Since the birth of America, immigrants have been coming from all over the world. It has been coined ‘the melting pot’ since the historical peak of immigration between 1880 and 1920, in which people of all races, ethnicities, and cultures brought forth a contribution of diversity and society-building skills (NTY 2017). Throughout history, there has been a fluctuation of sentiments and laws that have influenced immigration and the various perspectives we see today. At the very start of this country, people began developing an issue with immigration, despite their own ancestor’s immigrant identity. This lead to the creation of the Naturalization Law, the first law put in place to alienate outsiders just as some current laws do. The development of immigration policies caused a domino effect, passing through policies that placed us in our current state in which Mexican immigration is widely focused on, political parties add major influence, and future policies are an absolute mystery (FAIR 2018). However, all the laws, sentiments, policies share one underlying characteristic: prejudice. Each action has been accomplished on the basis of personal bias and the ability to promote it to the public.
Inevitably, as immigration is and forever will be an ongoing process, the policy issues will continue to face the American nation. The state of immigration relies on a variety of complex, controversial platforms that fluctuate within a non-stop changing country. Platforms, including economic, social, political, cultural, and humanitarian ones influence immigration, forcing the process to operate under unique conditions and standards. To be fair, one must consider both sides of the great immigration debate; for nothing is purely good or bad. Above all, America should support all types of immigration. No policy, or any decision, as a matter of fact, will improve everyone’s well-being so the discovery of a happy medium is ideal when considering special topics with many influencing elements. In this case, the happy medium will take an overall pro-immigration standpoint by shining through the importance of immigrant history and beneficial aspects immigrants bring towards culture, the American economy, and general humanity.
In a country with thousands of cultures, I think everyone can agree the topic resonates deeply with many. Unlike many other countries, the United States has historically welcomed diverse people from across the world to build and better the nation. Immigration will continue to culturally benefit the American society for a variety of reasons. One of the first and foremost reasons on why cultural differences are vital to a productive community is the valuable knowledge that one can take from their surrounding environment and people within it. Undeniably, human nature is to learn from one another and immigration has the ability to diversify the pool of people to learn from. From this, ideas, productivity, and the amount of newly developed perspectives will likely increase (AMP 2018). People are shaped by their individual experiences and with a combination of life experiences and knowledge, a diverse community can generate multiple approaches and interpretations to ease problem-solving and improve an overall skill level (AMP 2018). Along with this, exposure to people who differ from you creates connections to communities and concepts that are different (Sue lecture). This contributes on a world-level, for a higher understanding is developed for cultures other than your own. Overall, this promotes acceptance rather than tolerance.
To oppose the cultural aspect immigrants bring, many say that the immigrant assimilation in the American society is lower than ever. This creates a divided culture which affects the people and institutions in the US. Although assimilation may seem low, assimilation trends still prove to be positive (Telles 2005, 9). The Integration of Immigrants into American Society concludes that although assimilation isn’t perfect and takes plenty of time, it is going well (Waters and Gerstein Pineau, 2015). Immigrants who come to the United States often admire American institutions and have similar goals to native-born Americans. As a result, adding more immigrants who already broadly share the opinions of most Americans will not affect the culture of others, just diversify and stimulate ideas and thoughts. People also tend to fear a supposed ‘culture of crime’ brought by immigrants (Blau, and Mackie 2016, 32). Many believe that immigrants and crime are correlated, and allowing immigrants into America will increase the crime rate and put the nation in danger. The study Does Undocumented Immigration Increase Violent Crime? proves otherwise, showing that illegal or legal immigration is not correlated with violent crime rates or even that it is casual. Percentage-wise, crime occurs more with native Americans than it does with immigrants (Wiley 2018).
