It seems that everyone has an opinion on the illegal immigrant issue. We read about it in the newspaper, see the issue addressed on television, and hear that our elected officials are proposing new laws to address the problem. At one end of the spectrum are those who propose that we build a wall to keep illegal immigrants out, or deport them if they have managed to enter the country illegally. At the other end, are the proponents who want America to accept the “undocumented” and grant them amnesty. Because of the strong feeling surrounding the issue of illegal immigrants, the controversy will not be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. However, we should work together to come up with a solution that is in the best interest of our country while legalizing the status of the illegal immigrants.
As we consider options for a legalization process, we should ask ourselves if amnesty is the answer. It is defined as “a blanket overlooking of an offense by the government…” (Amnesty Law). Would granting a “pathway to citizenship” be a preferable method? (Werner). Many of our citizens are opposed to either choice. They feel that the individuals gained access by illegal means, or failed to return home at the prescribed time; therefore, they should be returned to their native countries. Their concerns are justified, and we should make an effort to understand their reasoning. There are approximately twelve million undocumented workers in the United States who are hiding in the background awaiting a decision.
It is not too difficult to understand why someone would be opposed to illegal immigrants that are jeopardizing our citizens’ jobs, and incurring no tax liability. All the while, they enjoy the benefits of free education and med...
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“Amnesty Law and Legal Definition.” U.S Legal.com.Web. 3 April 2014. .
Krayewski, E. “Ed Krayewski: 5 Reasons to Grant Amnesty to Illegal Immigrants.”
Reasons.com. 2 Feb. 2013. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. < http://reason.com/blog/2013/02/07/ ed-krayewski-on-the-case-for-amnesty-for-illegal-immigr/1>. Rodriguez, Cindy Y., and Adriana Hauser. “Deportations: Missing Parents, Scared Kids.” CNN.com. 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. us/immigration-parents-deported-children-left-behind/>. Werner, Erica. “Immigration Reform Bill: 'Special' Path to Citizenship Creating Knot.” Huffington Post.com. 2 Sept. 2013. Web. 4 Apr. 2014. .
Illegal immigration has been an issue in this country since its founding. However, in recent years, more and more people are deciding that the conditions in their native countries are too dangerous and impossible to overcome, so they decide to take on the journey to try and enter the United States, “the land of opportunity”, without the proper documentation. In the novel Enrique’s Journey, by Sonia Nazario, we see first hand the expedition many of these people take in order to fulfill their dreams of helping the families they leave behind. Many of these people, like Lourdes and Enrique, come thinking that the “American Dream” will be easily obtained through hard work. Unfortunately, times have changed, and this promise of riches is no longer the norm. Those undocumented immigrants that are lucky enough to make it to the United States are faced with a harsh hit of reality when they realize that the perception they had build of America, with an abundance of jobs, is actually flooded by poverty and an unsteady job market.
There are over twelve million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. Many came to America to work, go to school, or be reunited with family members who are already residing here. Most migrants want to work and pursue the “American dream”. There are many barriers for residents to achieving success at the work and life balance. The immigrants fall back on public assistance to support them.
It has been nearly three decades since the last time Congress reformed our immigration system. From the Reagan era to the Obama administration, the country has undergone financial, social and political changes yet our immigration policies continue to be the same. Since the implementation of the last immigration reform in 1986, the United States government has spent nearly $187 billion ($220 billion when adjusted to 2013 dollars) in immigration enforcement agencies and programs alone (Meissner, Kerwin, Muzaffar & Bergeron, 2013). The high costs and the increasing public concern has led Americans to recognize the brokenness of our current immigration system and how it has not kept up with changing times. Research has shown 71% of Americans say undocumented immigrants should have a pathway to remain in the country legally (Pew Research Center, 2013). Although Congress and the White House have had numerous failed attempts to pass immigration reform in the past, H.R. 15 proposes an updated bipartisan system that can further secure the borders and solve problems surrounding immigration (Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, 2013.
The United States is a country with fusion of ethnic diversity. Each year, illegal aliens find their ways into the country through the border of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. The increasing figure of illegal aliens has become a problem. American citizens presuppose that illegal aliens are only those who enter the country without permission by crossing the border. These citizens don’t know that illegal alien’s population is similarly composed of people who are granted entry—via visa— and then stay beyond the permissible time. In addition, there are also those who violated the terms of permanent resident card or refugee permit, voluntarily or involuntarily. The bottom-line of this conflict is that, besides brutally disrespected Native Americans, all of the people within the United States who are granted American citizenship are either immigrants or descendants of immigrants. The past and current presence of immigrants causes constant modification of economy and culture in the persistently expanding system of the USA. Illegal aliens bring to this country additional tax revenue, expand the low-cost labor pool, and bring in good values and motivation consistent with the American Dream. They are working at extremely low wages, trying to live a better life than they had in their indigenous land. Illegal aliens are living in the invisible world, full of fictitious promises, with no rights. Because of these conditions, we will make a proposal to end this situation and give these communalized aliens the opportunity that they are worthy of.
