Illegal Immigrants and Full Citizenship - Essay Example

Module Illegal Immigrants and Full Citizenship Illegal immigrants also called illegal aliens, undocumented aliens, un ized immigrants or undocumented workers form a controversial topic in most countries like the United States. Some of these immigrants enter the country illegally but some enter legally, but they extend their stay beyond the permitted duration. Either way they risk coming into a foreign country to look for a better life. There are various reasons why they leave their native countries among which are political and economic reasons. Others simply move to offer better lives to their children. The countries they choose to move to are mostly advanced technologically, with extensive resources and numerous opportunities (Smith 308). This paper discusses the reasons as to why these illegal immigrants should be granted citizenship in countries where they are aliens. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE COUNTRY Over the years, illegal immigrants have been crossing borders into foreign countries through various ways most of which are dangerous. Some like from those of the Caribbean origin use tubes or homemade boats to enter the US across the Atlantic Ocean. Others elicit help from smugglers to cross the border, while others go to the extent of packing themselves in shipping containers or trucks. However, not all illegal immigrants enter the country voluntarily. Some are brought into the country through the slave trade as was the case in the 19th century. The number of such immigrants has decreased over the years as the trade became nonexistent. Surprisingly, in recent times this trade has been replaced by sex slave trade. In this trade, women and young girls are smuggled into the country for sex services (Steiner 98). Most of them are approached with false information of a chance of a better future in a foreign land only for them to realize that it was all a lie. Being far away from home, they are vulnerable, and they do not have somewhere they can seek help. Governments in a bid to reduce the number of illegal immigrants in their countries have improved technology and increased security measures at their borders. This has made crossing the border an even harder task. Legislations have also been passed, for example, assisting illegal immigrants is a crime in a country like France. However, this is mainly ignored since most of these immigrants have relatives and families in the country and would help them regardless of what the law states. In the United States, the work regulations clearly state that no illegal immigrant should work in the country. However, some industries like the construction firms have limited workforce from Americans and thus they rely on these people to keep them in business (Swain 218). Below is a discussion of the main reasons why illegal immigrants should be granted citizenship in countries where they are aliens. A Chance for Betterment. Giving citizenship to illegal immigrants creates a path out of poverty. It makes the nation accountable for its people. This is because illegal immigrants would not be hiding from the government. This would create a reform strategy that offers opportunities to those deserving of economic and other privileges. People immigrate to a country because they see an opportunity to better their lives (Lemay 232). They view it as a chance to put their past lives behind and start afresh despite having attained it through illegal immigration. These people should be given that chance of making their lives better. In countries like the United States that says it is a free land, they should share some of that freedom with others in the world whether they are legally or illegally there. This is especially so if they got into the country involuntarily or to seek refuge. Demeaning Deportation. Deportation of illegal immigrants demeans the immigrants and does not show respect to them. It also portrays a country as lacking respect, decency and proper laws (Yoshida and Woodland 508). Deportation is simply an inhumane way of treating people even though they are at fault. Offering citizenship is the best alternative for those illegal immigrants who can pay taxes, have a clean criminal record and are capable of paying a fine for being there illegally. An individual who can meet these requirements is clearly hard working, and thus can add to the human resource in the country thus posing to be beneficial, not in one way, but maybe in other specialties. Economic and Social Effects. Illegal immigrants in a country especially a developed one like the United States could be way over 12 million people (Lemay 232). Deportation of such a large population is not feasible, if anything it is but the purest of fantasies. Furthermore, it is not a solution since most of the immigrants will still return and then what would have been the essence of deporting them in the first place? Offering these people citizenship through a legal process is the only viable and sustainable solution. This would spare the country the devastating social and economic effects of massive deportation (Palivos et al. 463). This is because; though illegal, such a large population contributes immensely to the country’s economy and its society. Most of the businesses rely heavily on immigrants for labour. Deportation of these immigrants would disrupt most of these businesses which are crucial to the American economic system. Illegal immigrants are mainly of two types: those who illegally got into the country and those who entered in the country legally but their duration of stay has expired and they are still within the borders (Palivos et al. 463). Over the years those who entered illegally bring up families. The ones who overstay their welcome already have families in the country. Deportation of these individuals is a cruel move that separates and disrupts these families. In relation to the large numbers of illegal immigrants in a country, many families would be disrupted due to deportation. Disruption of families would lead to societal problems since such families make up the society. For example, deportation of a family’s bread winner would lead to other family members engaging in socially unacceptable activities like selling drugs so that they can sustain themselves. Denial of Basic Human Rights. Illegal immigrants lack proper documents from the government. This makes them hide because they cannot run the risk of the government