...need illegal workers to support our economy? It is a huge issue in America today, illegal immigration and what it means for our economy. The problem is divisive and a political hot potato. It has been discussed for the last thirty plus years and no solutions are in sight. We have some eleven million illegal, undocumented workers in America today and some argue we should round them up and send them home, regardless of the human suffering and others argue that our economy would collapse or at least be seriously harmed if we send them home. According to Colin Powell, we need them because they are the lifeblood that is keeping this country going forward. Without immigrants we would be like Japan or Europe with an aging population and no young people coming in. According to the secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, the price of food in the United States would cost three, four or five times more than it does now without the labor of illegal immigrants. Former Presidential candidate Ron Paul advocated physically securing our borders, enforcing visa rules, offer no amnesty for illegal aliens currently in this country, and end birthright citizenship. So which is it? Do we really need these workers or should we send them home? I looked at a number of sources and have chosen to start with an article taken from Business Time.com published on 1/30/2013. I liked this article because it covered several big questions concerning the economics of immigration. 1. Does Immigration reduce...
Words: 1674 - Pages: 7
...Legal immigration has been and will continue to be one of the United States’ most fundamental values. Unfortunately, as the United States of America has grown, so have the threats to our nation’s security, society, and ideals. One of these threats is illegal immigration. The United States has the largest illegal-immigrant population of any nation. As a result of illegal immigration, our country’s need for strong and safe borders is at an all time high. Recently, Senator John McCain introduced the bill, cosponsored by Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, S.750 - Arizona Borderlands Protection and Preservation Act, where it passed the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental...
Words: 433 - Pages: 2
...A Dream Under Attack Since the birth of America, immigrants have come to the United States in pursuit of freedom and prosperity. These new residents believe that, through hard work and perseverance, they can achieve better for themselves and their families. Today, the same idea continues to influence the minds of millions of Latino immigrants. Latinos come to the U.S for the same reasons many other ethnic groups have come here. They are in search of jobs, stability, safety, education, and an opportunity for their children to succeed. However, the task of getting to the U.S is not easy. In order to gain entrance to the U.S, one must apply for a Visa, which may take years to receive. For many Latinos, waiting around could mean the difference between life and death due to the hardships they face in their home countries. This has created wide spread controversy and debate in the U.S. Many believe that letting Latinos into the country will the American culture and argue that Hispanics will take over North America, never really assimilating to its culture. However, they are blind in seeing the good that Latinos bring to the U.S. Nonetheless, in spite of these attacks Latinos face, they continue to immigrate to this country both legally and illegally. Like many other different ethnic groups before them, they just want to be given their chance at achieving the American dream. Like the word “American”, which would identify a person born in the U.S...
Words: 3167 - Pages: 13
...United States Border Patrol, a federal government agency, frequently works with the Departments of Border Protection and Customs. It conducts operations under the supervision of the Department of Homeland Security. The Border Patrol is primarily responsible for protecting the nation's borders from drug smuggling and illegal crossings. When illegal border crossings are detected, Border Patrol agents are responsible for apprehending illegal immigrants. Because large quantities of drugs are smuggled into the U.S. through the border, Border Patrol agents also conduct operations to seize illegal drugs. Likewise, since terrorists have attempted to enter the U.S. via the border, Border Patrol agents are now involved with counter-terrorism. Demand is currently very high for qualified Border Patrol agents. The Border Patrol is the law enforcement division within the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency, and it acts under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security. It was established by the U.S. Congress in 1924 to address illegal immigration. Prior to the establishment of the Border Patrol, the Bureau of Immigration was responsible for enforcing immigration law. The Border Patrol was primarily established to stop human smuggling. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Border Patrol has been assigned counter-terrorism duties, including...
