A Wall Built Out of Smoke and Lies
“I will build a great great wall,” a phrase which became an anthem and key point of President Trump's campaign. It addresses the growing controversy about the immigration problem in the United States. Trump’s wall would, in theory, prevent most, if not all, immigrants from Mexico from crossing the border. However, the actual effectiveness of such a wall is very limited, and may even result in a negative impact on America. Building a wall across the entire southern border would be extremely costly to all Americans, and for what purpose. Immigration is not nearly as large of a problem as Republicans make it seem, and in most cases, there are much better ways to handle illegal immigration. A wall would be a waste
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Illegal immigrants cost a large amount of money that citizens end up paying for. Studies by the NAS (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) says that each immigrant costs at least $20,000 (The Pros and Cons). Hence the prevention of illegal immigration would eventually pay for the wall and start saving citizens money. Others argue that immigrants are not likely to be successful in America, so they should not come here at all. A private study done by the Pew Research Center states that “47% [illegal immigrants] did not complete high school” (The Pros and Cons). Without a proper education, the likelihood of either the adults or the children succeeding in the country is very slim, resulting in a negative impact on America's economy. However, these immigrants are not coming to America because they think it will be fun or for any other pointless reasons, they are “fleeing brutal gang violence, extreme poverty, malnutrition, or environmental and agricultural catastrophe” (The Pros and Cons 25). They are seeking asylum and protection from the terrors of their home country. If this wall was built, it would cut America off from humanity, and the idea that this is a nation of freedom would be abandoned …show more content…
The wall is an extreme reaction to a mild problem, simply used to draw attention to the president. It is not surprising the net migration of Mexicans has dropped into negative numbers. There is no reason to force their way into an unaccepting society when there are available jobs in their homeland and their country’s economy is stable. The time and money that Congress is spending on the border can and should be applied in more productive ways, such as gun control, prevention of sexual harassment, and other real problems. The wall is not an answer to illegal immigration; it is an idea created to stoke people’s anger at an nonexistent enemy. Trump’s wall would weaken our connections with the world, cut America off from humanity, and waste an enormous amount of money, which could be spent truly making America great
As of right now, there have been many answers to the question about “how” but there is not one identified as the definitive answer as of yet. The amount of money needed to build the wall is about 18 billion according to Fox News. (Schallhorn, 2018) With the debt ceiling, ever-increasing people are bringing up other ways to deal with immigration, for example, redoing the laws we currently
In his essay, “The Fence of Lies,” Mario Vargas Llosa explores the potential consequences of building a wall across the Mexican-American border. He argues that, if built, the wall would be ineffective and a waste of resources. He proposes that the money allotted for the border wall be used instead to offer better job opportunities to Latin American citizens within their own borders. However, this proposal is unrealistic as it offers no real solutions to the economic problem of illegal immigration, nor is it an effective plan.
When the Dream Act is put into play, its positive effects are more numerous than the negative ones. With this act, undocumented children are given an education and a future. What is better than an educated America? With education, America can be even more dominant. Everyone, despite their legal classification, deserves to have the option of success. On the matter of money, taxpayers would not have to pay $16.2 billion annually on behalf of deportation fees. With these children growing to be citizens, they will have to pay taxes which will also help the growing deficit. America was born on the morale that all people deserve a safe asylum and freedom.
Among the problems that face our nation, illegal immigration seems to be one of the most regarded. “In 2005, there were 12.7 million people classified as refugees in the world. Refugees are forced to migrate because of danger in their own country.” (Cath Senker 12) Some push to end it while others want to have it legalized or less strict. There are many points that are argued on this topic. Although immigrants support the economy, they should have to pay taxes. Illegal immigration should be stopped or slowed until the legalization process and borders are improved. Due to the fact, that taxpayers are the backbone of our economy and nation as a whole.
Some people think that undocumented children should not be able to attend college because it would encourage too much immigration. In fact, immigration makes America more diverse and makes America respected and a strong independent country. Undocumented
Illegal immigration has many diverse effects on the United States economy. Some people argue that the negative outweigh the positive, but there is no doubt that immigrants do carry a critical role.
Whether it may have positive effects or negative ones, there’s no question that illegal immigration is an issue that cannot be ignored. And the problem isn’t necessarily finding a solution to help slow or prevent illegal immigration. It’s figuring out which solution will work the best for us. We will always encourage foreigners to come to our country, just as long as the proper steps are taken to do
“They 're bringing drugs, they 're bringing crime,” He is addressing that all the Mexicans are drug dealers and killers that’s not true. He cannot be stating all the Mexicans because not all of them are drug dealers or killers. “I will build a great, great wall on our southern border and I will make Mexico pay for that wall,” If he wants to make a big wall so any Mexicans can enter and make them pay for it that’s just stupid Trump is the one that wants the one he should be the one paying for something he wants. This wall is not going to stop Mexicans from coming to the U.S; they can still come in a plane of by sea. He says he wants to built a wall, than if he is paying where will he get all that money just to make stupid wall, the U.S has no loose money to give out to put the wall up.
