The Benefits Of Immigration To The United States

Today approximately 11.7 Million people today are doing their best to live in the shadows of the United States (Preston). These people are living like second-rate citizens all while constantly having to worry about immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) coming to rip them away from the life they have built here. Many of these immigrants have lived here for years. They have jobs, families and friends. However, because of their legal status, they must fear deportation and cannot participate in elections and social programs. These individuals are often criticized and told to go back to their own country, but for many leaving the US is not an option they are willing to take. So with all these immigrants here illegally what are we to do? Should …show more content…
In 1829 a processing center known as Elis Island handled thousands of immigrants each day. The immigrants at Elis Island were asked a list of 29 questions such as: Do you have any money, relatives or a job in the US? Are you a polygamist? An anarchist? Then doctors would look over them for diseases or handicaps. Usually this process would take 3 or 4 hours and then the immigrants would be released and free to enter America (Eyewitness to History). What were the goals of these immigrants; they wanted freedom from oppressive governments. With so many people flocking to the America, the US became known as the “melting pot” because it welcomed any and all people with the desire to become a citizen. However, with such a large amount of immigrants wishing to enter the country and a rapidly growing population these relaxed immigration policies have changed. As a result of these changing policies, a new breed of immigrant has formed: the illegal …show more content…
Why would large companies want to hire illegal immigrants? Simply because illegal immigrants are willing to work at much lower wages than your average American. Although, companies such as Intel say they support amnesty due to a high-tech worker shortage, they say there are simply not enough workers in the US and that we need to bring more in. But recent studies have shown that in fact, there is a job shortage for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The unemployment levels for STEM fields are higher than in the past, implying that there is a lack of work in the fields. If there was a shortage we would be seeing lower unemployment levels and increasing wages which is not happening