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This is a challenging subject to write about because first and foremost, it involves individuals and families. Young and old alike. It also involves differences in cultures and behavior. It also involves right and wrong, legal and illegal issues. When writing about illegal immigration, I think it's important not to lose sight that we're dealing with people who, for various reasons, have risked putting themselves in legal jeopardy. Many of them have risked their lives in order to live the American dream.
I believe that my own legal immigrant background qualifies me to write about this topic. In the last few years, illegal immigration continues to be a controversial issue. Basically, it's a matter of millions of people entering, staying and working in the country without official permission. It's also a matter of people who initially enter the country legally and end up r overstaying or violating the terms of their visas. It's a problem where the weight of supply and demand usually bypasses the rule of law. Employers need lower cost workers and illegal workers are willing to work for lower wages.
Illegal immigrants are primarily people from Mexico, Central and South America. Statistics from the Pew Hispanic Center show that 56% of illegal immigrants in the U.S. come primarily from Mexico in order to supply laborers to thousands of U.S. employers.
The first group of illegal immigrants enters the United States to enjoy a better economic life. Most of them are fleeing economic oppression, unemployment and poverty. The second group consists of visa holding tourists, students and highly skilled workers who, by choice, become illegal residents or "out of status." Similar to their undocumented counterparts, these visa holders also want a better life and grater opportunities.
Despite our socio-economic challenges, the United States still offers more opportunities to poor people from other countries. It's a fact that people want to come here one way or another. Whether entry is legal or illegal, it doesn't matter to them. Entering illegally is their only way to get in. Immigration laws require strict qualifications and adherence to pre-established quotas. To illegal immigrants, the benefits far outweigh the risks so they take their chances. If the tables were turned, wouldn't you do the same?
Most illegal immigrants are good human beings worthy of compassion and acceptance. From their point of view, a visa is just a stamp on a piece of paper which can be ignored in exchange for a better life. Obviously, that's the wrong way to look at the laws of the land. You can imagine what kind of chaos we would be in if everyone embraced the same philosophy and behavior.
Living in the U.S. is a privilege and not a right and I believe that it's perfectly alright to lawfully enjoy America's opportunities and freedoms. After all, we are all human beings seeking the things that make life a pleasant experience. Most people tend to agree that the pursuit of happiness should not be attained by illicit means. That's what keeps our society judicially balanced, prosperous and strong. Additionally, simply crossing the border or overstaying a visa doesn't automatically make a person an "immigrant."
The lack of balance between legality and human compassion causes heated debates over the illegal immigration issue. For example, compassion towards one group of people automatically creates injustice towards another group that is playing by the rules, trying to qualify for visas and waiting in line. Illegal immigration poses a conflict between tolerance and the law.
Since border security and employment verification systems are substantially inadequate, illegal immigrants should not bear the brunt of blame for the current situation. If the door is left open, they come in.
The general public and politicians continue to be divided and concerned about the consequences of massive illegal settlements in the country. Illegal immigration is not a victimless offense. It comes with both positive and negative consequences to society.
Many Americans don't seem to object to people working illegally in the country. Others do not fully understand the difference between legal and illegal immigration and that, in reality, legal immigration is doing just fine. What's not fine is "illegal" immigration. Even the media frequently makes no distinction between the two types of immigration, bundling everything up into one package and calling everyone "immigrants." Legal immigrants who are playing by the rules and go on to become U.S. citizens are not the issue. There are no protests coming from legal immigrant populations.
Pros of Illegal immigration - according to some groups
1. It helps keep the economy moving by filling low-wage jobs.
2. It provides a better life to individuals and families who enter the country illegally.
3. It creates a pool of consumers for a variety of goods and services.
4. Farmers are able to plant and harvest less expensively.
5. Contributions to social security funds often go unclaimed.
6. Illegal immigrants pay sales taxes.
7. Illegal residents, who are property owners, also pay real estate taxes.
8. Millions of illegals rent properties in depressed areas where renters are hard to find.
9. They purchase real estate and generate commissions for agents and brokers.
10. Illegal immigrants benefit financial services through consumer loans.
11. They open bank accounts that yield interest and dividends to bankers.
12. Illegals purchase auto insurance and contribute to profit margins.
Cons of Illegal immigration - according to anti-unlawful immigration groups
1. Burden on tax-based resources, costing taxpayers billions of dollars.
2. Difficult prosecution and justice when perpetrators flee the country.
3. Disparity between legal immigrants who follow the rules and those who don't.
4. They risk death when traveling the desert to reach the borders.
5. Those that successfully cross the border inspire those left behind to do the same.
6. Continued growth of the demand for cheap labor and low wages.
7. No government reimbursement to offset states illegal alien maintenance costs.
8. Potential negative effects on working and middle-class citizens.
9. Millions of U.S. dollars sent outside the country.
10. Paper Fraud.
11. Fake document mills.
12. Imbalance in immigration quotas.
13. Interstate human trafficking.
14. Population health risks due to unverified pre-entry immunizations.
15. Increase in road traffic and usage, injurious or fatal accidents.
16. Congestion of tax-based public parks and recreation.
17. Overcrowding and financial burdens on public schools.
18. Continued law-breaking rationalization for those who employ illegals.
19. Growing number of uninsured illegal aliens who can't pay for claims.
20. Monopolization of Spanish language in various segments of society.
21. Unbalanced ethnic diversity.
We are experiencing very difficult economic times. People from other countries are feeling the pains and pressures caused by unemployment, homelessness, poverty, hopelessness, lack of education, low-paying jobs, stress and hunger. But if you look around, so are the rest of us. Millions of Americans go hungry every day. Shelters are overcrowded. Unemployment benefits are ending. Millions of people are jobless. Foreclosures are on the rise and health care costs are sky high. Millions of people have no health insurance.
