Earning a Right
There are currently 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States according to Fox News online article, We cannot afford amnesty for illegal immigrants by Ed Butowsky. Unfortunately, many of these undocumented immigrants have no realistic pathway to obtain any type of legal status under our current immigration system. These immigrants face harsh working conditions where businessmen typically exploit them, harming the American public because of the low wages they commit to. Undocumented immigrants are also unable to see their families for many years; they accept this faith so that one day they could become citizens like every other immigrant in America. Right wing Americans may argue that undocumented immigrants do not carry their own weight, nevertheless this statement is false.Therefore, it is extremely important to set an earned pathway to legal status to all undocumented immigrants. Ultimately, the benefits of this action will be greater than the negatives in the end.
Making an earned pathway to citizenship rather than an amnesty all at once is highly important because of the lessons that were learned in Ronald Reagan’s 1986 immigration reform. Many undocumented immigrants cheated the system and obtained citizenship through the new system. The plan also never addressed future immigrants and businessmen needs of cheap labor. Our government has to set up new programs that tackles these obstacles in different ways. Such programs are answered in article, Focusing on the Solutions: Key principles of Comprehension Immigration Reform, by Immigration Policy Center.The article states, “Upon registration, applicants should be a on a path that leads to a green card, provided they meet specified criteria. The criteria that most seem to measure commitment—paying taxes, learning English, working hard or going to school, staying out of trouble—can be built into the requirements for successful completion of the program” with these steps taken into consideration, we will have a new legal workers that will be willing to work hard for himself and America (Immigration Policy Center 8).
Nevertheless, some may argue that giving any type of legal status to undocumented immigrants will be too costly. In the article We cannot afford amnesty for illegal immigrants by Ed Butowsky, Butowsky strongly asserts that giving amnesty to undocumented immigrants is a big burden to America. Butowsky states “ each illegal immigrant costs our country $24,000 a year. But, on average each pays $10,000 in taxes, so it’s reasonable to say that each illegal really adds $14,000 a year to our country's debt burden” ultimately our economy has too much debt to be worrying about “illegals”(Buttowsky 1). Many undocumented immigrants don't pay taxes and have no desire to live here in the future. Therefore it would make sense to reject any type of help for them.
Unfortunately for Butowsky, his information can be argued as biased due to his publisher FoxNews.com. Fox news is known to be right winger’s with anti-immigrant opinions. Butowsky failed to research the long term effects of undocumented immigrants. In Nicholas Kristof article Immigration Enriches You and Me, Kristof alleges that immigrants are assets rather than parasites. Kristof “they have contributed $100 billion to social security over a decade without any intention of collecting benefits” they have paid $11 billion in taxes in 2010 alone and will contribute $45 billion in the next 5 years; clearly undocumented immigrants are worth the investment over the long run(Kristof 1). Buttoeski argument should be therefore overturned.
Giving undocumented immigrants the ability to earn legal status in the U.S will be the way to solve our immigration problem. Undocumented immigrants can complete tasks and earn the right to become citizens. It’s important to have a process to a legal status rather than a work permit. These actions do little to help undocumented immigrants especially when any president can overrule the bill. And because of this nothing will be accomplished and we’re back at the bottom again. When we decide to give undocumented immigrants legal status, we will be able to reallocate the federal, state, and local government’s money used to maintain our immigration problem to other issues. It will also level the playing field for all U.S workers and employers due to their legal status. Finally it would enable our local police departments to focus on the real criminals of America.
The benefits of a pathway to citizenship are numerous as compared to its negatives.We have can overcome the ignorance of our media sites and certain citizens. They act out of racism calling people names, depriving their way of lives. Moving forward with this issue, we have to take into consideration at president Obama’s new executive actions and keep on influencing our government so that the 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants can one day have some type of legal status.
This is a good balance of both sides. Explaining what each side wants is an excellent the reader understand why immigrants are beneficial or not will help them make their own decision. It's true that the non-immigrant side only spits out nonsense about money and fear that one day they will take over the United States. In paragraph three you make a persuasive point on how the United States needs to focus on more pressing matters than illegal immigrants. Also it's great that in paragraph two you point out all the key history evidence to allow the reader to know what other ways illegal immigrants can stay in the United States. It's great to see how immigrants can be beneficial to the United States.
ReplyDeleteThe counter argument in paragraph four was great! The incorporation of the other sides position helps keep balance throughout. However, if government officials decide to give illegal immigrants their rights to become a citizen, the number of people qualifying for a job position will soon excel the number of job openings. Thus, now America is fighting an unemployment issue. It isn't simple to magically create jobs but it is simple to limit those who don't qualify and immediately on top of the list of unqualified workers are illegal immigrants.
