Undocumented Immigration
An analysis of illegal immigration in the United States reveals one challenge facing the banks and other institutions: whether to provide banking and other services to the illegal immigrants or to treat them as criminals because they are illegal and therefore, not to provide them with banking and other services.
The articles, “Crossing the Line” by Stein and “Illegal Immigrants – They’re Money,” by Rodriguez discuss the impact of illegal immigration in the United States and how the illegal immigrants should be treated. They both reference the treatment of illegal immigrants by Bank of America that started issuing credit cards to illegal immigrants shortly before Dan Stein’s article was published in February 2007.
Stein criticizes Bank of America for its decision to issue credit cards to illegal immigrants in the United States. He is of the opinion that the profit seeking banks, trying to tap every opportunity to make profits from customers, are providing banking services to illegal immigrants, thereby, encouraging illegal immigration. He says that illegal immigrants are breaking the laws of the United States, taking jobs from citizens, driving down wages for middle class workers, burdening public school systems and other vital public services. He states that a Harris Poll revealed that Americans perceived the two greatest threats to their security to be illegal immigration and the outsourcing of American jobs. Stein also compares providing
In the United States, there are roughly eleven million people who can be classified as illegal immigrants, which is by far way too many. When it comes to the history of illegal immigrants, most United States citizens could be considered as an illegal immigrant. In the early years of American history, our ancestors fled into this country for better life styles and to start their own families. During this time there were not laws dealing with who could and could not enter this country illegally, so we cannot be classified as illegal immigrants. The United States of America needs to place more rigid laws regarding immigration by enforcing stricter border control policies and place a greater emphasis on becoming a legal citizen.
Throughout the years there has been and increasing number of illegal immigrants in this country. Just recently Obama took executive action to shield illegal immigrants from deportation. A Texas Judge though blocked his executive action on immigration. Illegal immigration is a huge controversy here in the United States partly due to Americans thinking that illegal immigrates are taking jobs, causing lower wages, and the costs of education. In Immigration and the American Worker, George Borjas found that the presence of immigrant workers, whether they are legal or illegal, made the U.S economy about 11 percent larger each year. If overall the U.S economy is better off with illegal immigrant workers, then why is there a push for harsher immigration policies? The controversy is due to the fact that the impact of illegal immigration changes from state to state. I hypothesize that the problem is the distribution of illegal immigrants across the United States. I believe that the benefits outweigh the costs and that because of the distribution of illegal immigrants, the costs are only felt by a few. By granting amnesty to the undocumented workers we could increase the level of tax payers and better the lives of those who feel the costs of illegal immigrants the most. I will test this hypothesis out by looking at the impact illegal immigrant on the labor market, the cost of illegal immigration, cost of ant-immigrant policies, impact of legalization, and impact of amnesty.
Immigration has played an important role throughout American history. What fundamentally sets America apart from other nations is the foundation that it was created by immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their children (Camarota & Zeigler, 2016). During times of economic growth, laborers have been imported, and deported during recessions (Flores, 2016). An average of 1.1 million immigrants relocate to the United States annually (Storesletten, 2000). US Customs and Border Control officials, have witnessed a significant increase in the number of “unaccompanied alien minors” from Latin America, anticipating 75,000 minors (if not more) from 2016 to 2017 (Rush, 2016). The average age for “unaccompanied alien minors” is 11 years
Today one of the biggest issues in America is illegal immigration; these people travel from all over the world, and illegally cross national borders onto U.S soil in desperation to find a better life. Immigrants come to America in hopes of fulfilling the American dream, being free and safe from their original home lands. Most immigrants are illegal and come by the millions each year, which lead to many controversial disputes. The overflow of immigrants caused many citizens to question if these illegal immigrants are damaging America in various way and also by bringing in crime, drugs, and terrorists. Others state that immigrants truly aids the economy “Indeed, some sectors of the economy might have a hard time functioning without illegal workers. (Katel 395) Many citizens believe illegal immigrants are taking jobs, and abusing government benefits, however many argue that these immigrants in fact contribute to a stronger economic stimulus, take unwanted jobs, and some even create jobs for Americans.
