America started on the foundation that it is a land of opportunity where anyone can live their dream and live in freedom. Sadly this foundation has slowly crumbled under the weight of an innumerable amount of laws that restrict one’s ability to carry out this dream. Many illegal immigrants currently reside in the US strictly for the reason that they want to be here, but to be here “legitimately” is too difficult or too expensive, and the current government does nothing aid these individuals in their pursuit of citizenship. One of the biggest complaints regarding illegal residence in America is that these individuals do not work, do not pay taxes, and live off of government programs funded by these taxes exclusively. Studies have found thought that the typical undocumented worker in America generally works more hours for lesser wages than documented workers. These individuals do not pay income taxes because they are undocumented. The easiest fix is to aid these individuals in becoming documented workers so that they may receive protection by the same labor laws that currently exist to protect documented workers. This would also ensure that, as documented workers, they are able to pay from income taxes earned from working. Their quality of life would also be improved b these laws as it would restrict the …show more content…
The current rate to apply for the naturalization process is roughly six hundred and eighty American dollars. For many immigrants, this amount could be upwards of a weeks earning at their current hourly rate of undocumented work. This is not an easily obtained amount for the breadwinner of an immigrant family consisting of two parents, an elder, and a few children. That amount can equate to several weeks food or even a couple months rent for many of these individuals. I would include in my legislation that all application fees be waived and funded instead by taxes. The increase in tax revenue from the increase in naturalized citizens paying income taxes would more than make up the expense to the state. The naturalization process also currently includes a civics test where applicants must answer common knowledge questions about America. These questions are also of course only common knowledge to current Americans and few other developed countries in the world. This test actually puts those arriving from countries with fewer advantages at even more of a disadvantage. In my immigration legislation I would also choose to forgo the inclusion of the civics test as it is not necessary to prove ones worth and allegiance to a country. To outline the change I would make to the current immigration legislation, I would opt to do away with the civics test, eliminate naturalization fees, and provide