A topic that has been recently discussed in politics is "Amnesty for illegal immigrants". Amnesty would forgive illegal status and offer permanent residence for those individuals currently living in the United States. This option seems to reward illegal immigration and would encourage more immigrants to cross the border illegally.
If you ask me, amnesty is taking the easy way out. It is a temporary solution to a problem that will have a "snow-ball effect" and continue to grow until it is out of control. There may be no real "solution" to illegal immigration. The United States should deal with illegal immigration by combining many different strategies and not just allowing those individuals to become legal citizens of the United States.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Immigrants "Live for Free"; A Common Misunderstanding
"Our review of economic research finds immigrants not only help fuel the Nation's economic growth, but also have an overall positive effect on the income of native-born workers."
-Council of Economic Advisers Chairman Edward P. Lazear
Illegal Immigrants come to the United States for a better life, but how do they affect the citizens of the United States and the economy? It is a common misconception that illegal immigrants "live for free" in the United States. In general, they do not pay income tax and utilize other government services which does cause a drain on government spending. However, Illegal immigrants do pay sales tax and add to the number of consumers in the World Market. Illegal immigrants lower the wages for native-born low skilled workers in the United States. As a result, Americans benefit by paying lower prices for things like resturant meals, agricultural products, and construction.
Illegal immigration does have big impacts, both negatively and positively, on our economy. However, these impacts often offset each other, and overall there is said to be a small positive effect. Illegal immigration affects many Americans on different levels. The amount of education and qualifications of the US citizen determine the impact that the immigrant has on their lives. Low-skilled workers and high school drop-outs are most affected by illegal immigrants because they are the people the immigrants are competing with for jobs. The average American's wealth is increased by less than 1% each year.
Immigration does impact our economy, however, the use of automation in manufacturing and the growth in global trade have a bigger impact on wages, prices, and the health of the US economy. Americans would not see a significant boost in the economy if illegal immigrants were deported.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
A World of Opportunities
The United States is viewed as a World of opportunities for many individuals around the globe. Afterall, the US is an economical giant and a superpower with endless educational and job opportunities. It seems, at least to some, like there's a place for everyone in "The Melting Pot" known as the United States.
Buzzards and children compete for scraps at the Tegucigalpa, Honduras, landfill. Boys scavenge for anything they can eat or sell. Northbound freight trains through Mexico are crowded with Hondurans fleeing poverty and in search of work or a relative in the U.S.
Illegal immigrants recognize the plethora of opportunities and yearn to take advantage of them. These individuals live in countries with a large amount of poverty, crime, and insufficient resources. For example, in a survey done in 2002, half of the Mexican population was living in poverty and one fifth was living in extreme poverty. Individuals living in this extreme poverty earn less than $2 a day, are not able to support their families, do not have access to running water, food, and many other neccessary resources. The causes of this poverty can be explained by three major factors: invidual condition, the geographic factor, and the political economy of the country. These extenuating circumstances are what eventually force the individual to migrate to the United States and explore the options to improve their standard of living.
Actually entering the United States illegally is challenging enough, not to mention the new border enforcement and the fence being built to prevent such events from happening. Immigrants risk their lives to enter the US and the lives of their loved ones as well. This can be attributed to the "pull factors" that draw these people to the US. These factors include higher wages, possible employment, higher standards of living, and better education opportunities. The education system in the US offers a better education than school systems in places such as Mexico or Honduras. If the children of these immigrants are able to recieve a better education, they will be able to obtain better jobs.
When immigrants successfully cross the border, they fill jobs as "low skilled workers". The working conditions are not good and the immigrants are often paid below minimum wage. The immigrants are exploited, however they accept the working conditions, low pay, and long hours because it is better than their former circumstances. These immigrants help the economy by filling jobs as "low skilled workers" and benefit US citizens by performing cheap labor which helps keep costs down.
Illegal immigration has been a hot topic in politics lately. The main focus has been on ways to solve the "immigration problem". US citizens view immigration as harmful to the economy and are forcing politicians to find ways to improvise the immigration policy. One improvision is the Real ID policy which would make it harder to falsify legal documents and obtain a fake driver's license.
President Bush has also begun to seek improvements in the immigration policy by his "Guest Worker Program". The program will allow illegal immigrants to obtain jobs that Americans are not willing to fill in exchange for a 3 years visa, with an option of extension with proof of employment.
Buzzards and children compete for scraps at the Tegucigalpa, Honduras, landfill. Boys scavenge for anything they can eat or sell. Northbound freight trains through Mexico are crowded with Hondurans fleeing poverty and in search of work or a relative in the U.S.Illegal immigrants recognize the plethora of opportunities and yearn to take advantage of them. These individuals live in countries with a large amount of poverty, crime, and insufficient resources. For example, in a survey done in 2002, half of the Mexican population was living in poverty and one fifth was living in extreme poverty. Individuals living in this extreme poverty earn less than $2 a day, are not able to support their families, do not have access to running water, food, and many other neccessary resources. The causes of this poverty can be explained by three major factors: invidual condition, the geographic factor, and the political economy of the country. These extenuating circumstances are what eventually force the individual to migrate to the United States and explore the options to improve their standard of living.
