When people hear the word illegal immigrant, the first thing that comes to mind is a benefit leeching, non-taxpaying person living in the U.S. The negative connotation that comes with the word immigrant is one that is derived from the ignorance of Americans and needs to be corrected. People think that illegal immigrants are stealing all the fine jobs that taxpaying citizens of the U.S. deserve. This isn’t true to the entire population of illegal immigrants because not only take jobs that the average American citizen would refuse, but they also improve the economy by paying taxes. It may be hard to believe but according to Lockwood, a journalist, “illegal aliens pay taxes and they pay far more than they receive in benefits” (Lockwood, 2009). This not only benefits the government but it benefits the economy as well.
“According to a US Census Bureau analysis, an estimated 2 million illegals lived in the US in 1980” (Slater, 1985). To this day the number is close to 20 million. The majority of this 20 million have jobs which require intensive physical labor throughout a long work day while being paid less than minimum wage. This means that these illegal immigrants that people seem to look down on are doing the “dirty jobs” that others refuse to do so that people like you and me could live an easier life. As a matter of fact, through extensive research, Slater has concluded that, “An Urban Institute study on immigration to California has concluded that: 1. it has helped bring jobs and industry to the Los Angeles area by providing an expanding supply of low-wage labor” (Slater, 1985) This displays the economic and business benefits that result from increased amounts of illegal immigration.
It has also been argued that illegal immigrants have no right to live in the U.S. They come here to reap the benefits of a democratic society. This does not prove true for all illegal immigrants however because many illegal immigrants find refuge in the U.S. to escape the life-threatening conditions that they face in their home country. An immigrant may flee their home country because the government of the country is prosecuting members of a specific tribe or group because they feel that they are going to rebel against the corrupt government. Being part of this tribe or group that the government is prosecuting, an immigrant may feel it’s necessary to take refuge in our country, keeping their family out of danger. Awale Osman of Rochester, New York is an example of someone who had to flee their country in search for safety. Osman writes, “My family came to this country as legal immigrants, in search of safety, education, and most of all, a better life. I come from Somalia where a Civil War broke out in 1991 due to corruption of the government” (Osman). Another situation may be similar to the one a friend of my family faced. He fled his home country of Vietnam during of the Vietnam War.. He felt that the communist reform in the government was for the worst and decided that the democratic government in the U.S. would allow his family to receive a better life and education. Because he feared for the safety of his family, he illegally entered the U.S. where he currently resides. When the safety of your family is in danger, entering a foreign country for safety should not be considered a crime but rather responsibility.
If the U.S. was to get rid of illegal immigrants and allow only legal immigrants into the country, then those low paying jobs that illegal immigrants take would be open again. However, no one would be working in those fields, because they feel it is below them. With the advantage of public education today, the number of college graduates is increasing, resulting in a larger number of successful high paying jobs. Even with all these advances in education, with no one working in “dirty” fields, the country would slowly collapse. Legal immigrants will demand greater pay because they are part of the “system” and don’t fear being kicked out of the country.
Some may argue that the number of illegal immigrants entering the country is too high and it’s uncontrollable. This may be true to some extent but even with stricter immigration reforms, there isn’t much of a way to control the number of immigrants entering the country. However, there are reforms that have been made to control the number of illegal immigrants who are allowed to stay in the country. In her article, “Don’t Knock Immigration,” Slater writes, “Immigration legislation has been proposed that would provide amnesty for illegals who have lived in the US continuously for several years” (Slater, 1985). This could prove useful in controlling those who have come to the U.S. to earn an honest living; becoming part of the working class.
There have been somewhat successful reforms which focus on the population of illegal immigrants allowed to stay in the country. Briggs, a professor at Michigan State University, comments on the select commission on immigration and refugee policy stating, “In March 1981, the select Commission issued its recommendations. These recommendations will affect the size and composition of the labor force as well as employment practices... 1. the status of immigrants who enter illegally, 2. the process of adjustment to employment, and 3. the capability of institutions and of local labor markets to adjust to immigrants” (Briggs, 1981). This commission is one of the more successful reforms passed by the legislature which allows the status of illegal immigrants and their effects on the economy to be monitored and fixed if seen necessary. If there were more agencies dedicated to this type of work, the number of illegal immigrants and their contributions could be more effectively monitored resolving the issue of the overpopulation of illegal immigrants.
It may be a bold statement but illegal immigrants may as well be considered the foundation of this great country we call the United States. They take the jobs us Americans refuse to while being paid less than minimum wage. They also pay taxes like us Americans while receiving fewer benefits in return. It is true that too many immigrants coming to the U.S. may not necessarily be a good thing but with a commission controlling the productivity of illegal immigrants and reforms that have been made to monitor the background and progress of illegal immigrants, the large number of illegal immigrants entering the country could be used to further benefit the economy and the American way of life.
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