Everyone in this country will benefit if we have immigration reform and illegal immigrants are legalized. This even includes the people who insist they should all be deported.
We all agree that people should not be here illegally and that we should document everyone entering and leaving our country. Legalizing these illegal residents will benefit the whole country; the military, Social Security, our economy, education, even our national security.
The most immediate benefit will be to business. Our unemployment rate is below 5%. With so few people out of work now, there will not be enough available workers to replace undocumented workers if they were suddenly deported. Our birthrate is low, our population is aging and the workforce is shrinking.
If farmers can't hire enough workers to plant or harvest, they will close and more of our food will be imported, along with increased safety concerns and higher prices. Hotels, restaurants and landscape companies will have to close. Even with the recent housing slowdown, there won't be enough workers left to build and repair houses. Factories that can outsource their work overseas will do that, rather than close. The companies that close will then leave all their legal workers unemployed too. Besides these obvious problems, there would be a smaller tax base for those towns and the country.
Another major benefit will be to Social Security. Fifty years ago, it took 20 workers to keep a retiree on Social Security. By 2030 there will be two workers to cover each retiree and the baby boomers will also be retired then. The young immigrant workers here now (and their children) are the partial answer to the Social Security funding problems of the future.
Our military will benefit: there are almost 30,000 non citizens on active duty in our military. Active duty immigrants now can apply for citizenship in less time than usual without having to return home before applying. Many immigrants place a high value on the training and education available through the military. When citizenship requirements are eased, more immigrants will sign up, which will help enlistment numbers.
All immigrants know they should speak and understand English, but since they could be deported at any moment, there is little incentive to learn. If the undocumented people were required to learn English in order to stay here, they will all learn it. It is not that they don't want to learn it now, but it is difficult, it takes a lot of time and study and they don't have to do it. Of course, more classes will have to be available, there are long waiting lists for most classes now.
If all legal residents have to know English, the lines in the grocery store and bank will move faster, neighbors can discuss problems and we'll have safer traffic when everyone can read the signs. Women can report domestic violence, parents and teachers can discuss a child’s progress, problems can be discussed with a doctor and contracts and agreements will be understood when people can all speak and read a common language.
The high school dropout rate for immigrant children is very high. They know that even if they qualify, they won’t be able to attend college at an affordable price. If they manage to get a college degree, they can’t get a good job because they are here illegally and can't be hired. This defeats the purpose of their education and our country loses the benefits of these young people educated in our schools.
If undocumented people are offered legal status, they will have to register with the government, be finger printed and have a background check before receiving an I.D. card. People who do not pass these tests will be deported. We will all be safer when all residents have been identified and investigated. And more drug smugglers will be caught when border guards don’t have to chase poor men, women and children trying to come in to work and live.
There are many reasons why we need immigration reform and why we all should be happy when we get it. Everyone will benefit from a comprehensive immigration reform package passed. Hopefully, the next administration will solve this problem. # # #
Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing
Illegal Aliens and Immigration is NOT the same thing. Immigrant is a legal status granted by a sovereign country.We have to many folks who do not know and are ignorant or outright deceivers, confusing illegal alien workers calling them illegal immigrants with immigrants. Criminals did NOT build America; Citizens and LEGAL immigrants built it. American’s want an end to anarchy! This is NOT a Democrat, Republican, Independent issue. It's an American Issue.
Illegal aliens are criminals, those who hire them are criminals and those who aid-and-abet them are criminals.
Illegal aliens in America have NO rights.We are required by law to arrest and prosecute, deport them. (Title 8 U.S. Code) To report illegal aliens call the DHS National Hotline 1 866 DHS 2ICE. (1-866-347-2523)
No, matter your political party affiliation, and setting aside your thoughts on issues.We all need to remember what it is to be an American Citizen.We need to make sure our elected representatives obey their Oath of Office and keep their Oath of Allegiance. See http://tinyurl.com/2znnvl Know whom you are voting for.
by
DrColes (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 23 comments)
on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 12:42:32 PM
There is nothing wrong with our immigration system........there is however something terribly wrong with the inactivity of our immgration enforcement. The immigration system is not "broken" it jsut isn't being enforced. We allow 1.2 million people to immigrate here legally each year. Hwo many people do you think we can support before we collapse?
AG workers account for only 7-12 % of all immigrants......of the 20 million estimated to be here, the PEW Hispanic center says only about 7 million are working....illegally. How do you suppose the other 13 million are surviving?
We will not be safer if they are given amanesty. They have already indicated they have no respect for our laws, and certainly no respect for our culture or communities. The idea that these people were not arrested while they waived a foreign flag in our streets screaming for "reconquista" is absolutely appalling!
We need to clamp down as Arizona and other states have done.......
It is costing the Federal goernment (meaning US!) 200 billion a year in services to these people. Add the state to state costs and then ask yourself why our country is bankrupt.
I'm sick and tired of having to support all these other people and countries while people here lose their homes, jobs and way of life.
These people need to return to their home countries and work to change things there rather than illegally coming here and demanding that we take care of them
If they wouldn't fight for their own country.....what makes you think they will fight for this one?
by
Marti Oakley (14 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 48 comments)
on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 5:45:57 PM
