Illegal Immigrants In The United States

Illegal immigration has been a prevalent issue in the United States for a century, but unauthorized residents have made many contributions to the nation’s economy by providing unskilled labor for low wages and no benefits. Residing in the United States without proper documentation may be illegal; however, a large number of illegal immigrants work under undesirable conditions and receive pay which American citizens would refuse to accept. Aside from the economic factors of illegal immigration, illegitimate non-citizens also have social ties to their respective communities within the United States. Many illegal immigrants have children who were born in the United States, making them legal citizens. The question of what to do with the millions …show more content…
Allowing these unauthorized residents to become United States citizens would not cause a dramatic economic shift because the workforce would not be required to overturn in order to keep business running. Offering forgiveness and an opportunity to become a legal citizen, not only protects business interests, but it also defends the welfare of illegal immigrants. In theory, once these immigrants become citizens they will begin paying taxes and receiving employee benefits while maintaining a stable, low wage job. After a period of amnesty is made available, however, illegal immigrants remaining in the United States are to be sought out and deported to their native country. My initial plan to manage illegal immigration is comparable to President Teddy Roosevelt’s foreign policy: “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” By granting illegal immigrants citizenship and allowing them to remain in the United States, my plan “speaks softly;” however, if they refuse to come forward and accept citizenship, illegal immigrants will face the metaphorical “big stick” and be …show more content…
I still believe in speaking softly and carrying a big stick, but class discussion led me to further examine the details of illegal immigration. Rather than offering blind amnesty, I believe that background checks should be completed before an illegal immigrant is granted citizenship. It is not necessarily the most economically sound suggestion, but the health and safety of the American people trumps minimizing the government budget. Despite the issues associated with encouraging big business to disclose information and educate illegal employees, I believe that it is the most efficient way to obtain employment records and ensure that illegal immigrants are properly informed of the path to citizenship. I am not in favor of enforcing a higher tax rate for illegal immigrants who achieve citizen status, however. The benefits of a penalty tax do not outweigh the ethical nor financial concerns. Ultimately, I have concluded that there is no perfect solution that sufficiently addresses economics and human rights while still recognizing the crime committed. Immigration, especially illegal immigration, is a complex issue that offers both a moral and legal dilemma, but I believe the best way to improve the system is to offer amnesty based on background checks, and eventually deporting those who refuse to