The immigration situation isn't black and white, but it is clear at least that the United States simply don't have enough stuff to go around right now. It becomes, then, a contest between our practical need to fix our economy and live better, and our moral obligation to help other people. Certainly, everyone has a right to a decent life - "the pursuit of happiness" - that's what our country is supposed to be built on. But if outsiders' happiness starts to come at the expense of the established citizens, there's trouble. Maybe a bit hypocritical, but that's reality.
Back in the early industrial era, the United States built up the image of the melting pot, where people of all nationalities could come and build a better life. That image is coming back to bite us now that we're in a recession and don't need the extra labor, so much as we need less people to exist here. There's no easy solution, but in theory it's really simple. It's the cause of possibly all problems, ever: Too many people. Not enough stuff.
Any solution will have to either involve generating more stuff or less people. If it doesn't do one of these two things, it's not a real solution. But how can that happen without infringing on anyone's rights?
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The History of the United States is a reminder that this country was formed by immigrants who wanted a better future. They came and still come from every part of the world with the desire to succeed.Today there are 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States (Pawlick and Finley). Both the Bush and Obama administration haven't being able to come up with an agreement on how to deal with these people who are in this situation . One thing is certain; the future of this Nation will need immigrants. As population grows and baby boomers begin to retire, the immigrants will make a difference in the labor force of the United States. It is estimated that in 20 years immigrants will be the majority of the labor force of the US . Furthermore , in the next fourth decades immigrants will be 60 percent of the population growth in the US (Pawlick and Finley). The growth of a population is an important key for the economy of this and any nation.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that the illegal immigrants will make up most of the labor force but they are still illegal immigrants. The constitution saves rights for American citizen and even tho we are a melting pot those who are illegal immigrants should not get rights or extra privliges and should not be picked for jobs over American citizens. There are ways to become legal citizens in America and immigrants, should they want to work in America, put out the effort to be a citizen. In this economic time we need to push for more American citizen only jobs until we rebuild our country. There are few jobs for many people, so lets make those people who get the job citizens who pay taxes to our government.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for the illegal immigrants, they have the same rights as we all do beacause of the US constitution. It is real bad that people think because they are legal they dont pay taxes. Another misconception about illegal immigrants is the economics. Most americans believe illegal immigrants are wasting the economic resources of this country.
ReplyDeleteOn tuesday february the second, i had the chance to made an interviewed with a person in charge of Caval tax services. During the interviewed Ana Caval explained to me how much the businesses has being expanding during the last 10 years or so. Ana also explained that not only legal residents or citizens of this country do the tax services on her business but also the so call illegal's. Anyone these day can do taxes. Illegal get an Itin number an Individual Taxpayer identification number. This work if the person doesnt have a real security number. This Itin Number is a real form which is authorize by the US Government.After receiving the aplication from the undocumented person, uncle Sam will send the Itin number so the taxes can be done.This comes to show us that people are also paying t and doing taxes.
You are correct about the illegal immigrants have the same rights as American Citizens. But the rights that are only reserved for citizens was citied from the National Lawer Guild website and disscused by lawers on Gather.com. The rights reserved for only American citizens are right to vote, the right to hold most federal jobs, and the right to run for political office. But even tho they have the rights as other citizens of America, if they exercise those rights they run the chance of deportation due to their immigration status. So if they are in America illegaly and they excerise their rights they can be deported. They have the basic rights if their visa and/or gree card is valid. The main issue here tho is not wheter they pay taxes it is more of the fact of how much do they take from the government and how much do they pay back. Take me for an example I earned 31,000 last year. I paid about 9,000 in taxes and only recived 300 in tax refund back. For finincail aid and other government items, I only recived Federal Standford loans of max 2000. So I covered and paid back what the Government helped me out and then some. Where as (average) illegal immergrant that pays taxes will pay 9,000 in taxes after reciving 30,000 in Government funding and grants. The main issue there is someone has to pay that 21,000 dollars that the illegal immigrant recived. America cant afford to keep this up. I cant afford to pay more.
ReplyDeleteI forgot too add my citation.
ReplyDeleteWM H. Do Illegal Immigrants Have Constitutional Rights. Gather. N.p. April 12, 2006. WEB 04 Febuary, 2010
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474976743890
here are my citation:
ReplyDeleteCaval, Ana. Personal Interview. 2 February 2010.
Pawlick, Peter and Laura Finley. “Point: Amnesty for Illegal Immigrant Is a Practical and Just Solution.” Point of View: Immigration Restrictions (2009). Point of View Reference
Center. Web. 28 Jan. 2010.
@Nick: Where are you getting your numbers on how much illegal immigrants pay out in taxes, or receive in grants for that matter? It seems to me that this is a problem with the tax system, not with the immigration system. If they don't have a social security number, only an Individual Tax Identification Number, shouldn't the government be checking more carefully whether or not they are actually entitled to all that money? Not to mention, illegal immigrants often try to avoid applying for benefits as they don't want to draw attention from the government. Many illegal immigrants only filed taxes because they wanted to increase their legitimacy (Chiu).
ReplyDeleteIt is true, however, that there is an increasing trend of illegals applying for federal aid. Some of them get it. This is more the fault of the IRS than the ICE, I think; shouldn't it be easier to look at the mismatched social security numbers on the tax forms and say no, than to physically keep illegal immigrants out of the country? We need to plug the holes in the tax system, in addition to cracking down on illegal immigration at its source.
WORKS CITED
Chiu, Jeff. "Illegal immigrants filing taxes more than ever." MSNBC. 2007. Web. 8 Feb 2010.