Immigrants, illegals in US use more welfare schemes than natives

Washington, Nov 29 (UNI) Immigrants and illegal migrants in US are more likely to be using welfare programmes than native Americans as they are less educated, a new study has claimed.

''The problem here is not work, or a lack of willingness to work; it's not legal status but educational level at arrival,'' The New York Times quoted research director for the Center for Immigration Studies, Steven A Camarota, as saying.

The public burden is a major issue, and it was one of the disputes, along with border security and increased enforcement, that helped kill the Senate immigration bill earlier this year.

President George W Bush had wanted to scrap the family-based immigration system active since the last 50 years and replace it with a system involving job skills, high education levels and English proficiency. The opposition, however, objected arguing that family reunification should still be the guiding principle.

Mr Camarota, whose group calls for a crackdown on illegal immigrants and a slowdown in legal immigration, said the family-based system put a strain on taxpayer-funded services.

The burdens illegal immigrants place on taxpayers can't be solved through amnesty because it would not raise education levels, he said.

UNI