Studies shows that, every day, over 1 million children in America have no place to call home and many are hungry and exposed to drugs and violence. Shouldn't these come first? Shouldn't the money that goes to pay for those who enter the country illegally be allocated to the homeless, the victims of abuse, schools, hospitals, the unemployed and the hungry? The answer to these questions depends largely on who you ask. Many people think that money, entitlements and rights should go to everyone, regardless of legal status. In practice, that's exactly what's been going on for over two decades now. Doesn't that tell you that we are generous nation?
The notion that it's OK to break the law as long as one's reasons are for a good cause is flawed. You can't take someone's car because you need transportation to go to work! Going to work is noble. Taking someone's car without permission to get there isn't. Immigrating to America legally, easily or not, is praiseworthy. Yet, breaking and entering is not. Having a social security number is a right reserved for those protected by the laws of the land. Using someone else's social security number to work is not acceptable.
Some claim it's too costly to protect our borders. Yet, it's not hard to release $3 Billion dollars for cash for clunkers!" program! What would $3 Billion do towards better border security? As you can see, it's all a matter of priorities. It's not fair to blame illegal immigrants alone. Employers have also created the right conditions and demand for undocumented, illegal workers.
Who else is contributing to the illegal immigration problem?
Basically, it's anyone who stands to profit or benefit from it. This is sad because illegal immigrants are often taken advantage of and aren't usually willing to come forward to protest abuse in the workplace or file lawsuits. Illegal immigrants risk a lot to enter and remain in the country. In fact, scores have been beaten, killed or left for dead, often by their own compatriots. Many have perished when vans and trucks over capacity have crashed while in transit across state lines.
What's going on from the employer's point of view?
1. Lower payroll costs.
2. Illegal immigrant employees are the least likely to be litigious when wronged at work.
3. Abundance of workers.
4. Illegals work and don't complain for fear of losing their jobs.
5. Illegals do work hard.
6. Higher profit margins and competitive advantage.
7. Illegal immigrants tend to be motivated and productive.
8. Less legal liabilities.
9. Employers aren't held responsible (yet) for verifying immigration status and right to work.
10. Fake work documents do not currently affect non-government employers.
11. All cash transactions to avoid income taxation.
12. Underbid others who hire residents and pay better wages.
13. Avoid unions and labor laws.
14. Wages don't have to be commensurate with experience or market values.
15. Inadequate or non-existent health care benefits.
As you can see, the practice of hiring illegals is a good deal for many employers and that's why they keep doing it.
There is so much money involved in illegal immigration that it makes it difficult too pass new laws or enforce current ones. Remember the amnesty in 1986? The amnesty was supposed to solve the illegal immigration problem. Instead, it caused more people to come in illegally in the hopes for yet another amnesty program in the future.
Illegal entry into the United States to work has been allowed to become a complex issue but I don't think that it is an unsolvable problem. In my personal view, we would be off to a good start if the Government imposed hefty fines on employers who use illegal labor and required them to use the e-Verify system.
Economic Costs
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year.
2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens.
3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
4. $12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary care of the descendants of Columbus. As far as Mexico is concerned, we won the Mexican War and purchased the territories for $15 Million Dollars. It's over. The land has been ours for a long time now. The argument that this land is theirs is flawed at best. Previous homeowners cannot claim ownership of a house they sold years in the past.
It's all about money for those who come in and it's all about money for those who exploit them. The U.S. is giving jobs to them, welfare, free education, legal aid, insurance and medical coverage, public housing, rentals, homes, cars, the ability to open their own businesses, credit cards, vouchers, parks, recreation, land, entertainment, food, etc. Since we're generously providing all of the above, often at tax payers' expense, it tells me that the problem lies with those who take without being entitled and a country that gives without any restrictions or good controls.
Is illegal immigration wrong? Sure it is. That's why it is called illegal. It implies a violation of law(s). Is there a solution? Sure! The U.S. should improve influx controls, removal management and entry restrictions. We won't stop illegal immigration as long as it's still relatively easy to enter the country without permission.
9 out of 10 times, people will take advantage of freebies. It's human nature. Unfortunately there is still a misconception floating out there that the United States is the land of the "free for the taking" or that "freedom" means no visas, no passports and no obedience to the laws of land. Countries have sovereignty, borders, laws and immigration controls for a reason. Otherwise things would turns into chaos. Freedom is now erroneously equated with "take what you can because you can!" I think that's the wrong idea.
Conclusion
Finally, it's important to note that we're not dealing with just numbers but actual people with hopes and dreams, despite the illegalities. 100 years from now, none of us will care about anyone's legal status anyway. That is not to say that illegal activity should be encouraged, continue, ignored or condoned in our present time. It also doesn't mean that we shouldn't think about laying solid and ethical foundations in order to preserve and protect America's future. Is America is a place where only those who qualify are able to enjoy it? Or, is it a place where anyone can come in regardless of legal status? Is America a scholarship or a shelter? The answer depends on what side of the "fence" you're on.
The debate continues.
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