However, others may disagree, but in addition to lacking nce their arguments are also insignificant. Although there is a controversy on this matter, America should welcome immigrants that are already here. Immigrants may earn legal status as well as cost just as much or less than deportation. But, so what? Why is this notable? Well, here’s why, the future is on the line and we have to take charge. If leading undocumented immigrants to a path to citizenship, includes all of the previously mentioned advantages, there is no point to do otherwise. If we don’t go through with this, imagine the troublesome possibilities, imagine the costs, imagine the risks. It is necessary to lead undocumented immigrants to a path to citizenship, and your help is needed. Share this essay, spread the outlook, get involved, and do what you can to make sure, we are where we need to be in our
To legalize or not to legalize, that is the question? The perception of immigration has become a crucial debate amongst anti and pro immigration groups. Many immigrants come to the U.S. in search of liberty, prosperity, and to fulfill the American dream (Illegal Immigration from Mexico, n.d.). However, illegal immigration is a growing concern in the U.S., with an increasing population of over 11 million as of 2012 (What are the solutions to illegal immigration in America?, n.d.). Immigrants may not know it, but they do pose both positive and negative influences on American citizens.
Imagine yourself in a life of poverty. No healthcare, earning low wages in poor working conditions. This is the life of an illegal immigrant, surprisingly, in the United States of America. What, exactly, is an immigrant? According to the World Almanac of U.S. Politics 1997, “Not subject to any numerical limitation, immigrants [are] classified as immediate relatives (spouses, parents, or natural children) of U.S. citizens; returning permanent resident aliens; certain former U.S. citizens; and certain long-term U.S. government employees” (Wagman). The fear stemmed from being caught as an illegal immigrant hinders every decision of his livelihood, from education to employment—their whole lives are affected in a negative manner. No one needs to live that way. The solution, however, is not to simply accept every willing immigrant freely, but to give all foreigners a more fair and reasonable chance of becoming a citizen of the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” Strict enforcement of a more streamline verification process by the government in supervising legal immigration is needed to continue America’s evolution culturally and economically with the addition of individuals from foreign nations trying to properly enter the United States of America.
The issue of undocumented immigrants has been a huge debate in the 2016 Presidential Debate. The increase in undocumented immigrants to the US has Americans scared that the increase is more like an invasion, but there are so many other reasons on why it is better to keep our undocumented immigrant population than deport them. The fact they better our economy, by taking low end jobs, or increasing our GDP per capita by 4% is a great place to start(). Most Americans say that deporting the undocumented immigrants is in America’s best interest, but in reality, the undocumented immigrants help America and even Americans themselves.
President Obama recently declared, “What makes someone American isn’t just blood or birth but allegiance to our founding principles and faith in the idea that anyone- from anywhere- can write the next chapter of our story” ( Immigration Reform Quotes). In the United States of America, immigration has been a thorny issue due to the fact that some Americans do not want immigrants living in the United States illegally. Undocumented workers come to the United States for a better life for their children as well as a better life for themselves. They come here only because they want to provide their own families with better opportunities, something the may have not been able to have. What many Americans do not understand is that immigration policies
There are 11.7 million illegal immigrants living in the US nowadays (Preston 1) who support economically the country as they raised legal workers’ wage a 10 percent between 1990 and 2007 and make an earning of fifteen billions per year to the Social Security trough payroll taxes and a ten percent of its Trust Fund (Davidson 2). On the other hand, Illegal immigrants’ deportation has a very elevated cost and thus, it is not easy to send them home. Although there are 400,000 deportations each year in the US (Preston 1) ‘’In …2007, ICE Director… estimated that to detain and remove 12 million people would co...
Jordan, Miriam. “Latest immigration wave: retreat: an illegal worker realizes dram, briefly; fewer are sneaking in.” Current 507 (November 2008): 27-29. Academic OneFile. Web. 21 March 2011.
A topic crucial to the world today is illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is when people live in a country without permission from the government, nor have any legal documentation. As more and more illegal immigrants enter the United States, it either upsets some people, or others feel like they should just grant them ability to pursue life, liberty, and happiness because that is what the Constitution says. Some people feel that illegal immigrants should be protected by the same rights and laws as American citizens. On the other hand, many people believe that this is a horrible mistake. They feel that the rights of citizenship should be earned and not extended to people who haven broken the law just by being in the United States.
It is often argued that undocumented criminals are draining the system and endangering American society. Opponents claim that illegal immigrants take up a large percentage in federal prison, which is costing taxpayers billions per year. Many of these immigrants are released back into society to re-commit crimes which they have been arrested for. Another claim is that immigrants broke the law with their presence and that alone should impede immigrants from any form of amnesty. Despite the 1986 law which made it illegal to hire undocumented workers, employers are still filling available positions with immigrants because it is cheaper. On “Illegal Immigration”, Ira Mehlam argues that young immigrants shouldn’t be granted a pathway to citizenship because it would
Some citizens believe that illegal immigrants should not be able to work in the United States for any reason, while others believe illegal immigrants are helpful to our economy. People against illegal immigration think jobs are being lost and this group has a growing voice in politics. The opposition against illegal workers feels it is eliminating opportunities for those who are already citizens. By permitting illegal immigrants to infiltrate this country, ignoring all of the procedures and systems that are in place to regulate, it is indeed committing an unfair and biased way of dealing with immigrants.(West 428)
With an estimated 11.7 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. today, immigration reform has been a volatile issue that hasn’t been adequately addressed throughout the 21st century. With the last major overhaul occurring in 1986, when over 3 million immigrants were granted U.S. citizenship, politicians are saying another major overhaul is needed to address the newer generation of illegal immigrants. Legislations including the Border Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006, and the DREAM act of 2012 have all tried to address the depressing need for immigration reform but have failed due to lack of bipartisan support. Still, political leaders urge for immigration reform that is unlikely to pass with such divided political parties. Luckily, the solution was already passed in 1986 but hasn’t been sufficiently enforced for the past twenty years. In order to stop the flood of illegals crossing U.S. borders, the U.S. should enforce the law against hiring illegal immigrants.