices. That’s inflationary and look what that’s doing to the stock market.
If you deport the person in a household that makes the money, what do you do with the rest of the family? Government support? Food stamps, Medicaid and government housing vouchers. Those who remain are U.S. citizens and not welcomed in the deportee’s country. If the Dreamer’s family is doing well and can buy things in the community, then sales taxes are paid and local taxes do not have to be raised as high. Money into the pockets of citizens.
So be careful taking the high and mighty road to deporting the Dreamers, the costs may be more than you imagined.
Ed Washak
Yorkville
