[quote=spdrun]How would a “benefits entitlement” card even work, considering most schools are local or state funded and immigration is nationally controlled?

In most states outside of CA, school funding is largely from property taxes. Commercial property is taxed higher than residential, generally speaking. Therefore any employer that has a place of business is already paying more school tax.

As far as welfare beenfits, I could see denying them to non-citizens. But not unemployment or social security, if the guest worker has worked for the requisite time period and paid into the system.[/quote]

The fact that immigration laws are federal doesn’t change the fact that states are the ones to shoulder most of the burden. The way I envision it, it would be a state-run program. The average per-capita cost of our infrastructure budget (roads, publicly-funded water distribution and reclamation costs, prisons, public safety, prisons, etc.) would be reflected in the price of the benefit card. Schools could be an add-on if the worker has minor dependents, with the full per-capita cost of the student(s) being added to the price of the card. Any student trying to enroll in a public school would be required to either show proof of citizenship or a benefit card.

Unemployment would be an entitlement only if the employee paid into the system, and any abuse would result in deportation. I’m mixed on Social Security. Personally, I would not require them to pay into the SS system, and they would not be entitled to any SS benefits.

No welfare for anyone other that American citizens.

BTW, I’m not aware of commercial/industrial property owners paying a higher property tax rate. In fact, they often pay a lower rate because of the corporate loophole. And agricultural properties are often taxed at an even lower rate.