WSJ: Immigrants Don't Come To The U.S. To “Steal” Jobs

From the WSJ editorial:

Equally specious is the argument that Latino immigrants come here, often illegally, to “steal” jobs or to go on the dole. If illegal aliens are displacing natives in the labor force, why was there more immigration and less unemployment under President Bush? [The Wall Street Journal, 11/13/12]

Fox News Figures Have Often Claimed That Immigrants Take American Jobs

Juliet Huddy: You're Going To Have Undocumented Immigrants In The Work Force “Potentially [Taking] Jobs Away From People Who ... Were Born Here.” On Fox & Friends Sunday , co-host Juliet Huddy claimed that native-born workers could potentially have jobs “taken away” by undocumented workers:

HUDDY: You also have the fact that you're going to have a lot of people who are now again active for the work force, who are going to be taking jobs - potentially -- jobs away from people who are here legally or were born here. [Fox News, Fox & Friends Sunday, 6/17/12]

Gretchen Carlson: Is The DREAM Act A “Nightmare For Hard-working Americans?” On Fox & Friends, teasing a segment on the DREAM Act, co-host Gretchen Carlson said: “Harry Reid's DREAM Act could give millions of illegal immigrants citizenship. Is the senator's dream a nightmare for hard-working Americans?” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 11/30/10]

Laura Ingraham Introduced Immigration Film “Where Illegal Immigrants Take Jobs From American Workers.” As a guest host on the The O-Reilly Factor, Laura Ingraham introduced filmmaker Dennis Michael Lynch with the following:

INGRAHAM: In the “Personal Story” segment tonight, a new documentary is making waves but not everyone is happy with it. “They Come to America” takes the viewer on an uncomfortable journey, from the rough Mexican border to the mean streets of New York and its leafy suburbs where illegal immigrants take jobs from American workers. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 8/21/12, via Nexis]

Brian Kilmeade: Undocumented Immigrants “Here Right Now Are Taking Jobs Away In Many Cases.” On his Fox News radio show Kilmeade and Friends, host Brian Kilmeade discussed comprehensive immigration reform with a caller and claimed “illegals” in the country “are taking jobs away in many cases” from Americans:

KILMEADE: Yeah, when there's no second term to worry about, that's one thing Governor Romney should be bringing up. You think this is bad, this is where he should try to stay on his best behavior in order to get the widest swath of votes. And now, he's still alienating people in segments.  For example, there's a lot of union members who are not thrilled with any move towards comprehensive immigration reform because it involves making illegals legal. And that would take more jobs away, and the illegals that are here right now are taking jobs away in many cases. Not all cases. [Kilmeade and Friends, 6/18/12, via Nexis]

WSJ: Immigrants Don't Abuse “Entitlements”

From the WSJ editorial:

Equally specious is the argument that Latino immigrants come here, often illegally, to “steal” jobs or to go on the dole. If illegal aliens are displacing natives in the labor force, why was there more immigration and less unemployment under President Bush? And if foreign nationals are primarily attracted to our welfare state, how to explain the fact that low-income immigrants are less likely to be receiving public benefits than low-income natives?

Illegal aliens aren't eligible for Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other federal entitlements. But even those low-income immigrants who are eligible for public assistance sign up at lower rates than their native counterparts. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers food stamps, noncitizens who qualify are significantly less likely than citizens to participate. [The Wall Street Journal, 11/13/12]

Fox Hosts Have Asserted That Immigrants Exploit Taxpayer Money

Bill O'Reilly: People Say "Illegal Aliens Sneak In Here, They've Got Their Kids, And They're On The Welfare Program." In an interview with Fox Business host Lou Dobbs on the The O'Reilly Factor, Bill O'Reilly made unsubstantiated claims regarding immigrants and welfare:

O'REILLY: On the illegal immigration front, you know, people are outraged. They say look, you know, we're broke. We don't have any money. I'm paying a lot of taxes. Illegal aliens sneak in here, they've got their kids, and they're on the welfare program. And there isn't anything to stop them from being on the welfare program, is there? [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 4/7/11]

Lou Dobbs: “The Taxpayer Is Paying For The Support Services.” During the same O'Reilly segment, Dobbs claimed that the “taxpayer is paying for the support services”:

DOBBS: There's been a calculated decision not to enforce immigration law. Therefore what you are watching are employers exploiting illegal labor and the taxpayer is paying for the support services. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 4/7/11]

Steve Doocy Agreed That The “Real Problem” With Arizona Medicaid Budget Is “The Illegal Immigrant Population.” During a Fox & Friends segment on a possible surcharge on smoking and obesity to fill a budget shortfall with Arizona's Medicaid program, Fox News guest and former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ) claimed that the “real problem” is “American taxpayers” paying for health benefits for the “illegal immigrant population.” Hayworth also stated that “what we're ignoring here is a far more obvious solution, and that is to make sure that Medicaid dollars don't go to noncitizens.” Doocy replied: “Exactly right.” [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 4/04/11]

WSJ: Conservative Attacks On Immigrants And Border Policy Matters To Hispanic Voters

From the WSJ editorial:

Polls regularly show that immigration is not a priority for Hispanic voters, but how border policy is discussed still matters as a threshold and symbolic issue. When Republican Presidential candidates are preoccupied with putting up an electrified fence along the Rio Grande and blaming Latinos (wrongly) for driving up crime, unemployment and health-care costs, we are a long way from Ronald Reagan's welcoming GOP. [The Wall Street Journal, 11/13/12]

Fox Figures Have Frequently Used Divisive Language When Discussing The Border And Undocumented Immigrants

Eric Bolling Called For “Electrified” Border Fence. During a February 2011 appearance on America's Newsroom, Fox host Eric Bolling stated:

BOLLING: Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Arizona, Sheriff Paul Babeu in Arizona tells us we need a border --  we need a border fence. We need a concrete fence going along the 2,000 miles of our border with Mexico with electrified fence on both sides. [Fox News, America's Newsroom, 2/17/11]

Trace Gallagher: “City Leaders Say” Newcomers, Including Undocumented Immigrants, “Contributed To Pushing Up” The Crime Rate. On America Live, Trace Gallagher reported on the baseless accusation that undocumented immigrants increased the crime rate in Hazleton, PA:

Hazleton has a population of 30,000. That population has grown by 10,000 over the past decade -- 33 percent, mostly Hispanic. Now, the city leaders say those people contributed to pushing up the cost of government services and the crime rate. They passed two ordinances: one, cracking down on businesses that hire illegals, and two, cracking down on landlords that rent to illegals. [Fox News, America Live, 6/7/11]

Fox Contributor And Radio Host Lars Larson Claimed Undocumented Immigrants Commit “A Larger Proportionate Share” Of Crimes. On Fox News' America Live, conservative radio host Lars Larson claimed undocumented immigrants are “involved in more than their share, a larger proportionate share, of criminal activity.” [Media Matters, 5/31/11]