The most controversial, influential point in the immigration debate revolves mainly around the effect on the American economy. To start, immigration is not harming economics, nor is it reducing employment or depressing wages (The National Interest 2018). There are hundreds of misconceptions between the correlation of immigration and the economy (Sue lecture), influencing many that immigrants may as well be taking money from each citizen’s personal wallet. In reality, however, immigration drives long-term economic growth and overall productivity gains (Blau, and Mackie 2016, 217). To clarify current misconceptions, immigrants do pay taxes. Even illegal immigrants pay taxes including property, sales, and some income taxes, but without tax refunds (Sue lecture). Illegal immigrants also aren’t granted welfare access and legal immigrants must wait 5 years for initial access. This optimizes success for the documented immigrants and prevents unnecessary taxes on current US citizens. Overall, economic growth has been greater with the increase of immigration, especially if the fiscal impact took innovation and entrepreneurial activity into account (Blau, and Mackie 2016, 278-283). As said in The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration, “Importantly, immigration is integral to the nation’s economic growth. Immigration supplies workers who have helped the United States avoid the problems facing stagnant economies created by unfavorable demographics—in particular, an aging workforce” (Blau, and Mackie 2016, 16). The high labor force participation of immigrants fill jobs that many wouldn’t take, to begin with, reduces hours worked by native teens, and the competition increases drive and productivity of native workers (Sue lecture). Studies show immigrants have a 40% higher entrepreneurial rate than native do which brings forth potential to create jobs as well as, again, contribute to society and boost the economy (Sue lecture). The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration also concluded that “…literature on immigrants and innovation suggests that immigrants raise patenting per capita, which ultimately contributes to productivity growth.” (Blau, and Mackie 2016, 18).
Economically, there are many opposing arguments against immigration. Although I already touched on the access to welfare, studies show that percentage-wise, natives are more likely to utilize the US public benefits than non-natives (Sue lecture). Another big institution of focus is health care. On the surface, it appears that citizens are paying for immigrants health, but most immigrants who come to America are young, healthy, and willing and able to work. Lastly, One of the main institutions that taxes are a major contributor to is the education system. Under federal law, undocumented children can go through school K-12 (Sue lecture). Although there is a portion of taxes from citizens to support education and immigration influences the numbers and cost, education is largely funded by real estate taxes and state budgets (Schumacher-Matos, 109). Overall, there is no significant increase in taxes noticeable enough to affect current American citizens (Sue lecture). The education system, however, benefits the children within it, supplying them with greater opportunities for a presumably greater future contribution. Issues regarding higher taxes at local and state levels caused by immigration also arise (Ellison and Martin 1995, 431). Although a slight rise in taxes is possible because of immigration which in turn has the potential to create an economic burden to some, studies found that a 10% increase in low-skilled immigrants in the population decreases prices for produce, gardening, babysitting which in turn, evens out the overall costs (Urban 2017). The absolute numbers of immigrants are also said to hurt the economy due to their increasing numbers, but since the mid-1960s, the net flow of immigrant population coming and going has remained relatively constant (Ellison and Martin 1995, 428).
Lastly, immigration is widely important from a humanitarian perspective. With all other aspects set aside, good or bad, helping and understanding one another contributes peace to the American society and surrounding countries. Out of all the immigrants coming to the United States, there is a small amount that comes to seek asylum. In the past, responses to certain crisis’ have been extremely varied, but when immigrant asylum is denied, so is freedom. Currently, there are people fleeing drug and violence-stricken nations and by allowing immigration, America has the ability to better and potentially save lives (Sue lecture). The unimaginable threats, stresses, and hardships that face each individual should be a reason on its own to promote asylum and immigration to America. As I said previously, exposure to those unlike you stimulates ideas and thoughts for both current citizens and immigrants (AMP 2018).
Based off many sources of empirical data and a variety of arguments, a solution to supporting immigration and maintaining the cultural, economic, and humanitarian benefits brought with them is to eliminate Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) and develop an open border system. Currently, in American society, executive orders; once a rare action, and deportations dominate the immigration discussion. The Trump administration has immensely changed the flow of the immigration debate, but the attempted anti-immigration policies and laws that could be put in place would negatively affect the American society. Economically, billions of dollars have been poured into border control and maintenance of ICE (Sue lecture), this money could be put towards the economic losses that may be present at state levels from immigrants or immigrant success programs so they could optimize societal contributions and productivity gain. People may say that abolishing ICE abolishes jobs, but these jobs can be transferred to a more proactive immigration agency which again, promotes success. ICE also raids and removes illegal immigrants from a productive workforce. By eliminating this program, more workers will be available to increase productivity gain and competition which in turn, increases drive of all workers within a nation. Customs and Border Protection, which is ‘essential’ for the current closed border system, plays a role in the separation immigrant families fleeing hardships. This completely denies the humanitarian obligation we must fill as human-beings, as well as directly declines America a diverse, culturally enhanced community. In total, this solution in favor of immigration will boost the economy, both long and short term, increase cultural understanding, and fill our society with peace and acceptance.