catching and deporting them. However, since they must work for a living some of the people, businesses and companies that offer them work deny them their basic human rights (Yoshida and Woodland 508). Most of these people are honest, hard workers and the employers misuse them just because they cannot report them to the authorities and run the risk of deportation. These human rights would not be violated if such immigrants were granted citizenship. This is because citizenship gives them confidence to speak up and demand for their rights as humans. It will also make employers think twice before they violate these rights because for sure they will be caught and punished. Strategy to Reduce Number of Illegal Immigrants. The process of getting citizenship is tough, and this could reduce the number of illegal immigrants that flocks into the country annually. The immigrants are literally made to earn and not be given their legal status in the country. The process could begin by them registering with the immigration office followed by a three year analysis to see if they qualify. The method of analysis should be proven easily and should be in line with what the society considers essential. Things like the ability to speak the national language, ability to pay taxes, a clean criminal record and a steady employment should give the immigrant a plus. These tough terms of citizenship does not offer illegal immigrants an advantage over the citizens and does not give incentives to illegal over legal immigrants. This process should be able to sustain itself financially by collecting a fee from the immigrants. This ensures that the government will not use the citizen’s funds to cater for the process (Swain 218). Solution to Some Industries. Illegal immigrants, in their struggle to make a living, take up jobs which most rightful citizens are reluctant to take. These include cleaning, farming and yard-work among others (Palivos et al. 464). These illegal immigrants are responsible for keeping such firms and entities running. Without them, the industries would collapse affecting the whole economy and the citizens. This is like a big favor these immigrants are offering to the citizens since they do not compete with them for jobs they consider to be of their class. They take those they do not engage in thus making their lives comfortable and assist in economic growth. Therefore, offering citizenship to these individuals would play a significant role in protecting the economy and the citizens. Poverty Alleviation. The economic status of immigrants with citizenship is higher than for those who are still illegal. Those without citizenship are living in poverty. Citizenships offer these immigrants work benefits among other benefits that come with being a citizen (Lemay 232). This raises their living standards and thus alleviating them from poverty. From a humanitarian perspective, poverty is dehumanizing. It is thus upon the able nations to give opportunities to the unfortunate in their societies. As explained above, citizenship offered to these immigrants helps to get them out of the dehumanizing state of poverty. Securing Security. Lastly it is in the nation’s interest to ensure internal security. As previously explained, deportation is not practical, the only option is to regularize and thus give citizenship to the immigrants (Palivos et al. 466). Without the citizenship, the immigrants hide to avoid the law. This brings about a state of insecurity because the government does not know of their presence and their business in the country. Even if they commit a crime, there is no way to trace them. By offering these immigrants with citizenship, the government incentivizes them to come in the open where they are identified and go through background security checks. In doing so the security of the nation is guaranteed. CONCLUSION Presence of illegal immigrants in a country has been a topic of discussion in most countries. The two solutions that many countries have come up with are deportation or citizenship. The best option between these two is offering them citizenship for the following reasons. First, the number of illegal immigrants could be exceedingly large such that deportation would be impractical. Furthermore, these aliens will end up coming back into the country illegally. Secondly, voluntary or otherwise, these aliens see an opportunity to change their lives in the new countries. Most of them move out of their countries because of political or economic reasons, therefore, they should be given this chance through legal channels. Thirdly, deporting these immigrants will have negative social and economic impacts in the nation. This is because these immigrants offer workforce in industries that the natives do not wish to work in, for example, the construction industry and manufacturing firms. These people also have families within the country and deporting them would disrupt livelihoods. Therefore, offering them citizenship will ensure no losses on both economic and social levels. Fourthly, giving citizenship to aliens would ensure that they are not exploited, and their rights are not violated. Fifth, giving aliens an opportunity to earn citizenship is a permanent solution to this problem. This is because the process is long and thorough thereby encouraging only the strong willed who in turn are beneficial to the society. Lastly, for security purposes the country needs to know who does what, who resides where among other pertinent issues surrounding demographics. This is not possible when millions within its borders are unregistered like the case of United States. Citizenship works effectively as bait that brings out immigrants for identification and relevant background security checks. Works Cited LeMay, Michael C. Contemporary World Issues. ABC-CLIO, 2007. Print. Palivos, T., Xue, J. and Yip, Chong K. Economic Growth and Development: Frontiers of Economics and Globalization, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2012. Print. Smith, Rogers M. Citizenship, Borders, and Human Needs. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011. Print. Steiner, N. International Migration and Citizenship Today. Taylor & Francis, 2009. Print. Swain, Carol M. Debating Immigration. Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print. Yoshida, C. and Woodland, Alan D. Risk Preference, Immigration Policy and Illegal Immigration: Journal of Development Economics, University of Sydney NSW, 2006. Print. Read More