padilla did receive some assistance, so it wasn't totally without government help. the small investment our society made- the real investment was by cowan, his benefactor and godfather- will be reaped for many years to come.
padilla may be an extraordinary example due to his academic acheivements, yet he is an example of what the immigrants contribute. hard work, a committment to their families, the embodiment of the american dream.
do immigrants bring down the average wage? yes, although the exent of the affect is not easily arrived at. do they cost society? no, they are a net benefit, as they do not collect social security in spite of many whose employers pay into ficticious accounts, and they typically do not collect any social services unless it is an emergency due to their fear of being caught and deported.
let's determine a way to bring them into a legal status, let's take their fear away and recognize why they have come to america....they want to be americans.
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