Spring Break
Immigration is not the biggest problem that Americans face
Michael Brandon Harris-Peyton
Issue date: 1/18/08 Section: Ed-Op
On top of all this, one has to take into account the effect on the economy if 12 million people suddenly stopped working. The undocumented worker and their production make up a significant part of the economy, which would disappear if, as in the dreams of many politicians in both parties, illegal immigrants just fell off the face of the earth.
The economy is certainly not at its best right now, and any magical loss of illegal immigrants could, in a hypothetical scenario, crash the economy.
But what is to be done about illegal immigration? It is certainly not fair that undocumented immigrant workers do not pay taxes, and it is certainly unfair that they use public services without contributing to it in the same way as citizens do. In order to even suggest a solution to the problem, the sources of the problem must be addressed.
Legal immigration into the United States is difficult, time consuming, and often expensive. There are complications with citizenship requirements, temporary residency, and working inside the country as a non-citizen. The citizenship examinations also, perhaps unfairly, contain technical questions about U.S. law that many American citizens cannot answer-for example, the line of presidential succession. There are few citizens who can recite the line of succession off the top of their heads beyond the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House. In short, it is difficult to become a legal resident, much less a citizen, of the United States.
In the case of the most prominent source of illegal immigrants to this country, Mexico, it is particularly complicated. Public opinion is often very anti-Mexican-immigrant, and both governments are somewhat awkward in their dealings with one another on the subject of immigration itself. Mexicans are not defined as refugees by international law, even though it has become apparent in many cases that illegal immigrants are either politically or economically motivated to flee their home country.
The economy is certainly not at its best right now, and any magical loss of illegal immigrants could, in a hypothetical scenario, crash the economy.
But what is to be done about illegal immigration? It is certainly not fair that undocumented immigrant workers do not pay taxes, and it is certainly unfair that they use public services without contributing to it in the same way as citizens do. In order to even suggest a solution to the problem, the sources of the problem must be addressed.
Legal immigration into the United States is difficult, time consuming, and often expensive. There are complications with citizenship requirements, temporary residency, and working inside the country as a non-citizen. The citizenship examinations also, perhaps unfairly, contain technical questions about U.S. law that many American citizens cannot answer-for example, the line of presidential succession. There are few citizens who can recite the line of succession off the top of their heads beyond the President, Vice President, and Speaker of the House. In short, it is difficult to become a legal resident, much less a citizen, of the United States.
In the case of the most prominent source of illegal immigrants to this country, Mexico, it is particularly complicated. Public opinion is often very anti-Mexican-immigrant, and both governments are somewhat awkward in their dealings with one another on the subject of immigration itself. Mexicans are not defined as refugees by international law, even though it has become apparent in many cases that illegal immigrants are either politically or economically motivated to flee their home country.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 14
Bill
posted 1/18/08 @ 7:44 AM EST
It may not stop them, but it will slow them down. Whats the alternative? Granting one amnesty after another? I highly resent Mexico's corrupt oligarcy,
and the general sentiment that it's up to the United States to solve the problem. (Continued…)
Steve
posted 1/18/08 @ 9:09 AM EST
I don't agree with your solution on what should be done. This is mainly because you mentioned no solution on what should be done. You did have issues with solutions that have been presented, but offered no solutions of your own. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 1/18/08 @ 11:38 AM EST
"Illegal"Immigration "is" the biggest problem that Americans face.
Most of the problems facing us today can be directly related to "Illegal"Immigration. (Continued…)
howard
posted 1/18/08 @ 1:29 PM EST
It is amazing what the naysayers come up with on the issue of illegal immigration. We can't enforce the borders, can't deport them, the list goes on. (Continued…)
Karen
posted 1/18/08 @ 4:42 PM EST
My neighbor had this dog. It kept coming over to my yard and crapping and eating my own dog's food. It created alot of tension and even would fight my dog. (Continued…)
american
posted 1/18/08 @ 6:34 PM EST
I have a solution to the problem. Currently, any pregnant woman that can make it across the border and to the emergency room will have her baby paid for by the American taxpayers. (Continued…)
Brittanicus
posted 4/10/09 @ 12:40 PM EST
In this melting economy and our lawmakers complete resistance to the US publics policies. American patriots must do the right thing and stop this violation of Federal law. (Continued…)
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