As an effect legal immigration would make way for new jobs and if more people had more jobs they would more likely invest in the economy. Many immigrants remain illegal due to the long and rigorous applications and tests required to become a legal citizen. As well as hard tests, the fee to apply is a substantial amount especially for poor immigrants looking to immigrate for economic reasons (Swain). Many immigrants protest to lower fees to allow for a more efficient way to gain citizenship. Politicians debate on whether to lower fees often (EdTech). Many politicians believe if the fees where lowered it would allow a large number of immigrants into America. Allowing large number of immigrants could have both positive and negative effects. Crime rates could be increased, at the same time jobs would be created and the economy would begin to increase due to the amount of money spent in
is not a right answer to the illegal immigration issue because it is not a long-lasting solution. The United States could legalize all of the current workers here now, but then who would be a demand from employers looking for illegal workers. Illegal immigrants generate revenues as well as costs; these revenues offset some of the expenses that our government incurs. Research studies indicate that many illegal immigrants pay taxes, including federal and state income taxes; Social Security tax; and sales tax.(1) However, researchers disagree on some revenues illegal immigrants "generate and the extent to which these revenues offset government costs for benefits and services."(1) The Center for Immigration Studies attests that illegal immigrants, who make up less than five percent of the American population, are found to perpetrate almost 25 percent of all of the
Immigration is nothing but good for the United States, immigrants do not come to just take away from us, they come and also provide for this country. They are hard workers looking to succeed in any field of work as long as they are earning money and helping out. They are investing the money they earn here in the U.S, most of their money comes back to the U.S economy. High skilled immigrants are more likely to pay for more taxes than they use in public services. Immigrants do pay and taxes, and not all use government services. Just by them coming here they are helping out the American community in a variety of areas. In a study of immigration 's impact on U.S cities Cortes the author of “Immigration and Economic Growth” found out that in cities where low skilled immigrants are, there are lower prices on things such as dry cleaning, housing, cleaning, yard care, and other services. This gives more hours spent at work to higher skilled
Once they realize resources are being consumed more than the production rate, implementing new laws to produce more resources can easily be done. Also, legal immigrants pay taxes, meaning the government receives more funds when immigrants are coming legally. With more funds, the government can provide better to the needs of citizens, eliminating the fear of running out of resources. Another argument is that immigrants who are living in a country illegally are wasting the government’s money. An example is that the children of illegal immigrants attend schools that are funded by tax paying citizens, the loss of money could go to getting new books rather than to be given to students who do not pay taxes ("Negative Effects of Illegal Immigration").
The United States and Mexican border has been the focus of an abundant amount of controversy the past decade in the States. The border wall, or border fence, is one of several barriers preventing illegal Mexican and South American immigrants from entering the United States. However, as statistics prove, immigration and drug smuggling has been on the rise the past few decades and our “three prong approach” is not confronting the escalating issue at hand. America’s border security is not resilient enough to deter these illegal immigrants and drug smugglers; our border wall must be fortified immediately.
One negative of illegal immigration is that the immigrants take advantage of tax benefits. Over 59% of illegal immigrants are uninsured (Ruark). This low rate of insurance comes despite a higher use of Medicaid than U.S. citizens. Around 24% of immigrants use Medicaid compared to only 14% of Americans using Medicaid (Ruark). Immigrants pay less in taxes than they receive in government benefits. This places a burden on native taxpayers (Hanson). Immigrant households in some states are more numerous relative to the native population. This means the immigrants have more children causing them to use public education more. Illegals earn lower wages which means they have lower tax payments while having a greater use of public benefits (Hanson). An example of this was in California and New Jersey where the “NRC estimates that the short-run fiscal impact of immigration was negative in New Jersey and in California” this was due to these reasons of taking advantage of public benefits (Hanson).
Over the past 10 years the number of illegal immigrant in the United States has risen from 5-12 million. This eventually opens the eyes of policyholders to the effects of illegal immigration on incomes and public finances, as well as potential safety threats posed by unauthorized entry into the states. President Bush signed into the secure fence act which authorized the spending of $1.2 billion for the construction of a seven-hundred-mile fence along the U.S- Mexico border. I guess this was the only solution to actually try to cut down the amount of illegal immigrants that were invading the U.S.