Illegal Immigration in the United States - Essay Example

Illegal Immigration in the United s Immigration is an important issue which is gaining more and more attention today. In an era of global economic flight from the poorest regions of the world as well as era in which there are many humanitarian crises, people are abandoning their lives, migrating and seeking a better life elsewhere. The United States today remains one of the most sought after destinations for migrants from around the world and the USA receives its fare share of migrants, both legal and illegal. According to the Pew Research Center, 5.4% of this nation’s workforce is undocumented and illegal. Looking to explore immigration policies and the recent desire in the United States to allow immigrants to apply for legal immigration despite the fact that many have resided in the United States illegally for years, the following essay will argue that the United States has a duty to protect the most vulnerable citizens of the world. Accordingly, this essay will argue that the legalization of migrant workers is a positive step for the United States of America (Pew Research Center, 2009). Migration is an important issue which is gaining increasing attention in an era of economic interdependence, the movement of people across borders and the globalization phenomenon. Today, it is estimated that up to million people live in the United States illegally as undocumented workers and illegal aliens (Pew Research Center, 2009). Why do people choose to migrate from one place to another? Economic opportunity is one of the most important factors which draws people to the United States of America, the unequivocal land of opportunity. Accordingly, the decision of the Irish to immigrate to the United States during the height of the Potato Famine – it estimated that approximately 3.5 million Irishmen and women immigrated to the United States alone from 1820 to 1880 – supports some the idea that economic opportunity draws people to the United States. As a result, extreme and unfavorable conditions in Ireland paved the way for a large influx of migrants to the United States following economic crisis in the homeland. According to the Pew Research Center, California is the home of the largest number of undocumented workers and illegal migrants, largely as a result of the belief of opportunity in that state. Immigrants today, particularly from the poorer regions of the world, immigrate to the United States for similar reasons and their status should be legalized in order to facilitate the growth of this country, a nation of immigrants since it began with British migrants centuries ago (The Irish, 2009; Pew Research Center, 2009). Understanding that immigration reform is a political issue facing policymakers in the United States, Gordon H. Hanson demonstrates that over the past 10 years between five and 12 million illegal migrants have entered the United States. With the construction of a 700 mile fence between the US and Mexico, the issue is more political relevant than ever. While understanding that illegal migration is something which is sensitive but remains relevant due to the fact that both New Mexico and Arizona have declared states of emergency due to the influx of illegal migrants to the country, Gordon H. Hanson finds that there are economic benefits to the United States fro eh presence of illegal migrants. Illegal migration responds to market forces in ways that legal migration does not and contributes in a positive fashion to the development of the US economy. Because of the secrecy of illegal migration, these migrants are often understudied but they play a variety of roles in stimulating the US economy including the important but often neglected roles of busboy, dishwasher and cleaner. The jobs that these migrants take are not the most glamorous jobs but they are the jobs that keep the economy afloat. Illegal migrants work the tough jobs that nobody else seems to want to do and play an essential role in the American economy. They are not often bound to a particular city or employer the way that legal migrants are and in this respect they are much more responsive to market conditions. They have come here to work and make their livelihood and importantly also contribute to the functioning of the US economy (Hanson, 2007). Migrants come to the United States for many reasons and this country was built on the backs of immigrants. According to recent article in the Journal migration studies, the US Census Bureau is projecting an increase of net migration of 105 million people by 2060. Understanding that migration is important issue which is become politicized and respond, the Census Bureau found that 1.6 million migrants, both legal and illegal come to this country every year. Whats very important is that the projected growth is equal to the "combined populations of Great Britain, France and Spain" (Camarota, 1). Future immigration will have very large impact on the population growth of this country but since most migrants are young this will have a very minimal impact on the aging of the US population. If current levels of 1.25 million per year continue, the Census Bureau projects that its population will grow to a total of 460 million by 2060 (Camarota, 2007). Millions of people flocked to the United States each and every decade as the place were freedom and equal opportunity reign supreme. United States is one of the most sought after destinations for migrants from around the world and in the US there is the belief that anything is possible. While this country has a legacy of discrimination and slavery of its African-American population, the United States has important tradition of being the place where people come to realize their dreams. Freedom, liberty, and the American dream are very strong symbol s which are known by millions of people around the world. People come to United States because this is the place where dreams come true and where hard work and dedication can translate into incredible wealth of personal success. The American dream has a very, very strong appeal to countless people around the world it is for this reason that the United States has both legal as well as illegal migrants. The news media in this country, as well as around the world, has made the issue of illegal migration much bigger than it actually is. The issue of illegal migration in America today is has been something which has been created by the media and has been jumped on by political commentators and right wing politicians for their own political purposes. It has been a media issue for many years now and has become even more important with the election of Barack Obama. While not appearing to be “soft” on illegal migration, the President has an important opportunity to provide an amnesty to those who are here illegally but faces a lot of opposition from the Republican Party, as well as from the right wing media. CNN, Fox News and other right-wing television stations have done their best to make sure that the American public knows about illegal migration and is upset about it. Unfortunately, much of what is in the news about this subject is far from objective and is based upon fear and ideas about exclusion (Hanson, 2007). According to Tamar Jacoby, most of the controversy surrounding illegal migration in the United States stems from fear (Jacoby, 2009). The United States is a place where of freedom, opportunity and hope are realized. In fact this country would not be what it is today if it were not for the migrants of centuries past. In an era of globalization the United States cannot afford to close its doors to the workers of the world. The US must welcome all those who seek a better life in this country and who wish to contribute to our cultural mosaic. The time has come to legalize the status of illegal immigrants in the United States. The issues surrounding illegal migration in the United States have become too political and detract from the real issues at play. As Gordon Hanson demonstrates, illegal migrants actually play an important role in the US economy and contribute significantly to the functioning of the American economy. What most people forget is that illegal migrants do the jobs that others do not want to do. American born citizens sometimes feel that they are above the jobs of dishwasher, cleaner or cook and while these jobs are far from glamorous, these are the jobs that many people who are here illegally take. Thousands of hardworking people come to the United States each and every year because this is the land of opportunity and the place where dreams become a reality. Robert J. Samuelson of the Washington Post argues that the time has come for amnesty as well as to provide added incentive to high-skilled migrants as opposed to those with low skill qualifications (2007). This makes sense and should be a goal of the new administration in Washington. Illegal migrants do not pose a threat to the American people but actually contribute much to this country. Of course, we forget that the United States is a country which was built on the backs of migrants. The time has come for the United States to make everyone here legal. The decision is long overdue. References A Portrait of Unauthorized Immigrants in the United States. (2009). Pew Research center. Last Accessed November 11 2009 http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/107.pdf Camarota, S. A. (2007). 100 million more. CIS.org. Last Accessed November 9 2009, http://www.cis.org/articles/2007/back707.pdf Jacoby, T. Immigration. Foreign Affairs. Last Accessed November 11 2009 http://www.immigrationworksusa.org/uploaded/file/Immigration%20Nation%20-%20Foreign%20Affairs%202006.pdf Hanson, G.H. (2007). The Economic Logic of Illegal migration. Council on Foreign Relations. Last Accessed November 9 2009 http://irps.ucsd.edu/assets/022/8797.pdf Robert J. Samuelson. (2009). Importing Poverty. Washington Post. Last Accessed November 11 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/04/AR2007090401623.html The Irish. Journey to America. Last Accessed November 11 2009 http://library.thinkquest.org/20619/Irish.html Read More