How Our Tax Dollars are Being Spent

A family from Mexico comes to live in the United States with a temporary VISA. After it has expired, they still decide to stay, but they are now living here illegally. The parents are working hard to pay their rent and bills and to get their children ahead. They feel lucky to be able to send their children to school without being asked for any proof of citizenship. The eldest male ends up in jail because of a crime he committed after befriending the “wrong” crowd. The eldest female just never felt comfortable here, and she decides to return to Mexico to live with her aunt. The other male is in and out of school, and finally, he decides to drop out and start working. He, like his parents, is able to get a job without papers and pay his own rent and bills. The youngest female stays in school, graduates from high school, and attends a local community college. She, like many other students that are here illegally, gets financial aid and even some scholarships. The eldest female gets impregnated while in Mexico and decides to come back to the United States. She is able to cross the river and immediately applies for government help when she gets back.

Let’s first mention the eldest. He is incarcerated for committing a crime so he in so many words lives in a prison. How are prisons paid for and maintained? Yes, with tax dollars that you and me pay. I would think that he would be sent back to Mexico. Why are we spending tax dollars on this individual that contributed nothing to society and commits a crime within the first years that he is here? Sadly, he is just one of the many examples of the convicts in prisons.

The eldest female quickly gets help from the government. She is entitled Medicaid, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), and a bunch of food stamps every month. She does not work, has never worked, and she keeps going back to Mexico after she gives birth. She comes back when she gets impregnated again. To this day, she is back here for the third child. She has even met eligibility to get government housing. While just some days ago, a local citizen came out in the news that was grilling and had an unfortunate accident and ended up with severe burns on his face. He needs treatment, but unfortunately the government will not help him. Yet, they give everything to illegal women that come have their children here time and again.

The other male is working and paying rent and bills. I have to say that I have respect for those who genuinely want to come here for a better life with their hard work. He, however, gets paid cash and pays no taxes. What can he do? Many illegal immigrants in this situation would like to be granted citizenship. He was brought here by his parents before he was 18. Shouldn’t there be something that can be done for this person that is working hard and making a living here without getting into trouble?

The youngest female really showed that she wanted to have success here. Education is something that everyone should have a right to, and she was also brought here before she was 18. Will the Dream Act be able to help her? Nevertheless, she has obtained several funds, and she has been able to continue studying. While I was in college in this border town, I knew several students who lived in Mexico and just used a local address, and they were granted financial aid. I had made about $18,000 and got a $300 Pell grant. While this other student was not taking his studies seriously, but he had enough to pay for classes and books and a lot left over to use for whatever he wanted.

Why does government do this to us? We pay so much for others who don’t even appreciate it. Why don’t they take better care of our tax dollars? I’ve even heard of families that live off of their children’s disability checks. They push their children to lie over a disorder they probably don’t have to have this income. When in fact, it’s just parents that let their children do whatever they want, claim to lose control over them, and demand that they be given medication for ADHD. When will all of this change? Then the government is contemplating to cut funds in other areas that are really needed when they should be checking these funds that are given to people who lie and will never contribute anything to our country.