The United States of America remains home to millions of migrants from the entire world. However, with the complexity of the national economy, the need for security and safety of the homeland and the stresses on federal and state services traditionally reserved for the citizenry, the immigration debate has become even more emotive. Millions of Americans are split down the middle on whether to support legislation that extends favors to illegal migrants or oppose the same. Ideally, from the center stage, one may say the immigration debate has joined the ranks of some of the partisan issues that America continuously misreads despite the crucial national effects they have. As the incumbent president has continuously repeated, there is need to streamline the immigration sector and get it right without necessarily favoring one party’s method over the other. In that regard, the bipartisan approach first muted in the Senate among the seven senators should be given a thumps up. That America has finally seen the introduction of a comprehensive immigration legislative regime is laudable.
However, like all other issues, the policy formulation stage may have been completed; the big test remains the implementation of the policy. In discussing the immigration reforms under this framework, it is imperative to consider some of the cardinal considerations that influenced the said immigration legislation and in overall appreciate the context within which the United States of America finds itself.
Foremost, it is imperative to appreciate the fact that America is a land of migrants. A few centuries ago, the long journey began from England to what would be referred to as the New England. It is these migrants who built America, inevitably displacing the laid back Red Indian natives who were natives of the old America. From thence on it has been argued that, historically, America remains the land of no tribe as the people can trace their origin to different continents. In fact, a rather sad part of American history relates to the African Americans whose descendants were ferried from Africa into America for purposes of slave labor services. It is, therefore, necessary that America embraces immigration with a cautious spirit given its own history.
That notwithstanding immigrants account for both negative and positive effects on the national economies of the states. It has been observed that educated and highly skilled immigrants contribute substantially to the economy. In fact, the State of California which is home to the largest number of immigrants recently adopted an immigration legislation intended to allow undocumented immigrants meeting some qualifications access driving licenses. The spirit in the legislation, it has been observed, was to tap from the revenues and additionally increase the insurance premiums in turn leading to higher tax remissions by insurers. Other contributions the immigrants provide can be seen in the various professions such as education, legal services, banking, among others. It is instructive to appreciate the contribution of these people in building the economy of America.
However, while the immigrants contribute positively, negative contributions are equally glaring. Foremost, immigration accounts for illegal inflow an outflow of controlled substances among other illegalities. Drug cartels and human traffickers exploit the immigration systemic loopholes to transact their businesses unnoticed. Secondly, the American homeland security continues to face threats within its borders. It is, therefore, necessary that the borders are tightened and that all immigrants are documented and accounted for. It is only through a legal framework that America would be able to address its immigration mess.
References
Anderson, S. (2010). Immigration. New York: ABC-CLIO.
Bunch, B. (2013). California Bill Would Allow Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants. Independent Voter Network. Retrieved from http://ivn.us/2013/01/16/california-bill-would-allow-driver-licenses-for-illegal-immigrants/