ReplyDeleteThe claims you have mention are really insightful and true. Especially when you claimed that immigrants should be given a pathway instead of amnestying them in one day. Also, one can agree that this pathway to being amnestied should be to those who want to be here permanently and those who stay out of trouble. Thus immigrants who fail to follow that criteria then should not be considered for any path. Another great thing you mention was the information you revealed on fox news about their anti immigration opinions. One last thing is that you are correct that we should overcome all the ignorant citizens that do not want to help immigrants because of their race.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigrants are truly an "investment" for the United States. The blog states the ignorance and exaggeration of many critics that think immigration causes the country's economical deficit and increases the amount yearly. Immigration does the opposite as counter argued in the text. A path to legalization is important to fight the real criminals, as stated above, an relocated the money put into fighting immigration to other local, state, and federal issues that are far more crucial at the moment and in need of funding. Illegal immigrants are not the problem; the problem is the racism that has been built around them and the politics that fuel a certain rivalry among citizens in the United States. This blog has a great insight and tons of knowledge about the topic. Never underestimate the power of social influences in today's era because, although the United States outlaws racism since the 1960's, it is still alive in many of it's neighborhoods towards illegal immigrants.
ReplyDeleteThis argument was amazing; It included both prespectives of the topic. America can earn a lot of money by letting illegal immigrants into this country, and exposing them to the things we have as citizens. illegal immigrants did provide earning for the Social Security progam which helps disabed people, senior citizens, and retirement funds. Also legal immigrants are hard workers who work for very little money. Legal immigrants deserve to live in the united states because they make sacrafies and contribute to our country. The United States gives everybody a chance to live the Ameican dream, so why should we excluded them. If immigrants from different countries earn a right to be here, then they should be able to live here and provide for themselves and families.
ReplyDeleteYour argument was good, it included both sides of the argument not just the side you are arguing for. Your argument was very convincing in stating that immigrants should have some sort of legal status in the US. The last paragraph though you could have explained more on how there is racism with immigrants and then have this statement " Moving forward with this issue, we have to take into consideration at president Obama’s new executive actions and keep on influencing our government so that the 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants can one day have some type of legal status." be another paragraph. Overall this argument was really good. Good Job.
ReplyDeleteThe information in this paper was very educational and it showed that outside research was being done. Evidence throughout this argument was used very well. Mentioning how amnesty did not quite work in the past was very effective in proposing a different solution. Being an American citizen is definitely a privilege, so if immigrants want to honestly be a part of this country, their path to citizenship should be earned and presented to them by the government. In the long-run, this is very beneficial to the United States by making sure that immigrants are on the right path and obeying our laws. This argument really persuades the audience that a pathway to citizenship might be the best solution.
ReplyDeleteyour argument was good and it provided both sides of the positions and you provided evidence that well supported your positions. Providing history information helped get a better understanding and view for your audience. the idea of giving pathway to immigrants was true, this will give them a chance to become citizens. Your last paragraph could have used a little more depth to better stand out.
ReplyDeleteThe best part about your argument was the fact that you took the time to do outside research. You looked further into Butowsky as a person and you made him lose some credibility by mentioning that he works for Fox News and Fox News is known for being against the amnesty of immigrants altogether. Overall your entire argument was well written, you seemed not only well informed but passionate about what you were arguing and as a reader, it showed.
ReplyDeleteBy providing more outside research made your paper more agreeable. The points were all very clear and were also backed up with information. There was a good balance on both sides of the issue as well. Having some sort of legal documents is a good start.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigrants can be beneficial and immigrants can be a complete disadvantage to Americans. You provided great examples on both sides. You gave evidence to both positions. This argument is both ethical and logical. However, you shouldn't be using a quote in the beginning paragraph. You should start your quoting withing the body paragraph. This arguement would be great to inform someone who isnt that well informed on immigration.
ReplyDeleteImmigration costs fly through the roof, but so do deportation and amnesty. Which is why so many don't look t the long run, to convince people that amnesty for immigrants is beneficial, there has to be proof, there has to be numbers. Which of course can be provided with some research yet the same can be said for the opposing side. Monetary arguments are like a double edge blade, you can show the benefits, but someone can show the cost and make it look worst.
ReplyDeleteYour argument is full of facts and your voice is almost obsolete. Stating facts is useless if your voice isn't heard behind the facts. Your First three body paragraphs consist only of facts and summaries of the situations described, and your own thinking doesn't come in until the fourth paragraph. And what other benefit would granting amnesty do for America other than Provide more money? It isn't only about the money when there's families and cultures that also impact the nation
ReplyDeleteIn paragraph two, it was mentioned that there are certain requirements that immigrants should meet if receiving a green card. These requirements like learning english, going to school, and staying out of trouble can allow illegal immigrants to contribute to American lifestyle and give other Americans less of a reason to believe that illegal immigrants don't belong here. It was also mentioned that Kristof saw immigrants as assets rather than a debt because they don't receive benefits and contribute to taxes and social security. Granting amnesty will allow even more taxes to be filed and give America more money. Agreeably, solve the immigration issue by granting amnesty and finally immigrants can get out of everyones hair and live their lives.
ReplyDeleteGood arguments, details and evidence of both sides. When giving the reasons, evidence, must think in all possible points of view; for example, you say that giving any type of legal status to immigrants in the United States will be too costly to the country, but in case immigrants receive a legal status, they will have to pay the fee for the process of their status, and eventually the United States will earn money, sometimes the fees go for more than five hundred dollars per person, imagine the money U.S. will make with the processing of millions of immigrants?
ReplyDelete