Immigration To U.S. Highest In History

The Skinny: More Immigrants Came To U.S. Since 2000 Than During Any Other 7-Year Period

(CBS)  The Skinny is Keach Hagey's take on the top news of the day and the best of the Internet.

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There's a good reason immigration dominated the Republican debate.

This nation of immigrants has never seen so many people immigrate here during any 7-year period as have come to the U.S. since 2000, according to a new study reported by the New York Times. And more than half of those coming during that period are illegal.

One in eight people living in the U.S. is an immigrant, the survey found, for a total of 37.9 million people - the highest level since the 1920s.

The Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates reduced immigration, put the study together from census data. These are folks with an ax to grind, sure, but the Times notes that even those who doubt some of the study's conclusions don't question its methods of data analysis.

Almost 30 percent of all immigrants and their children lack health insurance, compared with 13 percent of native-born Americans, the study finds. Immigrant families account for almost three-quarters of the increase in the uninsured over the past 15 years.

And about 31 percent of immigrants over 25 years old, both legal and illegal, have not completed high school, compared to 8.4 percent of American citizens, the study finds.

USA Today also carries the story, but goes with a headline closer to the actual thrust of the study: "Center says immigrants' lack of education hurts country."

Both stories find some critics to point out that the study doesn't take into account the contributions immigrants make, or the progress in education and income their families make once they've been here for a several generations.

Nevertheless, the study provides some ammunition to people on both sides of the immigration fight just by showing how deeply buried in the sand lawmakers' heads have been on this issue to date. The question is, when will the American public stop tolerating the exchange of zingers about who has a "sanctuary city" or a "sanctuary mansion" as a stand-in for an actual discussion about a very difficult issue?

Israel's Nukes Worried Nixon

You've got to wonder about the timing of this one. Just as Israeli and Palestinian leaders and neighbors wrapped up their peace discussions on American soil, the Nixon Presidential Library releases papers openly discussing one of the great unmentionables of the 20th century: Israel's nuclear weapons, and the United States' tacit and not-very-defensible acceptance of them.

There's been something for everyone in the library's latest release - including the startling news that Nixon nixed the promotion of "Deep Throat" to head up the FBI - but the New York Times finds the Israeli nuke piece the most interesting. So, too, did last night's CBS Evening News.

"The Israelis, who are one of the few people whose survival is genuinely threatened, are probably more likely than any other country to actually use their nuclear weapons," warned Henry Kissinger, the national security advisor, in the newly released 1969 memo.

Israel has never officially conceded that such a program exists. But it was giving the young Nixon administration headaches from the get-go.

"There is circumstantial evidence that some fissionable material available for Israel's weapons development was illegally obtained from the United States about 1965," Kissinger wrote. "This is one program on which the Israelis have persistently deceived us, and may have even stolen from us."

While the memo "implicitly acknowledged Israel's right to defend itself, as subsequent American administrations have done," the Times notes, it also admits that this position left the U.S. vulnerable to accusations that it had a double standard when it came to stopping the spread of weapons in the Middle East.

Avner Cohen, the author of "Israel and the Bomb" said there was enough evidence to suggest that Nixon and then-Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir later reached a secret understanding on at least one issue: Israel would keep its nuclear devices out of sight and not test them, and the United States would tolerate the situation and not press Israel to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that has been embraced by scores of countries around the world.

"That understanding remains to this day," Cohen said.

Trappist Monks Struggle With Demand For The "Holy Grail Of Beers"

What happens when capitalism runs up against asceticism? That all depends on how good the ascetics' beer recipe is, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The paper peeks inside the world of the Trappist monks at St. Sixtus monastery, who have taken vows against riches, sex and eating meat - but support their institution by brewing what connaisseurs consider the "holy grail of beers."

The monks have been brewing Westvleteren beer in their remote Belgian town near the French border since 1839. Their brew, offered in strengths up to 10.2 percent alcohol, is among the most highly prized in the world. Bars from Brussels to Boston sell it for $15 an 11-ounce bottle - 10 times what the monks ask for it.

But for the 26 monks at St. Sixtus, the demand for their beer has lately been impeding on their life of quiet contemplation. They are working hard to resist getting bigger, restricting the amount of beer each person can buy in a year and going online to track down and deter resellers.

"There is no dishonor in brewing beer for a living," said Brother Joris, one of the monks. "We are monks of the West: moderation is a key word in our asceticism."

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[mudrose-2009]

Well, that''s because we are a racist, bigoted, Godless, and one of the most hated countries in the world. Why you can compare us to a cemetary. People will just die to get in.

