Illegal Immigration

President Barack Obama once stated “America has nothing to fear from illegal immigrants” and that, “Like the waves that came before them…immigrants will only enrich our country” With the country on economic hard times that statement has its opposition. Has the enormous wave of illegal immigration benefited the United States?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are approximately 8.7 million know illegal aliens. Estimates show that 60 percent of aliens enter the country illegally and 40 percent of aliens ,such as students and tourists ,overstay their visas. The census bureau also reports that annual deportation rate is 125,000 per year but immigration increases by 700,000 per year. It seems the country is losing the war on its borders.

With the increase in population of the U.S. our society was bound to feel the effects of the influx. According to National Public Radio, with the costs of displacing American workers, welfare, and general services the price of the influx has risen to $20 billion a year. But some economists argue that illegal immigration actually has a small net positive. Global trade and automated manufacturing actually has more of a negative effect on the economy than immigrations impact on wages.

Even though immigration does not bear the weight of the economic crisis, many Americans believe it negatively impacts our society. According to the U of H center of Public Policy, 48 percent found that immigration “threatens America’s culture” Is illegal immigration really “threatening”? What is more threatening is that over 70 percent Americans, according to a Rasmussen Report poll, feel illegals should not be given drivers license and should not qualify for in-state tuition. Someone who does not speak the language or understand our roadways should especially be required to attend driving courses and obtain a drivers license.

“It is wrong to condone illegal immigration that flouts our laws, strains our tolerance, taxes our resources. Even a nation of immigrants must have rules and conditions and limits when they are disregarded, public support for immigration erodes in ways that are destructive to those who are newly arrived and those who are still waiting patiently to come” stated Former President Bill Clinton. 

Those people who are waiting “patiently” , as Clinton said  may wait up to ten years to be reviewed for citizenship without any assistance. The way we can reduce the influx of illegals is to reform the laws that govern our border and its issues. Immigration reform is the best to reduce the previous statistics. But because of the fruits of cheap labor, immigration laws will not be reformed. With the cheap labor and the willingness by illegal aliens to perform less attractive jobs, employers would lose money if illegals became less available. Most of all, the politicians have become aware that the Latino vote can greatly impact a campaign.

So how can we curb the issue of illegal immigration, if this country is afraid to lose the benefits of it? No one seems to have the correct answer and that could be because there is no correct answer. We both need them and don’t want them. Illegal immigration has become a push and pull situation. Americans should learn to accept that illegal immigration is an integral piece of the United States. Illegal immigration is part of our culture, it doesn’t threaten it. Immigration has helped to shape this country since the first European ships landed on the American shore and will continue to do so.

March 4, 2009. Uncategorized.