As of 2012, the children of illegal immigrants account for 13.1% of all high school students in the state of Texas (Strauss, 2014). This number may not seem very big, but when you look at the funding coming from the state; there is an issue that arises. The education that these children are receiving is costing United States taxpayers $51.3 billion a year (Ruark, 2015). Projections that have been made for the next 15 years have shown that the increase in the number of students in all high schools will be due to the children of immigrants. If the parents were legal citizens, the states and government would not be having to pay for their child’s education.
30% of illegal immigrant adults have less than a 9th grade education (Ruark, 2015). …show more content…
Traditionally, Texas encouraged low taxes, less business regulation and small government. However, the mass influx of immigrants is threatening to raise taxes to support this population with services such as public education. “After all, funding public education is the largest single expenditure in state and local budgets” (LoPalo, Orrenius, & Zavodny, 2013). Due to Texas attempting to stick with their low taxes policies, there is a tradeoff that results in poorly funded public services. Now, not only is Texas not able to properly support the mass population of immigrants, but also other American citizens who use public services are in danger as well. Likewise, non-immigrant households end up paying more in state and local taxes than immigrants. Immigrant’s whole idea of coming to the United States is based off of living the American dream and earning more money. Part of the money immigrants earn is for their children’s education, whether it is in the United States or whether it is for their children back at home. This money ends up helping other economies in Latin America prosper which in terms might seem unfair to Americans, primarily taxpayers. It seems like families and children in Latin America aren’t the only ones benefitting from the income of their families in the United States. For example, in Mexico, the …show more content…
However, what we need to do is focus less on laws and more on the students themselves. It is important that “student progress and achievement be measured for every student every year” (Colarusso, R., O 'Rourke, C. M., & Leontovich, M. A., 2010). Still, laws like these are important and need to be honed more efficiently in order to further promote immigrant education.
The largest barrier in the war on immigration is the social stigma that the word “immigrant” or “immigration” holds. There is a palpable negative connotation. Attached to the term and the people to whom it applies. The attitude towards these children, individuals, and families is increasingly hostile, especially in current times as the situation become for prominent. The first step to take in fixing this “problem” with immigration is the change the public perception. Many Americans view immigrants as interlopers who are lowering the standard of living and taking jobs from hard-working
30% of illegal immigrant adults have less than a 9th grade education (Ruark, 2015). …show more content…
Traditionally, Texas encouraged low taxes, less business regulation and small government. However, the mass influx of immigrants is threatening to raise taxes to support this population with services such as public education. “After all, funding public education is the largest single expenditure in state and local budgets” (LoPalo, Orrenius, & Zavodny, 2013). Due to Texas attempting to stick with their low taxes policies, there is a tradeoff that results in poorly funded public services. Now, not only is Texas not able to properly support the mass population of immigrants, but also other American citizens who use public services are in danger as well. Likewise, non-immigrant households end up paying more in state and local taxes than immigrants. Immigrant’s whole idea of coming to the United States is based off of living the American dream and earning more money. Part of the money immigrants earn is for their children’s education, whether it is in the United States or whether it is for their children back at home. This money ends up helping other economies in Latin America prosper which in terms might seem unfair to Americans, primarily taxpayers. It seems like families and children in Latin America aren’t the only ones benefitting from the income of their families in the United States. For example, in Mexico, the …show more content…
However, what we need to do is focus less on laws and more on the students themselves. It is important that “student progress and achievement be measured for every student every year” (Colarusso, R., O 'Rourke, C. M., & Leontovich, M. A., 2010). Still, laws like these are important and need to be honed more efficiently in order to further promote immigrant education.
The largest barrier in the war on immigration is the social stigma that the word “immigrant” or “immigration” holds. There is a palpable negative connotation. Attached to the term and the people to whom it applies. The attitude towards these children, individuals, and families is increasingly hostile, especially in current times as the situation become for prominent. The first step to take in fixing this “problem” with immigration is the change the public perception. Many Americans view immigrants as interlopers who are lowering the standard of living and taking jobs from hard-working