The purpose of this essay is to point out that immigrants are a group that are discriminated against and that many of the allegations, in particular the allegation that immigrants avoid paying taxes, are false and misleading. The importance of this topic is to point out the erroneousness of these claims so that people will recognize the merits of immigrants that include honesty, diligence, and assistance to our economy and desist from scapegoating them. Stereotyping immigrants and unjustly accusing them only consequents in spreading lies and myths that can be harmful to our economy (as well as to the individuals involved) since we preclude ourselves form benefitting form their skills and we react in a distorted manner. The essay starts off by introducing the group, before reviewing historical attitude to the group, the unjustness of American attitude towards immigrants, correction of the myth that immigrants avoid paying taxes, and demonstration that immigrants are a resilient and hardworking group. Not only do immigrants even illegal immigrants pay their taxes (even though being ITIN holders they can escape
The topic of Mexican immigration recently made headlines again when republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released a 3 page statement detailing his blunt beliefs on Mexican immigrants. Trump’s blunt statements against Mexican immigration have led many to join the discussion of Mexican immigration. The views on the issue vary, some believe that Mexicans are the route to all of America’s unemployment trouble while others believe Mexican’s simply take jobs American’s refuse to take. Either way, there are nearly twenty four million people of Mexican decent living in the United States that have started their own communities which contribute to American society. Many American’s however, refuse to accept this and are still prosecuting Mexican’s. This can be seen in the media, public schools, and in the work place.
Illegal immigrants have been a hot topic lately due to the popularity of this topic amongst the Republican Presidential Nominees, especially Donald Trump. These illegal immigrants bring various things to this country when they come. Some things are positive, such as a family simply seeking to find a better life, while some things are harmful to the United States, such as the amount of crime among illegal immigrants. In July 2015, the most recent estimate of illegal immigrants was 11.2 million. This same data shoes that 56 percent of all deportations last year were convicted criminals, which accounted for 177,960 individuals (Shoichet, 2015). Crime among illegal immigrants is a problem, and sanctuary cities, which are supposed to be a solution, may be making this problem worse.
In recent discussion s of illegal immigration, a controversial issue has been whether or not to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants in the U.S. On the one hand, some argue that amnesty shouldn’t be granted to illegal criminals. From this perspective, there are downfalls that many ignore and is unjust and stereotypical that all illegals are dangerous criminals. On the other hand, however, others argue that amnesty should be granted to illegal immigrants and how all of us are immigrants. In the words of one of this view’s main supporters,” Our country is strong because of generation after generation of immigrants… were all immigrants” (We Are All Immigrants.). According to this view, Obama’s saying immigrants have a huge impact economically within the U.S that makes it stronger and how we are all immigrants in this country. In sum, then the issue is whether amnesty should be dismissed and deportation take place or pardon illegals with amnesty and recognizes basic, simple fact that immigrants are a benefit to the U.S. My own view is that Amnesty should be passed. Though I concede that many are against this and there are some illegals that are criminals escaping into the U.S. I still maintain that amnesty should be given because it’s what keeps the United States strong and should apply to what the United States stands for and how we are all immigrants.
About four months ago in government class, we had a class discussion. The topic was illegal immigration. One student said that America should send the illegal immigrants back to their country because they are taking American’s jobs. He stated that he would send his dad back to Mexico because he is an illegal immigrant. Going around the circle that we created, everyone gave their opinions, most disagreed, but some agreed with the student. When it was my friend’s turn, she agreed with him and said that teachers, professors, friends, and etc. should report any undocumented person to the police. It will also help if police officers knock on door after door to verify whether the family in the house is illegal or not. If one of your friend, neighbor, student, or even family member is illegal, would you report him or her to the police?