Words: 825 - Pages: 4
...Arizona Immigration Law: Pros Cons Mathew Hogsed With immigration becoming and ongoing problem with no clear sign of relief several states are beginning to pass new laws in order to slow down illegal immigration. Take Arizona for instance, their law gives them the right to suspend or terminate business licenses to those people hiring illegals and even illegal to simply apply for a job inside the United States. The bill will make it illegal to provide transportation to someone whom you know is residing illegally. It will also require all immigrants to carry registration papers with them at all times. Illegal aliens make up over 25% of federal prisons populations. In certain areas of the nation illegals are responsible for 12% of the felonies, 25% of burglaries and 34% of thefts. With this being said there are 22 other states that are deliberating on instituting legislations similar to that of Arizona’s in an attempt to stop illegal immigration. Crimes are not the sole problem we face with the immigrants; the US holds a vast market for Mexico’s narcotic’s trade. One of the biggest debates that come with Arizona’s new law is racial profiling. This law allows law enforcement officers to detain suspects under reasonable suspicion of being an illegal alien and transfer custody to the ICE. This bill also allows for officers to check people’s immigration status if they are stopped for any other reason. The debates begin with it is not possible by simply looking at someone...
Words: 403 - Pages: 2
...Illegal Immigration “Nearly thirty billion dollars is the average dollar amount that illegal households cost the US federal government”(Illegal). Through all of America’s history, immigration has been a key factor in ways that are good and bad. The United States has been a country that has welcomed people from different countries with open arms, but recently this issue has become a national debate. Illegal Immigration has been an underlying cause of many of our nations problems today. Many citizens of the United States are becoming more and more aware of the impact that illegal immigrants bring to our country. Not only are they welcoming themselves into our country, they are also welcoming themselves to our jobs, our economy and taking advantage of our government’s flaws. All over the US citizens from all ages are trying to find jobs that will fit their lifestyles. What many people like to point out is the fact that illegal immigrants take the menial lower waged jobs that most legal Americans wouldn’t. This is very true partly because non-skilled subordinate pay jobs do not require illegals to show proof of citizenship; therefore, they have a way to get money to support themselves. This is obviously better for the employers financially, because then they don’t have to pay their employees as much, and they get to make more revenue as a company. In this case, many middle-class Americans are struggling, because most low-wage jobs do not provide the money lawful citizens need...
Words: 1531 - Pages: 7
...Angel Cedeño Chakour English 098-06 Room 4290 E. Jane Daley 10/28/2012 Summarize of the Crossing In The Crossing by Vicente Martinez the author argues that why illegal Mexicans immigrants decide to cross the border, Vicente Martinez used to live in Portland, Oregon (United States), since he arrived Mexico on October, 2008, he was trying to find a job, but the economy was in terrible shape. He also couldn’t do hard labor because he suffered HIV, really hard and expensive disease to control; every three months he needs medicines and blood tests. He can find these in Portland for free, but in Mexico these drugs and the tests it wasn’t for free. Sarcastically it was far easy for him find work as an undocumented worker in Portland than as legal citizen in Mexico, all this economics problems convince Vicente to cross the border. One Wednesday of February 2009 at noon he told his family that he was going to leave. On Wednesday noon he decided go to Tijuana, he started his first attempt to cross the border. Vicente called Pedro (the coyote) in a short period of time the coyote was there in a van and took them to his house. The plan was to cross the border through subterranean tunnel; the plan wasn’t easy the entrance was defense by border controls. It was already Thursday and looked such as wasting of time, they determine go downtown and look for another coyote, in a few hours they found one. This guy move really fast he asked for their contacts in Unites States, the same...
Words: 422 - Pages: 2
...Max and Ishraqi is experiencing, but they will never be together, because of their different backgrounds. Forbidden love, is truly one of the worst things that can ever happen to you. Have you ever thought about, or considered how lucky you are? You live in a free country. You have the right to be with anyone you’d like. Not everybody have that privilege. That’s the main theme of the text. The writer, Debi Alper, is trying to put focus on the problem, or taboo, which is forbidden love. Ishraqi and Max obviously care for each other, even though they’ve only known each other for a very short period of time. But they can’t be together, because Ishraqi is in England illegally. Another theme, which Debi Alper focuses on, is illegal immigration. Ishraqi is an illegal immigrant, who has lived in London alone for a year and a half, and she is applying for asylum, but instead they ship back to Iran. Max and Ishraqi are two very different people. Max is born and raised, I presume, in London. And Ishraqi was born in Iran, and then she emigrated from Iran to England. Max lives at home with his mom. He is 16. His dad left them a year ago, and went backpacking in Thailand. He hates his father for having left his mother, and made her cry in bed for weeks. He goes to The Brit School, which is a school for performing arts and technology. He is very creative, his mom believes that his mind is twisted, but according to his teachers that’s a good thing. Max isn’t really keen on school; he especially...
