(Student’s Full Name)
“America was indebted to immigration for her settlement and prosperity. That part of America which had encouraged them most advanced most rapidly in population, agriculture, and the arts.”—James Madison
The above quotation made by one of America’s founding fathers, shows the crucial role that immigrants play in developing the United States. Nevertheless, there are those who argue that despite immigrants’ playing a significant part in the development of the nation, illegal immigrants should be deported as soon as they are identified. Others have objected to this practice based on the grounds that if illegal immigrants are deported then this would lead to the separation of families and will negatively impact the economy. In fact, in reading assessing the facts and statistics related to the issue, the stance that is being taken in this research paper is that illegal immigrants, who have not been involved in any serious crimes, should be given the opportunity to be granted amnesty status. This is because it will boost the economy, help to keep families together, and more persons will be able to pay municipal taxes that will help to handle the fiscal issues that are associated with the country accommodating a large number of immigrants.
Illegal immigrants should be granted amnesty status because this enables them to contribute to the growth of the economy. For instance, Chris Farrell explains that “[i]mmigrant workers have played a vital role keeping a number of industries competitive” (par. 6). Some of these industries include the “agriculture” and “meatpacking” industries (Farrell par. 6). Moreover, Farrell notes that immigrants continue to “expand the size of the economic pie” by “creating new businesses, new jobs, and new consumers” (par. 8). In addition, many immigrants do not speak English fluently or are as educated as native-born workers. Therefore, the immigrants help to “‘complement the job prospects of U.S. born-citizens’” (qtd. in Farrell par. 7). Furthermore, immigrants often choose to do menial jobs, which allow them to provide “affordable” labor in “gardening, child care, and other services” to middle income families (Farrell par. 8). This, in turn, enables middle income families to “focus” their attention on their “careers” (Farrell par. 8).
Amnesty should be considered as a long-term solution for illegal immigrants because it will ensure that families stay together. For example, Dava Castillo alludes to the point in her article that the deportation of “2 million people” during Obama’s first five years as president, which have led to the separation of families in the United States (par. 5). Furthermore, Dick Armey, former House Majority leader, argues that it is “‘not right to let families be victimized bybureaucratic indifference or incompetence’” (qtd. in Vlahos par. 17). Castillo argues that measures to reform immigration, which include amnesty, are needed to prevent this from happening in the future.
Experts argue that illegal aliens should be given the opportunity to become citizens because this enables them to pay municipal taxes so that immigrants can contribute to the fiscal management of the country. For instance, Farrell contends that “newly legalized immigrant workers” will give them the opportunity to pay municipal taxes (par. 9). When immigrants, who have benefitted from an amnesty, are able to pay municipal taxes then “school districts” will not become “strained financially” from educating the children of illegal aliens (Farrell par. 9). Nevertheless, it should be recognized that it would take an immigrant family a couple generations before there able to pay municipal taxes. Farrell quotes Gordon Hanson, a professor of economics at the University of California at San Diego, who argues that amnesty status granted to immigrants will, over a period of time, allow “‘entrepreneurs’” to “‘emerge’” and “‘families’” to be “‘better able to get’” their children through “‘high school and college,’” the country will reduce “‘the long-run fiscal claim of the group’” (qtd. in Farrell par. 9).
On the other hand, those who oppose illegal immigrants in the US being given an amnesty status argue that they steal jobs from native-born citizens. For instance, Justin Quinn argues that “American citizens in the employment sector are denied opportunities” on a daily basis “thanks to illegal immigration” (2). In addition, some argue that the present of illegal immigrants have led to an increase in crime in certain communities.
Nevertheless, Farrell notes that a “cottage industry of economic studies” that do not verify that illegal immigrants have a “negative effect on native-born wages and employment on the local level” (par. 7). In addition, the writer quotes Giovanni Peri (an economist at the University of California at Davis) who notes that the presence of illegal immigrants, in fact, “‘complements the job prospects’” of native-born citizens rather than “‘compete for the same jobs’” as American citizens (as qtd. in Farrell par. 7). Furthermore, Farrell mentions research conducted by Robert Sampson “at Harvard University” provides a “compelling case” that it is not coincidental that the increasing “ranks of immigrants tracks the reduction in crime” in the US (par. 6).
In conclusion, scholarly evidence suggests that America’s economy will be better off if illegal immigrants, who have not committed any serious crimes, are given the opportunity to become legal citizens of the country. Furthermore, it will ensure that families are not torn apart by deportation. Many of the arguments that oppose amnesty do not appear to have the academic evidence to support their claims. Additionally, if immigrants, who are largely responsible for the development of the US, are deported then it will send a negative message to the global community. It will indicate to the world that it is not an inclusive and welcoming society, and will cast doubts on the fact that it is the land of opportunity.
Works Cited
Castillo, Dava. “President Obama Immigration Reform.” TEKJournalismUK. 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. <http://www.tekjournalismuk.com/dava-castillo-california/president-obama-immigration-reform>.
Farrell, Chris. “Obama's Next Act: Immigration Reform.” Bloomberg.com. Bloomberg, 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. <http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-12-13/obama-s-next-act-immigration-reform>.
“James Madison.” BrainyQuote.com. Xplore Inc, 2016. 19 March 2016. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jamesmadis401379.html
Quinn, Justin. “Conservative Views on Immigration Reform.” About.com News & Issues. 23 Oct. 2015. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. <http://usconservatives.about.com/od/capitalpunishment/i/Immigration.htm>.
Vlahos, Kelley Beaucar. “Immigration Amnesty Passes House | Fox News.” Fox News. FOX News Network, 13 Mar. 2002. Web. 18 Mar. 2016. <http://www.foxnews.com/story/2002/03/13/immigration-amnesty-passes-house.html>.