Illustrating how immigrants help the economy through their suffering, brings up empathy once more. The authors’ describe how they fled to a new country looking for a better life, finding unwanted jobs paying minimally, causing the consumers to positively buy products cheaply. Lakoff and Ferguson use pathos to They claim that to solve immigration, one must look at the issue broadly, realizing that the solution lies when everyone collaborates to decrease the number of people fleeing their country. Explaining the different viewpoints allows them to concede to the readers, showing how they are making their decisions based on knowledge. However, when comparing the two different views they still seem biased, using a negative tone when describing the way conservatives
Conor William from Education policy, states that America integrates immigrants because instead of assimilating them the United States includes and sees the assets and strengths they bring to the country as part of the equation. He says “Integration as a Two-Way Process.” That is, we get at least as much from immigrants as they get from us”. Immigrants have provided America changing ways in their lifeblood(“The cultural and economic benefits of integrating immigrants”). Conor William is trying to explain that immigrants can be a helpful hand in the growth of the United States. Immigrants have the ability to provide assets that America might’ve been needing that the American population haven’t been providing. Illegal immigrants come into the United States in search for help and America receives them with wide hands for the strength they hand off. Grover Norquist the president of Americans for tax reform, states that immigrants are an asset to the United States of America economy. He says “Allowing those new workers in the United States “without papers” to earn legal status will increase labor mobility for millions and increase their productivity”. Grover also said “immigration reform will increase the size of the American work force” (“Immigration reform: people are an asset, not a liability”). Grover Norquist is explaining that immigrants bring an
Yee, V., Davis, K., & Patel, J. (2017, March 06). Here’s the Reality About Illegal Immigrants in the United States. Retrieved November 10, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/06/us/politics/undocumented-illegal-immigrants.html
Clinton supports immigrants and assimilation, stating “They never feel they belong or have allegiance…that is a recipe for divisiveness and even disintegration… we are a nation of immigrants”. In “Obama’s Next Act: Immigration Reform”, Chris Farrell substantiates Clinton’s sentiments, “The larger effect of eliminating uncertainty for these immigrants is creating incentives for them to make long-term investments in careers, entrepreneurship, education, homes, and community” (qtd Farrell 442). Logical thinking, as if one is able to contribute more of themselves and feel as if the country is investing in them as an equal, one will be more inclined to invest in the country. Furthermore Clinton believes that, “comprehensive immigration reform “strengthens families, strengthens our economy, and strengthens our country” (Avila, Marshall and
Immigration is important for the growth of the economy because it’s a major contributions towards the economy. The United States has often been referred to as a global melting pot due to its assimilation of diverse cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities. Today, this metaphor may be an understatement. Edstam and Carlson an immigration activists reports that, without the extra work and consumption provided by immigrants, the economy of the United States would collapse. They include in the article saying that, despite the common notion that immigrants steal jobs from Americans, the 2005 Economic Report shows that The Federal Reserve in fact recently raised its benchmark interest rate because it observed a strengthening U.S. economy with reduced unemployment, rising wages and some labor shortages Immigrants continue to strengthen local economies through their higher productivity and increased consumption (Edstam and Carlson). An article by Savajlenka added, Studies show that competition with American workers among immigrants is very minimal and limited to the unskilled labor. Therefore, Savajlenka immigration analyst states that, “Numerous studies have documented that immigrants are needed to replace the large number of retiring Baby Boomers and that the future growth of the U.S. workforce will come from immigrants and their children” (Savajlenka). This is an additional like a shot in occupations that presently use several older employees, like janitorial and truck driving
Immigrants arrive here in America to establish a better quality of life. They come here to get a job, raise their families, and get an education. To express their need for stability is important. In “Border on Our Backs,” Rodriguez carries some sociological information of how Latinos feel judged. The author states, “Just who precisely needs to be pardoned? Those who are exploited and who’ve been here forever…or those who’ve been complicit in our dehumanization” (562)? He feels criminalization in the way the Latin immigrants are treated. Rodriguez talks about some racial profiling in