USA battling with Illegal Immigration: Is there any way out?
Close proximity of Mexico and quality life difference: Keys to immigration to the USA.[28-05-2010]
The issue of immigration is a thorny debate in the USA and I always wonder why politicians or Congress could never come forward with a comprehensive immigration reform or law to be implemented in order to solve this issue and at the same time deal with the number of illegal immigrants living in the USA. On one hand, having millions of people undocumented living in the country have a lot of negative aspects as this may concern safety and security as well as the impact that those living illegally here have on the economy in general. These are millions of people whose taxes can be beneficial to the economy. And while undocumented they can disrupt or contribute to the dysfunction of labor market. They might be eager to accept under the table money for some low paying jobs and even be able to work for low wages or income.
Elsewhere, we should not be one-sided. As a country of immigration and human rights; there is also the issue of safety and welfare of illegal immigrants that needs to be addressed, too. There are people who will hire illegal worker, promise a pay date and then anonymously turn them in to police or immigration officers the day before they are to be paid. I witnessed a lot of such cases in Moscow, Russia. Thus the employer is getting free labor and the illegal is getting abused. In addition if an employer is paying low wages under the table then you can bet the working conditions are not up to safety standards.
According to a report by CBS News in 2009, President Obama speaking to a Hispanic audience said that: "he remains committed to comprehensive immigration reform and upholding "America's tradition of a nation of laws and a nation of immigration."
"Those things aren't contradictory, they're complementary," Mr. Obama said at the Esperanza National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast. "That's why I'm committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform."
He said the United States should strengthen its border security and also "clarify the status of millions who are here illegally."
Hearing President speaking one would say there is already a solution to the issue: Strengthening the border security and clarify the status of those living illegally here.
It is not such easy as it seems to and, it is not the whole immigration problem that is raised up here. It's true that Mexico has a large number of illegal immigrants living and working in the USA. According to United States Immigration support website, an independent private organization: "many generations Mexicans have illegally crossed the border into the United States. Reasons for the high rate of migration from Mexico include the close proximity of Mexico to the U.S. and the noticeable difference in the quality of life between the two countries. Many individuals come from poverty-stricken towns in Mexico and desire to come to the United States to achieve the "American dream." For many, just gaining employment at a low wage job in the United States provides a much higher standard of living than in their home country.
Securing the border should be, to my opinion, the first priority ever before curbing on immigration or doing any other thing. We need to seize the bull by its horns, and that is Mexico.
A well equipped, outnumbered, well trained, well paid and with lots of incentives border patrol task force should be created or just upgraded from the existence border patrol units. Alongside with this border patrol task force that should be deployed along the vast huge border with Mexico, we must pursue with the construction of the so decried fence between the two countries. Politicians should stop with their hypocrisy when discussing the issue. They must have a sincere heart at defending the sole interest of the mother country than their reelection or any election calendar. Another suggestion is to organize a referendum about what the American people want to do with the illegal immigrants living already here. This should work because a referendum will be more inclusive, representative and collective. And whatever would be done next will be more seen as American people’s will but not any politician’s will.
Elsewhere, in an article on the Real Truth website in 2006, Ritter, claimed that Most Republicans seeking re-election must play to their conservative base and call for stronger immigration laws. Yet this will be at the risk of losing Hispanic voters, a key voting bloc for the midterm elections. Let’s remember that in the 2004 presidential election, President George W. Bush received an estimated 40% of Hispanic votes.
The Republicans also realize that enacting tougher immigration reforms could diminish the support of businesses. With fewer workers available to take on low-paying jobs, wages will go up, and profit margins will go down.
Those are some of the impacts both legally and illegal immigration could have on elections and public office.
Everybody understands why Mexicans want to come to the United States. I think Americans need to be honored that so many people want to come to their country and live out their dreams with them. At the same time there should be a wakeup call to all Americans that they need to preserve their way of life. There is a president in office today that is re-writing what it means to be American. It will be fair saying that former President George W. Bush was also going down the same road, but at a slower pace. This country has been founded as a capitalistic country and that is what makes it a great country. And reason why it‘s one of the places in world people would think of leaving their homelands in search of a better life and freedom.
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