Illegal Immigration and Immigration Reform The anti-immigrant law of Alabama is too harsh and it is definite that both the undocumented immigrants and the state of Alabama will experience devastating consequences. Since the anti-immigrant law compelled undocumented immigrants to flee the state, Alabama is expected to have a significant economic down fall (Latin America News Dispatch 1). This is because the undocumented immigrants provided a great portion of the state’s work force. The immigrants were forced to flee because the legal reforms would make them to lose their livelihoods.
The agriculture industry of Alabama had the immigrants as the backbone of its economic progress. The fleeing of the immigrants revealed a negative economic implication on the state as demonstrated by the fact that a lot of food was left rotting in the vines. This was caused by the numerous vacancies within the agricultural industry which resulted from the loss of the immigrant workforce. Alabama’s immigration reform presents a case of failure of the political and legal systems to provide the most appropriate solution to a problem within a state.
The California Dream Act is the most appropriate approach of dealing with immigration issues of a country unlike the Alabama anti immigrant reforms which have illustrated negative social and economic implications for the state. It is through the California Dream Act that both the social life of the immigrants and the economy of the state were enhanced. The American spirit should not let immigration concerns to violate individual’s social freedoms and liberty. In this sense it is argued that “a border wall seems to violate a deep sense of identity most Americans cherish” (Bowden 367).
Instead of creating a wall that prevents immigrants from Mexico and other states, proper legal and political approaches to the problem should be employed. The example of the California Dream Act is appropriate in this argument because California identified the contribution of the immigrants into the state’s economy and thus valued them. This is exemplified by the provision of education opportunities for undocumented immigrants within California. The anti-immigrant reforms of Alabama can be said to have disregarded the fact that most of the immigrants who were forced to flee the state had lived in Alabama most of their lives and had contributed significantly to the economic growth of the state.
The best approach that Alabama State would have employed in managing the undocumented immigrant issue would have been provision legal documentation of immigrants who have lived in the state all their lives. Moreover, these immigrants would have been provided grants and access to education and employment opportunities so that they would contribute to the economic growth of the state. Such measures would have prevented the social economic downfall that was experienced in Alabama after the undocumented immigrants fled the state.
The Alabama anti-immigrant law is not just at all. This is because it did not provide a chance for legal documentation of immigrants who were born in Alabama, worked and considered the state their home. “If we shut illegal immigration, a program to legalize our guest workers, would be a matter of necessity to save the American Agriculture” (Bowden 360). I consider documentation of undocumented immigrants the most effective approach of dealing with the immigration issue in America. During the documentation process, it would be easier to determine the validity of immigrants that would warrant their documentation such as being born on the American soil and having worked or contributed significantly to the American economy.
Such documentation would prevent the social and economic consequences such as those which are experienced in Alabama after the implementation of the anti-immigrant law. As said by the colonial heroes “all men are created equal” (Welch 356). This is a very touching statement which should be the basis for dealing with the immigration issue. I value the fact that immigrants are usually motivated by the fact that they desire to better their lives by entering America. The installation of a wall cannot solve the immigration problem.
This is because there are alternative approaches that would be used to reach America and thus a physical barrier would not help curb the problem. If I was in charge, I would value the economic benefits that immigrants are likely to bring America. Furthermore, I will value equality for all men. These values will enable me to support documentation of the undocumented immigrants and provision of equality in employment and education opportunities. Such moves would be beneficial to the economic growth of the state and the immigrant’s social and economic lives.
In provision of equality for all, I would ensure that the wages for immigrant labor are above minimum wage and reasonable and thus prevent tendencies which emulate slavery. Works Cited Bowden, Charles. Our Wall. National Geographic.2007. Print Latin America News Dispatch. Text of Alabama Immigration Law, HB 56. 2011. Web. March 6 2012. Marjorie, Lilly. The A-Word. Desert Exposure. 2008. Print Welch, Bryan. Putting a Stop to Slave Labor. The Utne Reader. 2007. Print
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