[slim1h2o]

The question is, when will the American public stop tolerating the exchange of zingers about who has a "sanctuary city" or a "sanctuary mansion" as a stand-in for an actual discussion about a very difficult issue?

Hopefully,, right about now.

[antoniof123]

Now I can see why the Republicans are so worried. It means that as legal immagrants come in that are well educated they will lose control over the masses.

[simonsez40]

We are giving AWAY our country - stop the insanity. Make it illegal to hire illegal immigrants (fine the companies and corporations) I can''t believe I just HAD to write that sentence! Don''t cover their medical expenses, deport them if caught driving without a license, stop renting to them - make them prove they are citizens.......

What is so hard about making illegal - ILLEGAL?

[trillion1]

We allow more legal immagrants than the rest of the world combined. But unlike Gates and Clinton attest H-1B visas should be cut back. Make companies like Microsoft ,that abuse the process, start paying fair wages and hire Americans that need the jobs. It''s pure bs saying they can''t find American workers. Illegals will remain a major problem until we have a congress that works for the people and not big business.

[rudy654-2009]

I cannot believe that a "study" done by The Center for Immigration Studies, one of the most biased and untruthful organizations around, is being touted as having an validity whatsoever. Notice the vague "even those who doubt some of the study''s conclusions don''t question its methods of data analysis." No explanation is provided as to who "those who don''t question its methods" actually are. Deliberately vague? You betcha! Oh, and have fun griping all you immigrant haters!

[erasmus6]

With all the problems the U.S. has, the very LAST thing they should be doing is letting more people in.

[dan9111]

Use the scientific method. Obviously "illegal" is a made up concept, and "immoral" is not. What about illegals makes them different from legals? Do they have ultraviolet hair color or a gene for mutant powers that cause social mayhem?

Unless these immigration folks can cite OBJECTIVE distinctions, then it is mere opinion. An arbitrary pi$$ing contest on both sides really.

[missingamerica]

Isn''t if funny how quickly you are characterized as being some form of "hater" or "rascist" because you resent having to share something you helped build and protect with somebody who comes into the country illegally to cherry-pick the fruits of your labor?

[nolalou]

simonsez40 asked "What is so hard about making illegal - ILLEGAL?".

Unfortunately, our economy depends on a certain amount of labor performed primarily by people who are here illegally! Agricultural jobs, such as picking crops is a prime example. If we could find Americans to do those jobs, the salary we''d have to pay would mean much higher prices!

The argument to ''stop selling them insurance'' doesn''t make sense either! The whole reason the issue of drivers licenses for illegals came up in NY was an attempt to make sure they have auto insurance (which you can only get if you have a license), otherwise in an accident involving an illegal resident, there may be no way for the other party to collect damages. If we don''t allow their children to attend school, that only means when they reach teen years, they are even more likely to join gangs, and become non-productive members of the community.

I do believe there needs to be tougher enforcement at the borders, coupled with some workable ''guest worker'' program where they could be legally hired for short-term work, but it''s a myth to think there is an easy solution to this problem!

[slim1h2o]

Some would simply give this country away then defend it. Or protect it from roving hords out there.

[killtheliars]

nolalou,

First of all the fact that corporate farmers want to make huge profits by hiring illegals should not be the problem of americans. We should be able to find out which produce companies hire illegals and then boycott their products. i would be willing to pay more for a product grown by americans who are paid a decent wage.
Illegals have no right to insurance or driving rights, they should not be here at all. Read the above article, even legal immigrants are putting a burden on our system. Spend money to help americans first, then if there are any scrpas left over we can think about giving it to others. America is not the world''s bread basket.

[missingamerica]

but it''s a myth to think there is an easy solution to this problem!

Posted by nolalou at 11:54 AM : Nov 29, 2007

It is also a myth that you can end a problem by accommodating it.

[slim1h2o]

Unfortunately, our economy depends on a certain amount of labor performed primarily by people who are here illegally! Agricultural jobs, such as picking crops is a prime example. If we could find Americans to do those jobs, the salary we''''d have to pay would mean much higher prices!

This statement, above, is getting tiresome. So the Legals don''t want those jobs? This service can only be performed by illegals? The above statement just isn''t true.

[omega39-2009]

We allow more legal immagrants than the rest of the world combined. But unlike Gates and Clinton attest H-1B visas should be cut back. Make companies like Microsoft ,that abuse the process, start paying fair wages and hire Americans that need the jobs. It''''s pure bs saying they can''''t find American workers. Illegals will remain a major problem until we have a congress that works for the people and not big business.
Posted by trillion1

They don''t even have to "prove" they can''t find a qualified worker. Just repeat it over and over and it becomes fact to a disinterested American public. The same is happening on the lower end of the pay scale where we are told Americans wouldn''t pick lettuce for $25/hour.