Actually entering the United States illegally is challenging enough, not to mention the new border enforcement and the fence being built to prevent such events from happening. Immigrants risk their lives to enter the US and the lives of their loved ones as well. This can be attributed to the "pull factors" that draw these people to the US. These factors include higher wages, possible employment, higher standards of living, and better education opportunities. The education system in the US offers a better education than school systems in places such as Mexico or Honduras. If the children of these immigrants are able to recieve a better education, they will be able to obtain better jobs.
When immigrants successfully cross the border, they fill jobs as "low skilled workers". The working conditions are not good and the immigrants are often paid below minimum wage. The immigrants are exploited, however they accept the working conditions, low pay, and long hours because it is better than their former circumstances. These immigrants help the economy by filling jobs as "low skilled workers" and benefit US citizens by performing cheap labor which helps keep costs down.
Illegal immigration has been a hot topic in politics lately. The main focus has been on ways to solve the "immigration problem". US citizens view immigration as harmful to the economy and are forcing politicians to find ways to improvise the immigration policy. One improvision is the Real ID policy which would make it harder to falsify legal documents and obtain a fake driver's license.
President Bush has also begun to seek improvements in the immigration policy by his "Guest Worker Program". The program will allow illegal immigrants to obtain jobs that Americans are not willing to fill in exchange for a 3 years visa, with an option of extension with proof of employment.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
The United States of America; Immigrants Welcome!
Alright, so now that we've briefly discussed the pros and cons of the immigration debate, I'd like to openly express my opinion on illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is a "neccessary evil" in our society today. After all, aren't we all immigrants? When the Mayflower arrived to North America in 1620, the pilgrims inhabited "The New World". The fact is, there were already Native Americans living in North America. Our country was founded by men who traveled across the world, in search of new opportunities for a better life, much like the immigrants of today.
Illegal immigrants come to the United States, as previously stated, in search for job opportunities and ways to improve their standard of living. There are many resources in the United States that these immigrants are not able to access in their country. Everyday items that we as Americans take for granted, these people see as a luxury. Running water, electricity, a multi-room house, and shelter are just a few examples. The poorest of conditions in the United States haven't even begun to graze the surface of the severity of the living conditions in other countries. Immigrants also come to the United States in search of a better education for their children. The public school system in the United States provides an opportunity for children to get a good education and go on to be successful later in life.
Let's examine our everyday lives and our interactions with immigrants throughout our daily routine. The grocery store, agricultural centers, nursing homes, construction sites, cleaning services are all filled with immigrants doing work for low wages thus benefitting society. Indeed, some sectors of the economy might have a hard time functioning without illegal workers. Brendan Flanagan, director of legislative affairs for the National Restaurant Association, insists “Restaurants, hotels, nursing homes, agriculture — a very broad group of industries — are looking for a supply of workers to remain productive,” he says, because in many parts of the country, native workers aren't available at any price.
So, if you ask me about illegal immigrants, I'd say they benefit our economy in many ways and we are in turn helping them as well. They come here in search for a better life, risking their lives just to cross the border. Immigrants introduce new culture and a new language that will inspire Americans to educate themselves to better communicate.
Illegal immigration is obviously a problem with no clear solution. It's something that is going to happen, regardless of the border enforcement and any other means to stop immigrants from coming to the United States. If you ask me, immigrants are essential to the growth, development, and economic prosperity of our country.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Does the good outweigh the bad?
Many view illegal immigration in a derogatory way. Maybe you're one of those people who complain about all the immigrants in you area and think that they come to the United States and "live for free". While illegal immigrants do have a negative impact on our economy, they also benefit US citizens in many ways. Below are a list of pros and cons associated with illegal immigrants taken from http://www.articler.com/10519/Illegal-Immigration-Pros-And-Cons.html. Do they pros out weigh the cons? Feel free to comment and leave your opinions.
