Comprehensive Immigration Reform: How Should We Address the Issue of Illegal Immigration - Coursework Example

COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM how should we address the issue of illegal immigration INTRODUCTION: "Immigration is a tough issue for a lot of Americans. The agreement reached today is one that will help enforce our borders, but equally importantly, it will treat people with respect. This is a bill where people who live here in our country will be treated without amnesty, but without animosity." (President George W. Bush May 17, 2007) United States of America is the land of immigrants which is formed by the migration of people from Europe for political, religious or economic reasons. (Rodman D. Griffin 1994). Over the period of time, the same phenomenon (immigration) that populated the country has now become a major debatable issue in the political, economic and social domain of the land. Once immigration was taken for granted in the US policy but now, immigration policy occupies a significant space in the political agenda of both, the democrats and the republicans. This paper will explore the perspectives of the various segments of the society like employers, US Citizens and immigrants on the immigrations policies and its altogether impact on the US Immigration Policy, while discussing this, we will also analyze the propaganda used by both the political parties. PERSPECTIVES OF DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE SOCIETY: The Employers: The employers have always been the keen advocates of the policies in the favor of the immigrants. It is so because; these immigrants ensure the constant supply of the cheap labor. (Katel 2005)They are usually willing to work at lower wages and perform those activities which the US residents don't want to perform like working the farms, restaurants, gas stations etc. That's why; especially the states like Texas and Arizona are strong advocates of the immigrant - favoring policy. (Arizona Secretary of State Proposition 200)Thus it is quite obvious, higher the influence of these employers on the government, the more immigrant favoring policies are expected. Their most strong argument is the fact that cheap labor supply ultimately reduces the cost and thus benefiting the society in general. US Citizens: The US citizens, on the contrary, argue that though it may reduce the cost of the product or service, the immigrants are engaged with, but the additional burden on tax payers, in order to provide the public utility services to those immigrants is far higher than the reduction in cost.(Kelly 2005) Moreover, they also argue that immigrants are the continuous threat to their employments and above all, their security. The later apprehension has been boosted up sharply in the post 9/11 scenario and the political factions advocating strict immigrant policy used this 'fear factor' to propagate and convince the legislators for constringent immigration policy. Position of President Bush and Current Administration When George W Bush became the president, the illegal immigration was at height and none of the constitutions were able to deter the influx of illegal immigrants. The situation called for a constitutional reform to address the issue. The 9/11 attacks and then the 9/11 commission's report in 2004 highlighting "systemic weaknesses" in border-control and immigration systems, further strengthened the need. All this led to the formation of the 'Fair and Secure Immigration Reform Guidelines'. These guidelines formed the basis of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform. That was further reiterated in Bush's statement of Nov 28, 2005 on 'Securing America Through Immigration Reform'. Comprehensive immigration reform has three major parts: Securing the Border Improving Enforcement of Immigration Laws within The United States Creating a new Temporary Worker Program http://www.immigrationreformnow.org/immigrationreformnow/#CIR Position of Republicans and Democrats: The republicans and the democrats represent two separate ideologies. Democrats believe in helping people of the world and thus expending this support even to the non-Americans. This fundamental ideology makes it obvious that democrats want to give illegal immigrants a chance to prove their worth and become citizens in the land of the free. On the other hand, the Republicans believe more on patriotism, thus they want the illegal immigrants to be strictly dealt with. Since the Republicans consider them a threat to their economic and above all national security. A recent poll by Associated Press-Ipsos found that for Democrats, war is the most severe problem the US is currently encountering. Republicans were almost as likely to mention immigration as the foremost problem, right up there with war, reminding us that so much of the party sees border control itself as a form of self-defense and even war. http://immigration.about.com/od/ussocialeconomicissues/a/GOPvLiberalView.htm Analysis of the Propaganda It is obvious that Republicans are already inclined towards the strict immigrant policy. They have used various tools for political propaganda. doublespeak, pep talks, frames, oversimplification, inconsistencies and contradictions, and other propaganda techniques, including emotional appeals to fear and pity. Apparently the Comprehensive Immigration Reform seems to be something in favor of Illegal Immigrants. However, it is mere projection. In reality, under the proposal, undocumented immigrants would be able to obtain a probationary card allowing them to live and work legally in the United States, but which would not place them on the road to permanent residency or citizenship. The Republicans are using the fear factor to mould the public opinions in their favor. The constant use of the words 'Securing America through Immigration Reform' reveals the subtle message that America is not secure unless the immigrants are not deported. They have tried to oversimplify the issue and contradictions exist in the statements with the bill itself. When they say about temporary guest worker program, it shows they are more inclined towards the welfare of the illegal immigrants but deploying greater border security and patrolling contradicts the idea. Above all the word 'secure' is used to create an emotion of fear from illegal immigrants in the mind of US citizens. Moreover, using this fear factor they have tried to convinced the employers (http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/05/white-house-defends-immigration-reform.php) Personal Perspective Analyzing the above scenario, I can conclude that immigration is the major issue in the social, political and economic domain of the US Society. Illegal immigration is not always destroying the economy. It on one hand reduces the cost, but on the other hand, the residents (tax payers) have to bear the cost of the public utilities used by the immigrants. So it has both pros and cons. Though the immigrants who are threat to the national security (having unreliable past track record) should be deported, but those who do not have such records should be dealt on humanistic grounds, allowing them a permanent residency. For future, US should make a policy based on equity and should allow only those who add to the national productivity without being the burden on the US economy or threat to her defense. Bibliography: (http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2007/05/white-house-defends-immigration-reform.php) "Proposition 200," Arizona Secretary of State, http://www.azsos.gov/election/2004/info/PubPamphlet/english/prop200.htm. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2004-2005, p. 8; www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/04statab/pop.pdf; Office of Policy and Planning, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, "Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigration Population Residing in The United States: 1990 to 2000," http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/publications/Ill_Report_1211.pdf; Steven A. Camarota, "Economy Slowed, But Immigration Didn't: The Foreign-Born Population 2000-2004," Center for Immigration Studies, November 2004,www.cis.org/articles/2004/back1204.pdf. David Kelly, "Illegal Immigration Fears Have Spread; Populist calls for tougher enforcement are being heard beyond the border states," Los Angeles Times, April 25, 2005. http://immigration.about.com/od/ussocialeconomicissues/a/GOPvLiberalView.htm http://www.immigrationreformnow.org/immigrationreformnow/#CIR Katel, P. (2005, May 6). Illegal immigration. CQ Researcher, 15, 393-420. Retrieved May 27, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2005050600. Press Briefing on Immigration Reform May 17, 2007 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070517-12.html Unless otherwise noted, material in the background section comes from Rodman D. Griffin, "Illegal Immigration," The CQ Researcher, April 24, 1992, pp. 361-384; Kenneth Jost, "Cracking Down on Immigration," The CQ Researcher, Feb. 3, 1995, pp. 97-120; and David Masci, "Debate Over Immigration," The CQ Researcher, July 14, 2000, pp. 569-592 Read More