[rudy654-2009]

Unfortunately, our economy depends on a certain amount of labor performed primarily by people who are here illegally! Agricultural jobs, such as picking crops is a prime example. If we could find Americans to do those jobs, the salary we''''''''d have to pay would mean much higher prices!

This statement, above, is getting tiresome. So the Legals don''''t want those jobs? This service can only be performed by illegals? The above statement just isn''''t true.
Posted by slim1h2o at 12:03 PM

And you are just introducing a straw man argument, because in no instance in the statement is it mentioned that only illegals can perform the job. You just build up your man of straw and then knock it over. The statement clearly says that this country relies on illegals, primarily in agriculture. All the rest you added. And yes, go to any field during harvest and you will find it full of illegals. And yes, they can''t find legals to do the work. And yes, if you don''t like it, boycott all the cheap produce.

[rudy654-2009]

The same is happening on the lower end of the pay scale where we are told Americans wouldn''''t pick lettuce for $25/hour.
Posted by omega39 at 12:08 PM

I''ve never heard that claim, but I do know that when I tried to place Americans in agricultural jobs for Social Services, they all simply refused.

[pepperp1]

Illegal Immigration another corrupt greedy mess forced on our communities by this amoral soulless and incompetent Republican Rule just like Iraq, the corrupt Government Officials and Institutions, massive debt, runaway spending, 28,000 wounded vets, depletion of our national security, and a doofus ideological Court that a President Clinton will have to clean up.

[tucano2]

Fairly accurate legal immigration figures are likely. ILLEGAL ALIENS'' currently within the so-called borders of the USA are likely to be approaching 30 millions, or about 10 percent of the total population in the USA. They need to be eradicated.

[mudrose-2009]

Illegal Immigration another corrupt greedy mess forced on our communities by this amoral soulless and incompetent Republican Rule just like Iraq, the corrupt Government Officials and Institutions, massive debt, runaway spending, 28,000 wounded vets, depletion of our national security, and a doofus ideological Court that a President Clinton will have to clean up.
Posted by pepperp1

Do you know that Madam Pewlosi is right now sitting on a bill that allows Employers to it Employees to speak english. Ms. Pewlosi and President Harry don''t want "undocumented Americans" to be marginalized. Why who would vote for them if they were? Wake up. Both parties are responsibile for allowing our border with Mexico and Canada to be wide open. Clinton won''t clean up anything. If anything she''ll further diminish our sovereignty.

[omega39-2009]

I''''ve never heard that claim, but I do know that when I tried to place Americans in agricultural jobs for Social Services, they all simply refused.

Posted by rudy654

Rudy, the claim was by John McCain.....


McCain responded by saying immigrants were taking jobs nobody else wanted. He offered anybody in the crowd $50 an hour to pick lettuce in Arizona.

Shouts of protest rose from the crowd, with some accepting McCain%u2019s job offer.

%u201CI%u2019ll take it!%u201D one man shouted.

McCain insisted none of them would do such menial labor for a complete season. %u201CYou can%u2019t do it, my friends.%u201D

Some in the crowd said they didn%u2019t appreciate McCain questioning their work ethic.

[slim1h2o]

Rudy,, I was asking nolalou, that question. And I already have to buy cheapest produce I can find.

Why don''t you start defending this country, instead of slamming it.

All the illegals do, is hurt the legal immigrants image. And they are the ones that belong here, not the illegals. What part of illegal do you not understand?

[denn034]

The flow of illegals can''''t be entirely stopped so, Bush''''s Guest Worker Visa that steers illegals away from welfare is the only logical approach to the issue.

[drivelphobe]

rokero0666...

Birds of a feather...Go back across the border!

[allunknowing]

This story could be updated every day and the numbers would only increase. Nothing will ever be done. The beaurocrats just like to talk about it over and over. No one ever sticks out a good solution and follows through.

[pepperp1]

Dirt Weed

YOU WISH, 25 percent of America nnow claim themselevs to be a member of the rancid GOP base and they are the only fools biting at this red meat 2008 WEDGIE AKA RNC ROVE Bush Bait to get you sickos that have to hate to the polls. The rest of us, We the People, know your rancid greedy party created the problem under your sole Republican one party rule for years, 12 million Illegal coming in overstaying streaming across our boarders being used as slave labor and stuffing these undocumented un policed in our communities, dumbing down with Political Cronies Immigration courts and enforcement which has been non existent under this President. In the last seven years while your Republican Representative were starting a disastrous war, pillaging the treasury, plunging our country into a generation worth of debt, increasing the number of Americans below the poverty level, you SUPPPOSE they couldn%u2019t have render an EDICT to send this supposed group you hate so much home. GET OUT OF HERE no one is buying this CRAPPPOLA hate issue of your own Parties making, you enjoy your own Wedgeie up your own asssss. The rest of us will clean this and every other Massive greed based BLUNDER made during your Parties failed rule.

