[MCP] undocumented immigrants

[Judy Helfand]

In my American Cultures classes at a community college I am finding 
that my students are frequently stating what I consider to be myths 
about undocumented immigrants. Although I believe them to be myths, I 
do not have the statistics and detailed information I would like to 
use to discount them. Perhaps you can direct me to a resource where I 
can find the information I'm seeking?  The myths are:

Undocumented workers do not pay taxes.
They are harming the economy by sending money back to Mexico (the 
only country ever mentioned by name).
They use social services and collect welfare even though they don't 
pay taxes.  (I questions how much they actually do use social 
services or collect welfare.)
Spanish speaking undocumented immigrants make no effort to learn 
English, in contrast to other immigrant groups.

Somewhere out there I expect there are carefully documented 
discussions of these myths. Any idea of where to look?
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Globalization and conceptions of a new world order represent 
different sorts of challenges for indigenous peoples. While being on 
the margins of the world has had dire consequences, being 
incorporated within the world's marketplace has different 
implications and in turn requires the mounting of new forms of 
resistance.                  Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Decolonizing 
Methodologies

Judy Helfand
Humanities Instructor
Santa Rosa Junior College
helfand at well.com
707-833-1890