Majority of illegal immigrant households utilize welfare system

Immigration, both legal and illegal, has spiraled out of control in the United States. Over 10,000 immigrants are crossing the border every day in December, with over 750,000 encounters at the border since October alone. They have shown up in droves, and taken up resources like hospitals, and even the welfare system.

New studies from the Center for Immigration Studies show that over half of immigrant households use the system, with even more illegal households using it. To be exact, 59-percent of illegals are on at least some form of welfare.

Steven Camarota from the Center for Immigration Studies says this hits the taxpayer hard in the long run.

"We spend about $1.2 trillion on welfare, and if you look at immigrants...we are spending about $200 billion a year on the foreign born," he says.

This new study indicates that the ongoing border crisis and the enormous number of people released into the country has major implications for future welfare costs.

But this is nothing new.

"We have seen this for a very long time...high use rates among illegal and legal immigrants," he says. "But the rates for the US born are also very high. Over 39 percent of households headed by an American born person use welfare as well."

As the free flow of immigrants continues at the border, plenty of them are coming in and immediately signing up for these services. Because, of course, compared to their home country, it is a pretty good situation. Free stuff without having to pay any of the taxes.

It does more than just entice them to come here, though.

"It also keeps people here...but it is not the major reason people come. People still comes in search of a better life, or work...

Now, work and welfare in this situation, though, go hand in hand. The study shows that 83-percent of all immigrant households and 94 percent of illegal-headed households have at least one worker.

But most of these attain low paying jobs, which in turn, makes things worse.

"People who earn those low wages often cost the taxpayers enormously...and normally businesses or people do not see that cost...because it is bore by everyone," he says.

Compare those stats to 73-percent of American born households on welfare having a job.

To note as well, immigrant households without any children and those headed by immigrants with at least a bachelor’s degree are more likely to use welfare than their U.S.-born counterparts.