A Potential Solution?

What would be the effects on America’s economy if we were to allow a certain number of Mexican/Latino immigrants into our country each year to work in lower-waged jobs? They could pay taxes and then save the rest of the money to send back to their family. Each year, there will be a turnover of immigrants, the old immigrants would return to their former country, allowing room for a new cycle of immigrants. We would reserve a certain number of jobs for migrant workers, leaving room for expansion for other American workers who wish to have a job. This would create a steady input of work into the American economy. There would also be a steady decrease in deaths among immigrants because they wouldn’t have to risk going through the desert if they have a visa to come here.

But even looking at this solution, it's assuming that most immigrants are wanting to return to their country, in most cases they are because that have left family there. But this situation encompasses many different aspects. For example, what should we do if an illegal immigrant has a baby in the United States?

We must come up with a solution to fix their conditions at home so that their will be less demand to travel to the United States. Therefore, we must go to the root of the problem. One thing that is being done and that should be promoted more is creating a system of fair trade between consumers and the the products made by Mexicans and Latinos. Looking at this solution, it looks like a win-win situation: Mexicans/Latinos are more likely to stay in their country without risking death and people don't have to worry about any changes to their economy, even though statistics show that there has been approximately equal input and output from immigrants.

Food for thought....

However, in a way, both sides are arguing for the stabilization of the U.S. economy. How they want it to become stable is where they disagree. One believes that a way to alter the economy is to allow immigrants in to do the jobs that Americans don’t want. Another side believes that we should increase border control and allow more Americans more opportunities.

So if we were to increase border control, how would America appear to others if we didn’t try to help underdeveloped countries? If immigrants are putting into the economy as much as they take out, do they really have an effect on the economic system? If they don't, are they the real problem at hand?

Looking into History...

But if you take a deeper look inside of the issue, it basically boils down to whether or not we should extend a hand, help those in need, and allow them to become citizens or should we shut our doors and close them for good to protect our economy? Helping others v.s. Helping ourselves…

Historically, there has always been a great influx of immigrants because America was known as the place of opportunity. If, people wouldn't have migrated to America, would it be as diverse and as prosperous as it is now?

In the past, they’ve tried to solve this problem of immigration by forming the NAFTA contract (previously explained). There was an increase of globalization for top companies such as Wal-mart. However, there was a negative impact on Hispanic businesses, forcing them to shut down, forcing workers to go look else where for jobs, such as the United States. This led to what Dr. King called a “Negative Peace”. Also, they have tried to increase border control to slow the amount of illegal immigrants. However, there was an increase in deaths among illegal immigrants and there was no significant decline in the number of those Hispanics/Latinos trying to come to America because their situation at home never changed. They just had to find alternate routes to get into America. This “solution” also resulted in “Negative Peace”.

The ETHOS

In a world where the economy is influenced by the availability of jobs, it creates a competition among people to find and keep a job. Because immigrants come to America in search of opportunities, they may have an effect on the economy. As we dive into the deeper roots of this situation, we begin to look at the main players of the situation. First, we have the Mexicans/Latinos who desire to come to America in search of better job opportunities because of the losses they suffered through back at home. Then there are those who strongly oppose immigration and want tougher control over American borders. Lastly, there are those who are willing to allow immigration into our country and let the immigrants feed off of the American economy.

Those who strongly oppose immigration say that immigrants are taking away our jobs and lowering the availability of jobs for other Americans. They also say that since they aren’t contributing to our taxes, then they shouldn’t become citizens. They gradually impact the resources that taxes do pay for: schools, roads, and health care. If they were to be stopped from crossing the border, American companies would be more liable to higher wages, to increase the number of American employees desiring to work there. This argument is assuming that all Americans want a job and are willing to do anything to make a living.

But those who are in favor of increased immigration say that if we were to shut off all immigration and lower border control, then most of the jobs that were taken care of by illegal immigrants would fall because they complete the jobs that most Americans would not do. And even though immigrants may lower wages, prices for products contributed by immigrants are lowered. But there are lower class Americans that work side by side illegal immigrants doing the same job. So what makes one think that all American’s would not want to do any type of job, especially if they have no job in the first place? But how much should we give until we start to suffer? What is the capacity at which the United States can no longer equip a certain number of people?

NAFTA

NAFTA stands for the North Atlantic Fair Trade Agreement, otherwise known as the death warrant to Mexican farmers. It was an agreement that was supposed to Mexico's failing economy around. It was supposed to establish a plethora of jobs, enough jobs to lower the immigration rates from Mexico to the U.S. It has created competition between American farmers and Mexican farmers, especially in the corn production, which ultimately forced the Mexican farmer to result to newer ways of income. Approximately two million Mexicans have had to drop their farms and mainly risk their lives to crossing the border. Not only have the prices of corn increased traumatically and farmers have lossed their jobs, but major corporations, such as Wal-mart, have been allowed to come in and eradicate as much as twenty-eight million small and medium sized owned businesses due to NAFTA. And due to the high demand of jobs, wages have decreased significantly to an average of sixty cents to a dollar in major sweatshops. What else do I not know about NAFTA?

Source: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0425-30.htm

The Relationship Between My Bias and Illegal Immigration

There are many reasons behind the way I feel about illegal immigration. The one major reason is because of my religion. As Chrisitians, we are supposed to act like good Samaritans and help anyone we can who is need. So therefore, if we have the resources, why not reach out our hand and help others? In the Bible it says, if you give, you shall receive. So we give the immigrants a job and a place to stay, and in return we receive labor and a boost in our economy.

Root of Hispanic/Latino Immigration

As I begin my journey on this analysis of Illegal immigration from Hispanic and Latino countries, I begin to question, what causes this heavy influx of immigrants to America? Why come here? What is so terribly wrong with their country that they would rather risk the possibility of death to escape to the U.S.? In other words, what is the causal relationship, if any, between the current situation of Hispanics/Latinos and their desire to become a U.S. citizen? According, to the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, the increase in migration stems from the low availability of jobs in Mexico. Because jobs are in high demand, and their are not a sufficient amount of jobs to sustain the increasing population of Mexico, citizens are forced to look to other means of income to provide for their families. And because their is no work nearby, the closest area where they know they will get payed is America. Companies and small business owners are willing to pay them a cheaper price for their hard labor. This is appealing to Mexicans/Latinos because they are at least getting paid and are able to send money back to their families. But is it just the Mexican economy that drives the influx of migrants, or is there something more?