OPINION:
While “Failure to raise the debt ceiling needn’t cause a government collapse” (Web, Nov. 23) correctly notes the causation between enhanced pandemic benefits and increased inflation, worker shortages and reduced adult workforce participation, those same enhanced entitlements also act as an inducement for the arrival of anchor babies to add to the 7.5% of U.S. births to illegal immigrants.
Much as generous urban welfare benefits in the 20th century added to migration to cities that skyrocketed welfare rolls and ultimately bankrupted urban centers, anchor babies create family entitlements for government programs including TANF. They also conspicuously add to inflation and government deficits because earnings of illegal immigrants are excluded from the calculation of entitlement eligibility. Meanwhile, the consequential underground economy deprives governmental entities of income from taxation. At least 60 pregnant women were reported in a recent caravan approaching the southern border.
WILLIAM T. FIDURSKI
Clark, N.J.
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