OPINION — In a recent letter, Mary Jo Forman accused those concerned about illegal immigration of using immigrants as a "punching bag" and suggested we focus on other issues. While Forman points out that immigrants participate in the labor force and purchase goods, their economic summary paints a highly misleading picture by entirely ignoring the severe financial strain placed on local municipalities.
Forman fails to recognize that the economic impact of illegal immigration is structurally unbalanced. At the federal level, the numbers may appear beneficial, but at the state and local level, cities and towns are forced to absorb the massive, unfunded costs of providing everyday public services.
When Forman praises the money spent in the economy, she omits the reality of municipal budgets. Cities must fund the most expensive practical costs of sudden population increases. This includes hiring specialized K-12 educators for English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, providing uncompensated emergency healthcare, and expanding emergency shelter and public safety services.
