Immigrants and Immigration - Research Paper Example

?Immigrants and Immigration: DO ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS HAVE TO BE DEPORTED Immigration is the migration of individuals from one place to another which isusually done for a better future. United States is a developed country which faces the problem of illegal immigration from all over the world. Some however argue that illegal immigration is not a problem but rather a blessing in disguise. Immigrants from all over the world are entering United States illegally for a better prospect. Illegal immigration has been a deep rooted issue that has been subjected to many debates in the United States. The border which separates the United States and Mexico is an important ground which has led to speeding the process of this illegal immigration (Bowden 2007). It is a process which lays many impacts on the lives of the people who live in Mexico as well as the United States. Many questions have been raised on this issue as to whether what needs to be done to cope up with this issue and whether this border has led to provide any benefits. A balanced solution to this problem should be found out and the illegal immigrants from Mexico who come to the United States for a better future should be considered and legalization for them should be an option. Not only this, they should be given due rights but regulation of this immigration should also be done so that the influx of the number of people does not overshadow the opportunities of the people who already reside in the United States. This paper further provides an in depth analysis on pros and cons of illegal immigration and supports the presence and benefits of illegal immigrants for the country (America) and the nation. Illegal immigration is an act as the name implies of breaking the law and entering another state. But a question arises that is this law above the life of a person and his right to secure his future and work for a better life and earning. The Mexican border has been considered as a right choice by many people living in the United States because for them it has actually restricted the number of people entering their country illegally but for the people living there, this border has actually served to obstruct their opportunities of earning a living and raising their families. Illegal immigration along this border has been showing inclining rates and it has even been seen that this influx has been raised after this border was actually created (Bowden 2007). The illegal immigrants work in farms and do not enjoy the privileges and rights that their American counterparts do. They work on lower pays and do not receive good working conditions. This is because their employers know that these workers will not be able to raise their voices due to fear of being deported (Lilly 2008 & Welch 2007). Illegal Immigrants are not welcomed by the governments for any other reason than the economic benefits they bring to them and the jobs they fill including the lower level and lower wage high effort jobs like cleaning, serving in the pubs and clubs and clearing off the streets. The unavailability of rights and equality measures for these illegal immigrants who are, certainly, helping the country in one way or the other is questionable (Mailonline, 2006). Groff (2010) also points towards the unethical practice of using illegal immigrants without giving them equal rights or incentives within the boundaries of the country. “It's like taking someone and making them without a nation” (Groff, 2010). These issues need to be addressed and a solution needs to be considered for this problem. It is not economically favorable for the United States to deport all these workers because it will lead to a loss of valuable employees and a considerable reduction in workforce. At the same time, it will also not be economically feasible to arrange for transport for the evacuation of the millions of immigrants (Lilly, 2008). Hence, a better solution would be to actually legalize the workers who are already working in the country. The Mexicans who come in search of job opportunities should be given work permits so that they continue their work legally. It has been seen that they are more devoted and hard working than the American laborers. Hence they deserve proper payback in return for their services (Welsh, 2007). The border should definitely be strengthened but if work opportunities do exist, legal work permits should be given to the Mexicans. After this process is accomplished, the last check should be on the employers that they do not hire illegal workers. All these measures are interdependent and the implementation of these needs to be done in a logical order so that this issue of illegal immigration can be coped up with. The rate of poverty in the world keeps on increasing with every decade. For the prospects of a better future people choose to leave their homelands and migrate mainly to the developed nations. Immigration has been a subject of debate with an increase in hate crimes against the immigrants. It needs to be understood that every being has a right to choose for a better and secure future and this accounts for one of the reasons why people choose immigration as an option. The ageing population of the developed nations is increasing and hence it can be beneficial for the host countries as well. Immigration also assists in the development and understand of cultural diversities and helps in promoting anti racist sentiments. Immigrants mainly belong to the underdeveloped nations where the financial crisis pushes them to immigrate. Policies which include the rules of free trade actually serve as a burden rather than reliefs for the poor countries making them dip into poverty even more. These underdeveloped nations have debts to pay off and much of their income goes into actually paying the interest of these debts. Moreover the developed nations do pledge to assist these countries by providing them aid but these developed countries