[drivelphobe]

rudy654...

There are plenty of American citizen students who would do the field work if the pay were fare. I went to Fresno state back in the 60''s, and students did this work seasonally when they were out of classes. Don''t think for a minute there are jobs Americans won''t do. They''ll work at anything, but the wages have to be based on American values, not Mexico''s.

Eventually, the illegals will demand more and more money, and it will all back fire. I still urge deportation because I''m sick of this garbage. I can''t stand looking at the illegals or listening to their mexican jibberish. I don''t want one more tax dollar spent on their entitlemnets. They have to go.

[trillion1]

I have yet to hear the pro illegals tell the truth. They start by saying everyone is anti immagrant which is a lie. It''s the illegal one''s we want gone. American''s won''t do the work is another lie pushed by the businesses that don''t want to pay a fair wage that would cut into their obscene profits. Here''s a beauty. We can''t stop them from coming. We could if we had secure borders. Also, you can''t deport 20 million illegals. We don''t need to. Give their jobs to Americans and stop all the free benefits and they''ll leave in droves.

[peter776-2009]

Over half of the immigrants coming to the U.S. since 2006 are ILLEGAL. These people are not immigrants -- they are illegal aliens who have no right to be in my country. Illegal aliens consume my tax dollars, increase crime in my neighborhood, dumb down my kids'' school, crowd my public facilities and parks, and wear their culture on their sleeves instead of assimilating. For the overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens, illegal aliens bring nothing to the table, and indeed take away from it. Only the greedy and unscrupulous well-to-do who hire illegal aliens for menial jobs profit from their presence -- everyone else loses. We need national policies implemented immediately to deport illegal aliens en masse, and refuse them all government services, including education and health care. Illegal immigration must be stopped, and the border with Mexico must be sealed.

[dan9111]

It is very easy to apply the scientific method here. There is no "chemical litmus test" to see which immigrants are legal or not. It is a made up concept.

If you want to keep certain people off your property, that is your lookout. But do not attempt to usurp the property rights of other Americans who disagree with you. Property is easily sustained as a basic human right, and if you believe the INS trumps property rights, then you do not really believe our rights exist at all except at the pleasure of our Masters in Washington. Not at all an American concept, but a traitorous one.

[jowand]

We''re such a bad country to live in, you have hundreds of thousands of people a year leaving everything they have to come here.

[vampire1288]

IF YOU DON''T BELIEVE UNLIMITED IMMIGRATION WILL HURT THIS COUNTRY.. JUST ASK AN AMERICAN INDIAN.. A ONCE PROUD PEOPLE WERE REDUCED TO ALMOST NOTHING BY THE U S ARMY... USING CANNONS ON WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO WERE JUST SEEKING SAFETY... GENERAL GRANT ORDERED THE ARMY TO KILL ALL THE BUFFALO THE INDIANS MAIN FOOD. IF WE ALLOW THE ILLEGALS A FREE RUN THEY WILL DESTROY US AS WELL...

[DrColes]

Criminals did NOT build America; Citizens and LEGAL immigrants built it. Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing. 80% of the American people want an end to anarchy! This is NOT a Democrat, Republican, Independent issue. It''s an American Issue.

Illegal aliens are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.

Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code) To report illegal aliens call the DHS National Hotline 1 866 DHS 2ICE. (1-866-347-2523)

No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues. We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen. We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance. See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.

[kennedy7955]

Is there any country in the world as dumb as the USA to allow their country to be overrun by illegal aliens? I doubt it. The government has said that there are an estimated 12-15 million illegal aliens in the country, which means that the number is actually 24-30 million- about the population of Canada (33.4 million). When will we the American people get so disgusted that we demand change?

[rudy654-2009]

Criminals did NOT build America; Citizens and LEGAL immigrants built it.Posted by DrColes at 02:47 PM

Keep lying to yourself. The fact is, your illegal ancestors invaded someone else''s land, violated their laws and killed off those to whom it rightly belonged to and then have the nerve to discriminate against the descendents of the original inhabitants by calling them illegals. Is it a wonder that Adolf Hitler admired the U.S. system for its reservations and illegal land grabbing? Hardly.

