Immigrants: The American Dream and A Chance to Succeed - Essay Sample

Introduction

Known as the land of opportunity where dreams are bound to come to life, America attracts millions of immigrants every year. Every immigrant that makes it into the United States legally or illegally is driven by the American dream, a hope for a better life, and access to the best opportunities in the world. America prides itself as the land of freedom, diversity, acceptance, and chances for everyone. For such reasons, people from all walks of life do the impossible to get into the country. However, the land that was welcoming for everyone has turned hostile towards the immigrants; they are regarded as a threat to the economy and safety of Americans. Recently there has been a devastatingly severe crackdown on illegal immigrants using brutal methods on the grounds of restoring a safe America. This paper scrutinizes immigration and how far America, as a country, has fallen from humanity, reason, and acceptance. Inhumane deportation and detention practices carried out by the immigration offices and departments are not the way to make America great again.

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The first reaction of some people when they hear of immigrants is they have taken all jobs and are bleeding the economy dry. However, research has shown that these immigrants significantly contribute to the American economy, and many people, even experts, overlook this aspect. According to Dr. Roger White, an associate professor of economics at Franklin and Marshall College, undocumented workers significantly contribute to the economy through payment of taxes more than acknowledged. According to Dr. White, these immigrants need the right documentation to work in the U.S, and for this reason, they acquire social security numbers, and this way, they pay taxes. From a report submitted by a 2007 Budget office, approximately 50-75% of illegal immigrants pay locally. Federal and state taxes. Considering that a lot of mainstream media focuses on the costs rather than the benefits the country gains from illegal immigrants, it becomes easy to overlook their value and turn against them.

The Immigration surplus theory (Borjas, 6) shows that when immigrants enter the labor force, they fuel the economy through increasing the productive capacity and raising the GDP. In as much as the income of the immigrants' rise, so does the income of the natives. Additionally, the flow of immigrants into the labor force alleviates areas where there might skills shortage. Immigration, at a closer look, deliberates undoubted economic benefits for the country while having both positive and negative impacts regarding the change in the wage structure. These resulting changes lead to an increase in the production of goods and services, which in turn require the skilled services of these immigrants (Blau & Mackie, 165) For a country known to be an economic powerhouse, there is need to reconsider immigration and the policies implemented against the immigrants. It is a well-known fact that a lot of scientific innovations in the united states are credited to immigrants. The upward trend in high skilled labor immigration usually is linked with innovation (Belsie). The upside of this is that the immigrants, knowingly or unknowingly, boost innovation in the natives. Most skilled immigrants focus on STEM-related occupations hence their innovativeness.

Immigration is generally perceived to have negative impacts on the American economy and have a significant effect on crime rates. Since the 2001/9/11 attack on the United States, immigrants ceased to be skilled job seekers, and in the eyes and hearts of many Americans became a threat to their safety (Counihan, 2). The need for security and a crime-free nation is understandable, but it also essential to understand that the perpetrators of this horrendous crime were not seeking jobs or looking for a home; they aimed to destroy and kill. On the other hand, immigrants that come to the united states and search for jobs and start families are not a threat to anyone's safety. These are people just like us with the need for the same security and safety we desperately want and with hopes that America will provide them with better opportunities for their children and better home. There is the need for the realization that they are harmless people like, with more benefits to offer the country and stop invoking unfair immigration laws against immigrants.

Works Cited

Christopher Counihan. Policy Brief: American Immigration Policy since 9/11 impact on Muslim Immigrants. Feb. 2007. Retrieved from https://www.ispu.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/2007_American-immigration-policy-since-911 .pdf?8727

Dr. Rodger White. International Migration and Economic integration: Understanding the immigrant- Trade link. Edward Elgar Pub. Nov. 30th, 2011

Francine D. & Christopher M. The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration: Employment and Wedge Impacts of Immigration Theory (2017)

George J. Borjas. The Economic Benefits from Immigration: The Immigration Surplus. The Journal of Economic Perspectives (9) 1995. Retrieved from https://sites.hks.havard.edu/fs/gborjas/publications/journal/JEP1995.pdf

Laurent Belsie. The National Bureau of Economic Research: Immigrants Play Key Role in STEM Fields. Dec, 10th, 2019. Retrieved From https://www.nber.org/digest/nov16/w22623.html

The Senate. Congressional Budget office Cost Estimate: Senate Amendment 1150 to S. 1348, The Comprehensive immigrant reform Act. May 24th, 2007. Retrieved from https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/110th-congress-2007-2008/costestimate/sa1150june40.pdf