Politifact recently took issue with a statement made by representative Peter Palumbo regarding illegal aliens.  Here is Palumbo's exact statement:


Rhode Island gives undocumented pregnant women health insurance, plus a cash card "with $400 a month on it" and "$250 a month or $275 a month to spend on food."


     The reporters behind Politifact rated Palumbo's statement as "barely true."  In fact, It should have been labeled "mostly true."  Palumbo's statement had two problems: It mentioned specific dollar amounts, which are impossible to discern, and it focused solely on pregnant illegal aliens, rather than the families they start.  Let me explain.

     Pregnant illegal aliens receive health insurance while they are pregnant, and three months after they give birth.  They do in fact receive health insurance for up to one year.  What advocates for illegal aliens don't mention is that the children of these women automatically receive free health insurance because they are American citizens.  If the law-breaking mother has 2 or 3 (or more) children, this unnecessary expense is greatly multiplied.

     As for cash benefits and food stamps, Politifact said Palumbo is "wrong."  He is wrong about the mothers receiving benefits, but he is 100% correct about the families of illegal aliens receiving benefits.  He stated that such families receive $400 per month in cash benefits, and up to $275 per month in food stamps.  In reality, these number might be much higher.  In regards to food stamps :


Under the federal Deficit Reduction Act, without proof of citizenship,they can't receive the benefit. Once born, their children will qualifyto enroll in the SNAP program. According to the University of RhodeIsland's Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America, the maximum is $200a month per qualifying member. But the subsidy will not cover themother.


In regards to cash assistance :


It's important to note that, as with healthcare benefits, once the childis born, as a citizen, he or she will be eligible for welfare benefits,which would presumably be delivered to the mother on behalf of thechild. But the mother herself does not qualify for any subsidy. SoPalumbo is incorrect to say pregnant women get welfare benefits.


     In reality, Peter Palumbo's estimates might actually be quite low.  If I remember correctly, around 25% to 30% of families receiving welfare benefits have more than 3 or more children.  That means a family with 3 children would be eligible for up to $600 per month in food stamps ($200 X 3 children).  As for cash benefits, it could end up being substantially more than $400 per month.  Of course, Politifact doesn't want to criticize the illegal aliens who are trespassing and causing us financial problems.

     If we could prevent illegal aliens from coming into the United States, we would prevent them from having children here.  That would reduce expenses.  There's no question about that.  Since the Federal government is useless when it comes to protecting our borders, states need to take the issue into their own hands.  If Rhode Island were an inhospitable place for illegal aliens, they would locate themselves in other states and burden them economically rather than Rhode Island.

     Of course, this makes me wonder about other things.  If the children of illegal aliens can receive food stamps, health insurance, and cash benefits, can they receive other benefits?  What about Section 8 housing, heating assistance, and childcare subsidies?  Since the children are U.S. citizens when they are born, and they would benefit from the housing, heating, and childcare, it's a good question. 

     If you add in the expenses related to food stamps, cash benefits, health insurance, and possibly housing, heating, and childcare assistance, it's easy to see how illegal aliens are an economic drain on Rhode Island.  By the way, each of the children probably costs at least another $14,000 to educate.  Illegal aliens are the gift that keeps on taking.

     In conclusion, illegal aliens themselves might not be directly benefiting from our laws, but their children certainly are.  To think that any taxes or economic activity generated by them would offset the magnitude by of these benefits is delusional.