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.

---

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."

A NOTE TO READERS: The Skinny is available via e-mail. Click here and follow the directions to register to receive it in your inbox each weekday morning.

[Dean Smith]

When white settlers came to the USA, NO-ONE owned the land. Whites tried to buy the land but the Indians couldn''t sell it. WHY? Because they had no alphabet, and as such were considered to be uncivilized barbarians. And they were.
TODAY most of our recent immigrants have NO alphabet. They are also uncivilized barbarians.

[celtictex]

To those who say that Europeans settlers were illegal immigrants that is not true. There were no immigration laws as such until the late 19th century.

Anyway, every country in the world was subject to invasions in the past. Take England where you had the Celts and then Germanic tribes. So there were always waves of different invaders to different countries.

We live in a different world today. We cannot just allow anyone who wants to come to America to stay illegally. The fact is that the massive immigration under way in America is designed to reduce wages for working Americans so that a small few elites at the top can benefit massively from paying low wages.

[klingon69]

Illegal Alien Invaders???

and your ancestors who invaded this land and took it from the Native americans were legal??
Right......................
Posted by rokero0666 at 10:16 AM : Nov 30, 2007
Well, since there were NO immigration laws thsat existed during those times, then those who came here were invaders, but not illegal. Can''t break a law, if it doesn''t exist.
However, since this is now a sovereign country, there are laws today that are designed to control the influx of foreign nationals into our society. Whether they are simply applying for school, work ...etc; they are legal visitors/immigrants. Those that sneak in across the border, or stow away in cargo containers are illegal. They are breaking the laws as are written. In order to perpetuate their remaining in the country, they must break more laws (false id, illegal labor...etc).

[klingon69]

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.
Posted by Dan9111 at 02:04 PM : Nov 29, 2007
However, your property can be taken from you against your will. If the local government thinks it would be more revenue to tear down your home and build a shopping center, they will first approach you to sell. If you refuse, they can take it. It''s called "Immenent Domain".
a few years back the local govt (water utilities) wanted to put a storm drain for an area that would tend to flood(slightly, little water on road)when it rained. After consulting with surveyors and architects, the best location was to put this drainage system on a citizens property. The citizen refused, the city council voted, the citizens property was effectively cut in half as the drain was put in, and to ensure no future problems with expansion of the drain, took all the land in that strip in case it would ever be needed.
The feds can do the same.

[tbweb]

The United States has the largest Prison population in the World of any nation! Which proves that when Americans break the Law, Americans pay for their crimes with fines, Prison sentences or both, the only glitch seems to be Plea Bargaining, but even then a penalty is still paid, nobody gets off free! This is why Americans are so upset and frustrated with illegal immigrants. Suddenly the word "illegal" takes on new meaning when it relates to illegal immigrants! Under this "new definition" of "illegal" as it pertains to illegal immigrants, illegal immigrants get unlimited access to the United States and all its resources for as long as they like and there doesn''t seem to be anything that can be done about it. Suddenly the U.S. Legal Systems hands are tied, illegal criminals roam free to rape, kill and steal, 12 million plus strong and growing! No criminal background checks, no medical checkup, nothing! The government dropped the ball on this issue big time, it makes no sense. Why have borders at all, why even fly the U.S. Flag, just let anyone walk right in, but then we''re already doing that aren''t we?

[bhappy2-2]

Giuliani: Kids Of Illegal Immigrants OK

That''s because Giuliani is an IDIOT! He doesn''t understand that We, the citizens of America, DO NOT WANT these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. We DO NOT support AMNESTY, in any way. We DO NOT support giving these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS any Drivers license, free medical care, housing, jobs or ANY OTHER form of REWARD for VIOLATING OUR LAWS. These ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS need to be dealt with and our borders SEALED.

[bhappy2-2]

Illegal Alien Invaders???

and your ancestors who invaded this land and took it from the Native americans were legal??
Right......................

Posted by rokero0666

I am part Native American. When the European part of my family arrived there were no immigration laws to violate. Now there ARE laws and these ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS are violating these laws, as are ALL the PRO-ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADER SUPPORTERS. Such TREASON should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[wheezel3]

Oh yeah, and the schools -- forget it -- everything is "gangs" now - and any teacher in the K-6 area who doesn''t speak Spanish is "out" as schools go to "dual language" systems (meaning you speek Spaaaanich or you no workie in Amerikaaaaaaa). And who speaks Spanish? Underqualified Mexicans! Woot! Here, take our real teachers'' jobs, just because you kinda sorta speak Spanglish!

[wheezel3]

It''s too late now. Thanks, Bush and the greedy employers, coupled with the bleeding-heart liberals aka Dems -- thanks so much, our country is gone. And the vari-colored trash that took over will never be anything but what they are -- losers, welfare junkies, whiners, jealous of whites, breeding incessantly. No more USA. The stupid people were too busy with their SUVs and their McMansions and their cellphones to pay any attention to the ruin of this place.

[erasmus6]

"When will we the American people get so disgusted that we demand change?" posted by kennedy7955

Ain''t going to happen. If the American people haven''t demanded change by now, they are NEVER going to. They are too LAZY.

[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.

[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]

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.

[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.

[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]

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]

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!

[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]

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.

[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.