Essay Example on Immigration: A Positive Force for the US Economy

In my research paper, I am arguing that immigration is not entirely wrong and it has significantly contributed economic, political, and social progress of the United States of America; hence the process should not be abolished. Though immigration has always been associated with the increasing number of people U.S. as well as cultural changes, these immigrants have contributed favorably to the U.S. economy in revenue collection. While doing my research online, I found this article by Robert Lynch and Patrick Oakford entitled “The Economic Effects of Granting Legal Status and Citizenship to Undocumented Immigrants.” The article was published on 2013 March 20 at 8:44 am on the Center for American Progress website. I noted many aspects of the source that makes it a credible and reliable source that I shall use for further research work.

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One of the aspects I noted is that the article focuses on the significant effects on the state’s economic climate due to giving legal status that leads to the acquisition of citizenship for undocumented immigrants. They explain this dramatic shift as helpful not only to the unauthorized worker’s lifestyle but also to the nation’s economic wellbeing. As an insight into just how granting citizenship on the immigrants would favorably stimulate and enhance the economy. The authors place three diverse scenarios of immigration reform and evaluate the effect on the economic system that every situation would have during a ten-year time frame. In scene one, the immigrants will obtain both authorized status and citizenship in the entire year 2013; in the next case scenario, they would be given legal status in 2013 and also the chance to attain citizenship five years after that. Lastly, in the final situation, they are legalized in 2013, though they would not become citizens, at least not within the ten years under examination.

Another aspect is that the article was first published in 2013 by McGraw Hill. This date is within the last ten years; hence, its data can be relevant for my research. The writers prepared a table of possible financial projections. They assessed specific impacts on the development of the American Gross Domestic Product. The 3 case scenarios demonstrated exactly how giving legal status for the eleven million undocumented immigrants residing in the U.S. has a good impact on the country’s economic development. It showed that the sooner total citizenship was attained, the higher the impact on the economy.

I find the article factual since they support their arguments with figures. For instance, the graph indicating cumulative GDP of $1.4 trillion if undocumented immigrants were to be legalized in 2013. This information is consistent with that shared by Muñoz & Sperling (2013). Under the legal protection issue, the authors stated that suppressed legal exploitation and wages would go down or perhaps disappearing. Knowledge and skills will increase workforce productivity, as revenue for the educational system. Legalized workers would possess access to improved jobs and a broader opportunity for employers to pick laborers according to their requirements and goals. Entrepreneurship will also be good for the nation since it promotes economic growth, higher incomes, and a much better field for job opportunities. When comparing undocumented to naturalized citizens, the authors project a better income for all the immigrants themselves, plus a massive gain for the economic system in this country.

Precisely why should this current issue be of interest to sociologists? For one, it will be fascinating to explain precisely how, when given the facts, you may still find millions of Americans that display an opposing behavior on granting the unauthorized a chance to be legal. Among the assumptions of the sociological perspective is that through collective action, individuals can change how their society is structured and even rewrite the course of history. It is not valid on how immigrants, unauthorized or legal, will have the ability to add to these goals. Lowe also shares similar thoughts on the essence of treating immigrants better, not as a favor but because they deserve it (2017). This topic spurs a debatable discussion; hence it is relevant for my research.

Conclusion

The authors are professional researchers and writers; hence they are expected to deliver excellent and reliable research works. Robert Lynch is a professor who has specialized in public finance, public policy, comparative economics, economic development, and international economics. Therefore, he is qualified to bring forth a credible argument in the economic matter. On the other hand, Patrick Oakford is a researcher at the Center for American Progress in the fields of labor migration, employment laws, the economics of immigration policy, and the intersection of immigration. He is honored by various awards, such as that of the best dissertation migration studies awarded in 2012 and other prizes for multiple works published on the National Journal, The Hill, and the New York Times.

References

Lowe, R. (2017, September 12) “Immigrants Deserve More from the United States.” The Odyssey Online, www.theodysseyonline.com/immigrants-deserve-more-from-us.

Lynch, R & Oakford, P. (2013). “The Economic Effects of Granting Legal Status and Citizenship to Undocumented Immigrants.” Center for American Progress, www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/reports/2013/03/20/57351/the-economic-effects-of-granting-legal-status-and-citizenship-to-undocumented-immigrants/

Muñoz, C. & Sperling, G. (2013). The Economic Benefits of Providing a Path to Earned Citizenship. The White House. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/08/13/economic-benefits-providing-path-earned-citizenship