James Striplin is FOR
According to horror author H.P. Lovecraft, fear is the “oldest and strongest emotion of mankind.”
We fear most what we don’t know or understand.
This is the basis of prejudice in American society and a recurring thorn in the sides of immigrants throughout history.
Illegal immigrants in today’s world are targeted by sensationalist news outlets and public figures.
Why is it that illegal immigrants are perceived as a threat by various media groups and politicians?
Is it because they give into our back-to-basic caveman logic that those who are different are a cultural and economic threat?
They tell us what we want to hear, and what we want to hear is that it’s not our fault for unemployment rising, but the fault of our brothers south of the border.
This argument generally appears when unemployment is high and the public feels the need to point the finger.
As reported by most economists, illegal immigrants aren’t considered competitive enough to be a major factor in job loss. And when we pass laws that give immigrants that competitive edge, such as the DREAM Act, do you really think its a good idea to deport that doctor that could save your life?
These people are filling in gaps we haven’t been able to. It has also been shown they create just as many jobs as they take. They’re not a problem, they’re a solution.
So the focus moves on that illegal immigrants don’t pay taxes, when the reality of it is that they pay every form of tax imaginable except they generally don’t receive benefits.
In some cases, illegal immigrants are more reliable for paying Federal taxes than most Americans because of the fear of deportation. So I guess you can throw that “getting a free ride” theory out the window.
Do you consider walking long distances through the desert to sneak into a country that hates you only to be paid less than minimal wage by financially manipulative corporations a free ride?
These are human beings were talking about, not animals.
So far, illegal immigrants have done more to become Americans than most of the people who were born here.
Haley Pitto is AGAINST
Illegal is defined as “not according to, or authorized by law” according to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary.
When I think of illegal, the first thing that comes to my mind is typically something negative.
Why? Illegal is something that is against the law. It is black and white. There is no gray area.
This goes for illegal immigration as well. People are offended when someone says it’s wrong.
But guess what? It is wrong.
Sure it’s not the same as theft, assault or murder, but all of those are against the law and all have negative effects.
News outlets and public figures target illegal immigrants purely because they impact society.
Illegal immigration is perceived as a threat by media and politicians alike.
The reason for this is not prejudice. It is justified.
According to a Federation for American Immigration Reform report entitled “The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on U.S. Taxpayers,” it costs “$113 billion in outlays for services and benefits to illegal aliens, and their families represents an average cost to native households of $1,117 a year.”
State and local governments absorb nearly all of the costs.
According to the California Student Aid Commission in a 2011 report, approximately 5,462 illegal immigrants would have access to scholarships and Cal Grants meant only for in-state, legal, tax-paying residents by the passage of the DREAM Act.
This number has grown.
Many would like to think illegal immigrants are a solution to jobs that cannot be filled. That notion couldn’t be more wrong.
With the economy $57 trillion plus in debt and unemployment fluctuating between 8-9 percent, illegal immigrants are not a solution; they are a problem.
While some do pay taxes with paychecks (using fake social security numbers) and state purchases, to help the national debt, not all do.
This is thought to counterbalance the burden of educational costs, but actually does the opposite.
So far, the contributions illegal immigrants have made are overshadowed by the problems they have caused for the economy and the nation as a whole.
