In the simplest definition, the moving from one country to another is immigration. Immigration can either done legally or illegally. While there is some bias toward legal immigration, most controversy is aimed at those who would immigrate illegally.
Opponents to immigration point out two main arguments as the biggest concerns. First, objectors believe that illegal immigrants take jobs away from natural citizens, which pushes the domestic unemployment rate higher. The second is that illegal immigrants put a financial burden upon the domestic economy because illegal immigrants utilize valuable social services, while paying no taxes or contributing very little to the domestic economy. Unfortunately, these arguments are based more upon fear and prejudice than fact.
In the first place, let it not be forgotten that the United States was founded, and then built up, upon the work of immigrants. Immigrants provide much needed resource to a domestic economy. Often immigrants perform valuable jobs that a naturalized citizen will not engage in, such as those in agricultural fields. The performance of these menial jobs is needed within the domestic economy. If no one will perform them, the domestic economy suffers. However, even if a citizen were competing directly with an immigrant for employment, the rule of competition will win out. An employer will hire employees who best suit the needs of the employer, both in terms of skill level and wage. Thus, if a citizen loses out on a position to an illegal immigrant, it is because the illegal immigrant either met the level of service required by the employer better than the citizen or the immigrant underbid the citizen for wage. In either case, it is the employer and society who wins, for the employer now can grow his business thereby employing even more workers and contributing more in taxes to the society. In addition, while it is true that many illegal immigrants send some money back to their native countries, illegal immigrants must also have the services required for survival just as any citizen must. Immigrants must spend money on food, gas, shelter, cars, etc. This spending ultimately is put back into the local economy.
The in the second instance, the perception that illegal immigrants don’t often pay taxes causes many to resent the presence of immigrants. Each time an illegal immigrant gives birth, drives a car, uses a hospital, enrolls a child in school, etc. that immigrant is taking advantage of social services. However, as for illegal immigrants not contributing to the society in equal measure of using the resources of society, consider that the vast majority of illegal immigrants earn below the poverty level and wouldn’t be subject to taxes if they were legal. Hence, the use of services by an illegal immigrant below the poverty level is no grater than for citizens who are below the poverty level. Yet, for those immigrants who ought to pay taxes, the IRS has been issuing special tax identification numbers for illegal immigrants since 1996. Thus, millions of illegal immigrants are paying taxes; however, if an illegal immigrant doesn’t pay taxes that are owed, they are punishable by the same laws that a citizen who doesn’t pay their taxes. In fact, an illegal immigrant also faces the added punishment of deportation, something a citizen wouldn’t face.
Thereupon, the benefits of immigration far outweigh the negatives. In addition to the benefits named above, the counties that welcome immigrants have a strong, more diverse base of skills and ideas. Accepting immigrants also displays to the world how compassionate a nation is to the plights of the world outside its own boarders. Finally, the immigrant himself also benefits in his transplant. He is afforded economic, political and social freedoms that would not have been possible in his native country. He, like all human beings, has the right to live as free as possible. In short, by denying the free flowing of people and ideas a country is really doing itself, and the immigrant, a disservice. For this reason, it must be observed that the process to become a legal citizen is unduly cumbersome. It can take years and thousands of dollars before an illegal immigrant can become legal. In the interim while an immigrant is making the transition from illegal to legal, what is that immigrant to do? What is the domestic economy to do?
Consequently, as there would not be a United States if not for immigration, the right policy to follow for immigration is to make it easier for illegal immigrants to become legal. By streamlining the process to make legal citizens out of immigrants, the domestic country could save millions from the costs of everything from deportations to boarder security. Meanwhile, employers who are found to hire undocumented immigrants should be held accountable, for they are circumventing tax laws at the least and should be subject to fines. By making it easier for people to immigrate, freedom is spread amongst more people.
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