Founded in 1975, El Concilio is a Latino non-profit community based organization that provides services to the Latino community, and by extension, the community at large. El Concilio provides quality programs and services, advocating for the clients it serves and collaborating with community organizations. The programs offered include citizenship/naturalization education and immigration services to the residents of Ventura County, with 33,000 adults and youth served each year, the majority of which are underserved, low-income Latinos with very limited English speaking skills. El Concilio is the largest service provider in Ventura County in the areas of citizenship/immigration education and services. We have the support of local leaders and the community at large. The services that El Concilio provides are vital to the advancement of the diverse communities in Ventura County.

With 32 years in Ventura County we have seen the recent perpetuation of myths of or about the undocumented worker and immigrants in the county and the state in general. El Concilio and its board of directors thought it would be of benefit to shed some positive light and dispel the myths that hurts those who live and work in this county and state.

MYTH: One myth that is very prevalent in many circles is that undocumented immigrants take jobs from Americans.

FACT: According to the 2006 Fact Sheet from the National Council of La Raza, Immigrant labor is needed to fill jobs in the U.S. that an older, more educated American workforce is not willing to fill, especially at the low wages and poor working conditions many unscrupulous employers offer . (Essential Workers: Immigrants are a Needed Supplement to the Native-Born Labor Force. Washington, DC: Immigration Policy Center, March 2005) Currently, there are approximately nine million undocumented workers in the U.S. filling important gaps in the labor market. There is substantial evidence that their presence in the labor force creates jobs and strengthens local economies.

Virtually all undocumented men are in the labor force. Their labor-force participation rate (96 percent) exceeds that of men who are legal immigrants or who are U.S. citizens because undocumented men are younger and less likely to be disabled, retired or in school. (Undocumented Immigrants: Facts and Figures, Urban Institute Immigration Studies Program, Jan, 2004)

MYTH: Undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes.

FACT: Undocumented immigrants pay taxes in a number of ways, including income and state tax. The majority of undocumented immigrants pay income taxes using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) or false Social Security numbers. All immigrants, regardless of status, will pay on average $80,000 per capita more in taxes than they use in government services over their lifetime .(The New Americans: Economic, demographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997) The Social Security system reaps the biggest windfall from taxes paid by immigrants; the Social Security Administration reports that it holds approximately $420 billion from the earnings of immigrants who are not in a position to claim benefits. (www.ssa.gov/oig/communications/testimony_speeches/03102004testimony.htm)

MYTH: Undocumented workers drain the welfare system.

FACT: Undocumented immigrants are ineligible for the vast majority of state and federal benefits and are only eligible for those that are considered important to public health and safety. In fact, many legal immigrants are also ineligible for most federal benefits. As a result, health care spending for immigrants is approximately half that of citizens . ("Health Care Expenditures of Immigrants in the United States: A Nationally represented Analysis" American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 95, No.8, Aug. 2005)

El Concilio hopes that the information provided will help individuals better understand and dispel some myths. We encourage you to research for yourself and become more informed on the issues that affect so many in our communities.
Respectfully,

Reyna V. O'Neil
Executive Director
El Concilio del Condado de Ventura