never reach their set goal. The people living in these countries are left with no options and the final ray of hope for them is immigration. It is the only way for them to lead a better life ahead. America is the country of immigrants. Friedman (2006) explains the results of a study carried out by the National Academy of Sciences that immediate descendents reimburse $80,000 in excess of what they receive as benefits in taxes in their whole life. Approximately 15% of the total labor force of America comprises of immigrants and terminating their services would reduce the output of the country by $1 trillion. The total agricultural industry can be distributed equally in domestic and immigrant workers in terms of population (Friedman, 2006). Immigration can also serve to be beneficial for the countries where these people migrate. This is because the developed nations like America have more of an aging population which they have to cater. The taxes paid by immigrants in America are helpful in upholding the social security and health expenses of this ageing population. Another cause is the decreased birth rates in these nations. This results in low skilled labor and hence immigrants can serve to fill in these gaps. Also the immigrants pay higher taxes comparatively and this can serve to compensate for the amount required to cater to the aged. Thus, immigration serves to promote the betterment of the immigrants as well as proves to be beneficial to the economy of the host nation. America also benefits from these impacts of immigrants (Fienleib & Warner, 2005). With immigration there is development and understanding of other cultures and religions. The immigrants receive a chance of adapting according to the culture of the country where they have migrated. On the other hand the nationals of that country receive a chance to view the different cultures of the world and analyze them. America is culturally rich and is home to the immigrants from different parts of the world. This assists in the promotion of harmony in the U.S., as people from two different regions learn to live together and are exposed to different views and perspectives of the world. Thus immigration assists in broadening the human mind (Gabaccia 2002, pp. 8-15). Despite of this understanding there has been much opposition to the policy of immigration and immigrants have to face racism in the host country. The opponents argue that the immigrants actually take up the US native citizens’ jobs and the result is lower employment for them (Borjas 2001, p. 63). This point has been argued against as it has been analyzed the economic impact of immigration is not great and immigrants serve in to fill many vacant places and assist in boosting the income as a whole. Opponents also present the fact that not all immigrants who actually come to the host countries are actually educated and this results in unemployment for them as well. It has been seen that immigrants even adapt to the jobs of lower income which are not taken up by the nationals. American immigrants serve as a cheap source of labor and their availability is in abundance to keep the economy running with a high pace. Some argue that immigrants actually bring with them a different culture which contaminates the culture of the U.S. In this aspect the educated class actually understands that cultural diversity assists in the broadening of the human mind and in the development of peace of how beings from different parts of the world can live together. Thus immigrants do not serve as a burden on the economy of the host countries and assist in bridging gaps between different cultures (Frazier and Tettey-Fio 2006, pp. 10-16). Immigration if viewed from the ethical stand proves that every being has the right to better opportunity and lifestyle. Hence immigration is an issue which serves to assist not only the immigrants but also has a positive impact on the nation where the people migrate to. America has been gaining advantages from the immigrant population in one way or the other. The costs related to their healthcare facilities, residence, food stuff and other needs are compensated by their taxes, laws implemented to secure he domestic workers, their work abilities and cultural flexibility. They tend to integrate in the U.S. culture easily due to highly flexible environment of America. The equal opportunity acts and regulations serve as a shield against hatred in the American immigrant population. In conclusion we can say that America is benefitting from the immigration more than it bears the costs related to their needs. Bibliography “Illegal immigrants should not all be deported.” Mailonline 31 March 2006. Web 30 April 2011. Groff, Grain. “New law doesn’t end illegal immigration fury”. Points of view Reference Center.23 April 2010. Web 28 April 2011. Borjas, George J. Heaven's Door: Immigration Policy and the American Economy. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001. Print. Bowden, Charles. "Our Walls, Ourselves - Fences May Make Good Neighbors, but the Barriers Dividing the U.S. and Mexico Are Proving Much More Complicated."National Geographic. (2007). Web 1 Nov 2010. Feinleib, Joel, and David Warner. United States.SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD ISSUE BRIEF #1: The Impact of Immigration on Social Security and the National Economy. Washington, DC: , 2005. Web. 8 Mar 2011. . Frazier, John W, and Eugene Tettey-Fio. Race, Ethnicity, and Place in a Changing America. Binghamton, N.Y: Global Academic Pub, 2006. Print. Friedman, Andrew. "Daily News." Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, 23 Apr 2006. Web. 8 Mar 2011. Gabaccia, Donna R. Immigration and American Diversity: A Social and Cultural History. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2002. Print. Lilly, Majorie. “Borderlines.” Desert exposure. (2007). Web 1 Nov 2010. Welch, Bryan. “Putting a Stop to Slave Labour.” UTNE READER (2007). Web 1 Nov 2010. < http://www.utne.com/2007-03-01/PuttingaStoptoSlaveLabor.aspx> Read More