Words: 969 - Pages: 4
...Immigration is what carves the picture of the modern world. Travelling from one country to other for trading had been popular since historic times. Immigration means the one way flow of the population to a specific place or country. People move out of the native country or state for various reasons. Better employment opportunities and a desire for a better living and future are the main driving forces. Though, in present times there are several other reasons like immigrating for education and/ or seeking political asylum in neutral countries etc. As said earlier, immigration forms the present face of the world. America is nothing more than unison of immigrants coming from different parts of the world. Even, the Aryans, who are the predecessors of north Indians, are believed to have migrated from Middle Asia to India. Immigration acts in both directions of development, the positive as well as negative. On one hand, it opens the way for talented and professional work force from the other lands. But it also enhances the rate of competition and struggle for sustenance for the locals. Several youths leave their birth land and move to the developed nations hoping to face a better future and improvised life. Some of them do it in a right manner by following the proper procedures of attaining visa. They are the true beneficiaries of this global exchange of man power. But then there are considerable numbers of youths who are misguided by the traders. They adopt the back door entry rule...
Words: 549 - Pages: 3
...Solutions to Illegal Immigrants Impact on Health Care Solutions to Illegal Immigrants Impact on Health Care The effect of immigration on health is controversial. “In recent history, large influxes of immigrants have not resulted from social benefits provided by the United States government. Rather, immigration increases are far more impacted by changes in immigration policy or by political conflict or natural disaster in the immigrants’ home countries. And the availability of direct economic incentives, jobs, prospects, higher wages, and the ability to send money back home, are more than enough to continue incentivizing immigration to the United States regardless of the status of health insurance” (Garg, 2010, p. 1025). Illegal immigrants do not have health insurance coverage; their primary resource for health care is by using emergency room services. Illegal immigrants often use emergency services because of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986. This act commands hospitals that offer emergency services to exclude certain ones, have to provide care to anyone needing emergency health care regardless of legal status or ability to pay. Undocumented immigrants are overrunning medical institutions with their inability to pay. Uncompensated care threatens the financial viability of a unit’s ability to provide care to other patients. Illegal immigrants are a burden to the United States health care economics. Is it an ethical and moral responsibility for...
Words: 1147 - Pages: 5
...Children Growing up in Unauthorized Homes Illegal immigration is a topic widely uncomfortable subject that most people really have barely any knowledge about. Yet, it’s one of the major political conflicts today. Stuck in this vicious cycle are the kids of these illegals, who have no say in what happens to them or what they do. There are the children that came here with their parents when they were young, and then there are the children who were born here, but are nonetheless growing up suffering the consequences of their parents’ unauthorized status. There are about 11.5 million illegal immigrants living in the United States today. Illegal immigrants are define as those who live within the country without legal authorization to do so. There are many ways one can became “illegal”, such as overstaying the time period specified on a tourist or student visa, or entering the United States without inspection, like crossing the border (Hoefer et al). Research has shown that, the population of unauthorized migrants is larger now than at any time since the United States began trying to regulate immigration in the early twentieth century; while the United States represents five percent of the world’s population, it has approximately twenty percent of all unauthorized migrants in the world. Although “illegal immigrants” account for about a fourth of the overall U.S. immigrant population, they dominate the immigration debate and are at the heart of the politic debates. As a result...
