This is a picture of illegal immigrants being smuggled into America in order to find a better way of life. If these people are willing to come into this country in this particular manner who are we to deny them? If the situations were flipped would you leave your family to come to a foreign land? Most people assume that we do not need illegal immigrants, but I believe we do. They are hard working group of people that afford Americans with good service, and cheap food. "Somebody has to do the dirty work" and illegal immigrants do exactly that for this country. Some people get upset because they feel illegal immigrants take advantage of the system. These people are not living in a mansion with a swimming pool, and wearing diamonds. They are living in a one to two bedroom apartment with six other people trying to pay the bills here and then send money back to their country.
In addition to the criticism from people illegal immigrants have to work in grueling conditions and long hours just to make minimum wage. If illegal immigrants were not allowed to come back in the country then Americans would have to take over the jobs. These low paying jobs attract low skilled workers and therefore it would not be beneficial for everyone. Many businesses would go out of business because they could not afford labor. The economy in these other countries where these immigrants live would not be stimulated causing crisis.
In the end illegal immigrants provide us with services that many people would not want to do even if they were paid enough to do it. Illegal immigrants are people just like anybody else, and deserve to live a happy life. If they are working and providing services why should we send them back. They are not a burden they are an asset to our society and should not be punished.
I have heard the argument that illegals often do work that Americans consider beneath them; it is a kind of slavery to which we avert our eyes. I imagine the coming economic difficulties will lead to further scapegoating, people claiming that these aliens are "stealing our jobs."
ReplyDeleteAll of my grandparents were first generation immigrants. My great-grandparents came to America in pursuit of the American dream--hard work for a better life. I understand that our economic systems are strained, but I believe we need to sustain our heritage as a land of opportunity. I wonder if a solution lies in a form of work permit that would allow residency in our country without conferring full citizenship? Something like Bush's proposed Guest Worker Status?
When people say that they are opposed to illegal immigrants coming to/staying in our country, why don't we ask ourselves who will do those jobs? Like you said, they often endure horrible conditions in order to make minimum wage..us Americans would not take those jobs even if they were available! Because the fact is that, if we wanted them, we could have them. A workplace rarely would chose an illegal over a person with citizenship because it jeopardizes their company if they were to be caught.
ReplyDeleteImmigrants typically replace other unskilled workers, though, many of us have the opportunity to get schooling and thus better jobs- that is not the case for many of these fugitives.
Also, the economy tends to be much stronger with these low-cost workers. There has been a statistically proven boost in the economy because of these workers. Without them the labor force would decline and we could not produce nearly as much as we do now.
Yes, I agree that there are definitely many downsides to their presence, though I am not totally for throwing them out either.
If it weren't for illegal immigrants, all of your produce from the southwest would raise in prices due to the fact that farmers would have to pay minimum wage and abide by laws for employment. Oh, and that work your contractor did for you for such a great price just went up two-fold, because he as well as the farmer, now has to hire legal citizens and pay minimum wage.
ReplyDeleteSometimes people are so blind as to where their blessings come from.
If people feel they can provide a better life for their families here, who are we to not allow them? They're willing to work their asses off, unlike most teenagers, and take pride in what they do, because they provide for their family.
Where's the problem in that?
You definitely chose a sensitive issue here. But,I agree that America is a better off country with illegal immigrants. They do provide industries with hard work for low pay, a duty the average American citizen would spit on if thrown the offer.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure what the race ratio is in America, but I almost positive caucasions out-number hispanics. Yet, how often do you see hispanics asking for money? And how often do you see white men and women asking for money? Makes you think a little, huh?
This observation proves that born Americans are spoiled and are not willing to, as you said "do the dirty work."
great topic! irst, i want to say you are right and immigrants do the wrk that we wouldnt do and they help businesses survive bcuz of their cheap labor and business dnt wanna give up immigrnts no more than we do. secondly i think the whole immigrate thing is a worthless issue. if you recall (prolly not) in 2005 bush signed a bill that erased the boarders from the north and the south of usa creating the NORTH AMERICAN UNION look it up for ypurself, but the question that leaves on my mind is whether there is a such thing as the USA now???
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a very touchy issue and can be looked at from a few different angles, obviously. On one hand illegal or not these are still people with a desire to provide for thier families, and sneaking into America to fulfill those desires is the only hope. And on the other hand, these are also people reaping the benifits of this country illegaly. Thier are immigration laws out there whether we like it or not and saying that it's okay for mexicans (i assume we are talking about) to sneak across the border to cut our lawns, but deport a Jamaican who works at Sams Club because his visa expires seems a bit hypocritical and a bit arrogant to me. Don't get me wrong i don't disagree with you thoughts about maybe changing laws allowing working visas or whatever the case might be but i question peoples reasons behind their motives. Are we Pro-immigration because we don't feel threatened for our jobs?? What if the case was that these immigrants were illegally taking profesional jobs such as accounting and tellers and marketing reps and any other job that an average middle class american might be qualified for?? would we still be so supportive of illegal immigration. I feel that since we dont see any real threat to letting mexicans cuts lawns, clean bathrooms and a variety of other blue collar labor jobs then we dont see a problem. But from the eyes of an american born citizen who wasn't fortunate to have the reasources to go to college like we do, these mexicans willing to work for the lowest rate going are direct threat to him/her feeding their families. Illegal immigration DOES affect americans. it may not affect YOU so you see nothing wrong with it but when and employer can pay someone 4 dollars an hour under the table instead of minimum wage 6.75 or whatever it may be and save the company money from printing checks and so forth, it takes away jobs from native born americans. Once again i have no hate towards immigration, my parents are immigrants but they took the legal route, became citizens and can reap the benifits of this country.
ReplyDeleteI agree that positively influenced illegal immigrants should be welcome, but who can determine the motives of each individual person? Immigrants also have a tendency of using the road less traveled to get here, which eliminates any chance for screening. My personal experiences working construction alongside immigrants was positive. They worked hard, for long hours, and were very respectful.
ReplyDeleteImmigration is part of country’s heritage, may of ancestors came here looking for a better life. So what is wrong with “illegal immigrants”? The illegal part is wrong, if I break the law I have to suffer the consequences. What kind of citizen will they be, if they start out by breaking the law?
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