[rudy654-2009]

That Land Is Palestine,, and the Illegals are all Jewish..... Posted by rokero0666 at 03:45 PM

I look forward to the day when people will no longer be a planet divided by borders and religion and all that krap that allows you people to hate one another.

[rudy654-2009]

By the way people, there is an easy answer to stopping illegal immigration. STOP buying the produce that is picked by them, STOP buying the products from Con Agra and Tyson, STOP shopping for the cheapest of the cheapest at Wal-Mart and start supporting American jobs that pay a living wage plus health care benefits. If you are not willing to do that, you really have no reason to complain, because you are the problem.

[rudy654-2009]

We''''re such a bad country to live in, you have hundreds of thousands of people a year leaving everything they have to come here.Posted by jowand at 02:11 PM

Nice try. They are not coming from prosperous Western Europe. They are fleeing Third World poverty. Big difference, I would say.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by vampire1288 at 02:16 PM

How ironic that your ancestors came to kill, and these people come to work the fields. It says a lot about values.

[rudy654-2009]

There are plenty of American citizen students who would do the field work if the pay were fare. Posted by drivelphobe at 01:29 PM

Prove it. As for myself, I worked in a position where I tried to get Americans to do these jobs, and they simply wouldn''t. Most universities and colleges aren''t built near fields.

[rudy654-2009]

Why don''''t you start defending this country, instead of slamming it. Posted by slim1h2o at 12:47 PM

I don''t address false accusations. I tell the truth. I will repeat: go out to any fields during harvest time and they will be full of illegal immigrants. That isn''t slamming this country. When I worked for social services I could not get Americans to go to work in the fields. That''s the truth. If you consider it an insult, too bad. If you don''t like illegals here, then stop buying the cheap produce they pick and start supporting living wages with benefits. It is so simple.

[rudy654-2009]

I can''t stand looking at the illegals or listening to their mexican jibberish. Posted by drivelphobe at 01:29 PM

Please note the racism in your little hate speech here. You can''t stand looking at them. Or listening to them in their Mexicn jibberish. Let''s see, from this I can tell that you simply judge them as illegal because 1) you can''t stand looking at them and 2) you don''t like hearing Spanish. Hatred like that will leave you old and ugly. When it comes your time to exit this world, you will be very much alone.

[slim1h2o]

Posted by rudy654 at 05:33 PM : Nov 29, 2007
You are just a troll, and an idiot. Go back under that rock troll.

Like I said,, start defending this country, or get out.

Move back to Mexico, so you can be with your brothers and sisters.

[rudy654-2009]

You are just a troll, and an idiot. Go back under that rock troll.

Like I said,, start defending this country, or get out.

Move back to Mexico, so you can be with your brothers and sisters. Posted by slim1h2o at 06:17 PM

If calling me names makes you feel better about your hatred, then go ahead. It doesn''t bother me in the slightest. Also, I am not from Mexico, mein Liebchen!

[bhappy2-2]

Illegal aliens are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.

Illegal aliens in America have NO rights. We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code) To report illegal aliens call the DHS National Hotline 1 866 DHS 2ICE. (1-866-347-2523)
Posted by DrColes

RIGHT ON DOC! We need to seal the borders and get rid of these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS! We need to post heavy fines for aiding, in any way, these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS! When they can no longer get a job because it is no longer profitable for those who hire them they will SELF- DEPORT. We, the citizens of America, DO NOT want these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS, we DO NOT want AMNESTY in any form, we DO NOT want the CRIMINALS rewarded for breaking our laws. ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS MUST GO!

[rudy654-2009]

Why don''t you just boycott the cheap produce? Oh, you can''t stop doing that, right? Hmm. Well, whacha gonna do then? I guess y''all just keep supportin low wage no benefit jobs, and illegal workers who''ll be the only ones to do it. Too bad for you immigrant haters.

[bhappy2-2]

Why don''''t you just boycott the cheap produce? Posted by rudy654

I grow as much of my own as I can. I work the soil, plant the seeds, tend the garden myself, and I do my own harvesting. While I can''t grow everything I grow what I can.

[standlee5]

I just don''t understand how we''re going to care for all the recent immigrants in the event of a long recession. I also don''t understand who''s in charge of deciding how many people are allowed to come into the country. It seems like a system run amok.

[standlee5]

I loved it when Tancredo said he completely rejected the notion that their are jobs Americans won''t do. BRAVO. Americans have always worked hard and done plenty of dirty work.

[standlee5]

At what point do we slam the door shut. Why would we want to have a poplulation like India or China where we''re just swimming in people and pollution. Wall Street has run the country way too long. A crash is long overdue.