Words: 1446 - Pages: 6
...Colton Dahlem Professor Jordan English 110/1522 December 5, 2012 Rough Draft Legal is the New Illegal What do you think of when you read ‘Immigration’? My thought of the definition of immigration is that people of other countries wanting a better life for themselves and/or their family and they think they can find that certain life in the United States. All they have to do is fill out paper work and pay fees that they can later pay off because they will have jobs because they became a US citizen. Some immigrants do not quite understand that concept and that is where we get the problem of illegal immigration. It is great that they want better lives but when they do it illegally is where they literally cross the line. Illegal immigration comes with certain causes, problems, and solutions. It is not easy to determine that causes of illegal immigration but according to the article “Illegal Immigration”, there are two main factors that make immigrants have the desire to join the United States. The first major factor is the “push” factor, which involves the pressures encouraging emigration in countries of origin. There are also four sub-factors that give those immigrants the actual push. The first is the professional factor that deals with jobs, money, and certain opportunities that the United States offer that their home does not. Second is the political factor, which is their opinion on our government vs. their government. The security factor is the third, which involves...
Words: 942 - Pages: 4
...that they may never experience in their countries of origin, such as proper health care, jobs, freedom of religion and more; opportunities that should be a right to all people. In 2008 about 11 million people were reported to be undocumented (Presten, 2012 ). While it is amazing to live in a country that can provide all these chances for people, there are several controversial issues that have arisen among the years due to the copious amounts of illegal immigrants in the residing in the country. One of the most talked about issues is that immigrants are able to readily use our resources such as health care, welfare and schools but are not legally able to pay the proper taxation for those services. In this country immigrants are often categorized as hinders to our country but they can be considered the backbone of the American society. It is more than a necessity that the American government quickly establish an equal footing for every immigrant coming from worldwide. Currently the United States government places all immigrants and illegal aliens from every country in world in one group and place Cubans in an entirely different jurisdiction. For this reason the United States has encountered an unforeseeable problem brought on by The Cuban Readjustment Act of 1966....
Words: 2637 - Pages: 11
...Lamont Waites American Politics 105 3/6/2014 Illegal Immigrants Illegal immigrants in the United States (US) have long been a topic of debate for policymakers and the public. For over decades, people from all over the world keep coming into the United States seeking for better life for themselves, and most importantly for their spouse, their children and even their children's children. However, not every immigrant comes into this country through legal procedure and most of these illegal immigrants are poor and uneducated people. They might be brought here because of human trafficking, smuggling or other methods. There’s been many debates regarding helping these illegal aliens to become citizens to our America. Should congress make it uncomplicated for migrants o become citizens or, should congress keep the hardship of earning theirs? Easy legal ship for immigrants has been a humongous controversy for decades to come. For years to come, this country has been split 50/50 on this topic and from the recent years, hasn’t reached a decision yet. There have been many views on ways to make citizenship easy. One of them that caught my eye has captured my consideration mentioned a lot about the age groups of these foreigners. The Pro-immigration groups are pushing congress to provide conditional legal status to immigrants who came to the United States at the age of 10 and have lived here for at least five years. I honestly don’t approve of softening up on granting citizenships to...
Words: 773 - Pages: 4
...The overall economic benefits of immigration are clearly positive. Immigration is good for the economy. So opponents of the bill are left picking over the distribution of those benefits. As the Hamilton Project writes in their summary of the evidence, “immigrants create average wage increases of between 0.1 percent and 0.6 percent for American workers. The greatest academic dispute is around the effect on the wages of Americans with less than a high school diploma, with estimates ranging from slightly positive to a decline of 4.7 percent.” A bipartisan group of senators this morning introduced comprehensive immigration reform legislation that provides a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States, as well as reforms to other existing worker and visa programs. The bill would also provide undocumented immigrants with provisional legal status as they wait for citizenship — which will take 13 years under the legislation. Still, temporary status gives those immigrants the ability to contribute directly to the American economy, and the benefits for the overall economy, including American workers, would be substantial over the next decade. Perhaps the toughest question in the immigration discussion is what is our universe of concern? Is it U.S. citizens? Legal U.S. residents? Anyone in the U.S., including unauthorized immigrants? What about potential immigrants, both legal and illegal? Whose welfare you’re worried about,...
Words: 357 - Pages: 2