Pros Of Illegal Immigration:
1. It helps keep the economy moving by filling low-wage jobs.
2. It provides a better lifestyle for those who enter the country illegally.
3. It creates a pool of consumers for a variety of goods and services.
4. Farmers are able to plant and harvest less expensively.
5. Contributions to social security funds often go unclaimed.
6. Illegal immigrants pay sales taxes.
7. Illegal residents, who are property owners, also pay real estate taxes.
8. Millions of illegals rent properties in depressed areas where renters are hard to find.
9. They purchase real estate and generate commissions for agents and brokers.
10. Illegal immigrants contribute to mortgage loan profits.
11. They open bank accounts that yield interest and dividends to bankers.
12. Many purchase auto insurance and contribute to insurers profits margins.
Cons Of Illegal Immigration:
1. Burden on tax-based resources, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.
2. Difficult prosecution and justice when perpetrators flee the country.
3. Disparity between legal immigrants who follow the rules and those who don't.
4. They risk death when traveling the desert to reach the borders.
5. Those who successfully cross the border inspire those left behind to do the same.
6. Continued growth of the demand for cheap labor and low wages.
7. No government reimbursement to offset states' illegal alien maintenance costs.
8. Potential negative effects on working and middle-class citizens.
9. Millions of U.S. dollars remitted to Mexico
10. Mortgage loan fraud
11. Fake document mills
12. Imbalance in authorized immigration quotas
Pros Of Illegal Immigration:
1. It helps keep the economy moving by filling low-wage jobs.
2. It provides a better lifestyle for those who enter the country illegally.
3. It creates a pool of consumers for a variety of goods and services.
4. Farmers are able to plant and harvest less expensively.
5. Contributions to social security funds often go unclaimed.
6. Illegal immigrants pay sales taxes.
7. Illegal residents, who are property owners, also pay real estate taxes.
8. Millions of illegals rent properties in depressed areas where renters are hard to find.
9. They purchase real estate and generate commissions for agents and brokers.
10. Illegal immigrants contribute to mortgage loan profits.
11. They open bank accounts that yield interest and dividends to bankers.
12. Many purchase auto insurance and contribute to insurers profits margins.
Cons Of Illegal Immigration:
1. Burden on tax-based resources, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.
2. Difficult prosecution and justice when perpetrators flee the country.
3. Disparity between legal immigrants who follow the rules and those who don't.
4. They risk death when traveling the desert to reach the borders.
5. Those who successfully cross the border inspire those left behind to do the same.
6. Continued growth of the demand for cheap labor and low wages.
7. No government reimbursement to offset states' illegal alien maintenance costs.
8. Potential negative effects on working and middle-class citizens.
9. Millions of U.S. dollars remitted to Mexico
10. Mortgage loan fraud
11. Fake document mills
12. Imbalance in authorized immigration quotas
Illegal Immigration; What does it mean to you?
Illegal Immigration is an issue that has been widely discussed throughout the past year by lawmakers, presidential candidates, and many people in Congress. There have been many people that have voiced their opinions and offered solutions to keep these "Unwelcomed Guests" from becoming a part of the most powerful country in the World. While lawmakers and people of position openly discuss the immigration debate with a political mindset, we as Citizens of the United States should approach this issue on a more personal level.
As one approaches the issue of illegal immigration, one must remember that these immigrants are human beings and our equal. We as Americans have no right to look down upon these individuals in any way, shape, or form. Many of these individuals live in unbearable conditions far worse than anything seen in the United States. Many of the things that are taken for granted by many Americans, such as electricity, water, and shelter are luxuries to these people. They come to this country for a better quality of life. The United States is an economical giant and the most influential country in the World. We as citizens are aware of this, however it is more evident from the outside looking in. In reality, who wouldn't want to improve their standard of living, make more money, and have the opportunity to better provide for their family? As the foreign populations become more aware of the benefits of migrating to the United States, the population of immigrants will continue to increase.
There is growing concern about illegal immigration as the population of immigrants is steadily rising. Look around you, how many immigrants do you see?As http://www.immigrationcounters.com/ states, statistically there are 21,148,699 illegal immigrants in the United States today. As we think about how illegal immigrants are affecting our lives, we must also consider the long term effects of their prescence in the United States on the coming generations. If we allow immigrants in the US, what will the World be like for our children and grandchildren? As adults, will they be considered a minority in their own country as a result of our leniency in controlling immigration?
As one approaches the issue of illegal immigration, one must remember that these immigrants are human beings and our equal. We as Americans have no right to look down upon these individuals in any way, shape, or form. Many of these individuals live in unbearable conditions far worse than anything seen in the United States. Many of the things that are taken for granted by many Americans, such as electricity, water, and shelter are luxuries to these people. They come to this country for a better quality of life. The United States is an economical giant and the most influential country in the World. We as citizens are aware of this, however it is more evident from the outside looking in. In reality, who wouldn't want to improve their standard of living, make more money, and have the opportunity to better provide for their family? As the foreign populations become more aware of the benefits of migrating to the United States, the population of immigrants will continue to increase.
There is growing concern about illegal immigration as the population of immigrants is steadily rising. Look around you, how many immigrants do you see?As http://www.immigrationcounters.com/ states, statistically there are 21,148,699 illegal immigrants in the United States today. As we think about how illegal immigrants are affecting our lives, we must also consider the long term effects of their prescence in the United States on the coming generations. If we allow immigrants in the US, what will the World be like for our children and grandchildren? As adults, will they be considered a minority in their own country as a result of our leniency in controlling immigration?
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