Arguments Pro and Contra Immigrants Citizenship in America - Annotated Bibliography Example

On March 5, 2014, this bibliography was compiled from three sources: the first is a blog posted by a Texas senator in the wake of a debate seeking to amend the immigration bill; the second is an article by a Santa Clara University professor evaluating the justice in excluding immigrants from being awarded the American citizenship, and the third is a newspaper article published by the Las Vegas Tribune General Manager in response to immigration arguments.

Annotated Bibliography

Coryn, J. SEN. “American citizenship: A Privilege, Not a Right.” RedState. 2008. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. <http://archive.redstate.com/stories/archived/american_citizenship_a_privilege_not_a_right>

In this article, Senator John Coryn argues for American citizenship as a privilege and is due only to people who show respect to the laws and people of America. This is in support of the debate he intended to table before the House to permanently bar offenders convicted of serious felonies as stipulated in the US law from America and from receiving immigration benefits. To be included in the list would be those convicted of assault, terrorism, rape, and theft as such people have exhibited disdain for the American justice system. Those opposing this amendment argued that it would punish the innocent whose mistakes relate to the illegality of their immigration. However, Coryn cites Better Business Bureau statistics that show how grievous identity theft is and should not be rewarded with legalization, including American citizenship.

Velasquez, M. “Immigration: Is Exclusion Just?” Santa Clara University. 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2014. <http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v7n2/velasquez.html>

Observing America’s restriction to immigration across its borders, this article discredits the exclusion of immigrants attributing it to racism. Contrary to the argument that immigrants exhaust resources for a nation’s citizens, the article postulates that immigrants increase the labor pool and thus the productive potential. These immigrants constitute new consumers and pay government taxes hence do not drain services provided by the government. Denial of ownership of property among immigrants amounts to the use of force, thus collapsing the morality of right or wrong. However, Velasquez appreciates the need to be sensitive while addressing such human needs as borders still serve the critical role of demarcation to ensure peaceful coexistence, systemizing of government machinery, and identification of a citizen.

Viasmensky, P. “Views on Immigration Reform: Right or Wrong or Just Different.” Lasvegastribune.net. Las Vegas Tribune. 26 June 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.

This article gives the position of Las Vegas Tribune General Manager on immigration reforms following an argument, one for reforms in the pretext that the 11 million immigrants are favored more than American locals for government financial aid and job opportunities and the other against, claiming that all humans have same rights, including American citizenship. Viasmensky disregards immigration reforms because immigrants request and do not demand to be American citizens and that a majority have learned the American culture, including language. They should be awarded citizenship for as long as they pledge allegiance to America. Furthermore, sending away 11 million immigrants would be difficult. However, he cautions against potential risk with the increasing immigration hence recommends the closure of the border to immigrants by replacing the border agents with more competent ones.