How could one imagine the US as a smaller nation with a weaker economy? It is imperative to consider the fact that the US economy was created due to the hard work of immigrants. At the core of the American idea, is the notion that unlike other regions, people can start from nothing and become great individuals in the society, the same way the country developed. However, over the past few years, there have been debates over the benefits and disadvantages of immigrants in the US (Heer 26). Tamar Jacoby (332) supports the argument that immigrants are vital to the growth of the economy as they take risks to make a living. Mark Krikorian, on the other hand, contents that the world today has changed and the role that immigrants play in the nation, is not the same as in the past. Today’s immigrants lack the necessary expertise to advance the country and instead become a burden (333). There is no denying that immigration has its costs; nevertheless, they are small in comparison to the benefits of economic and general development.
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In a nation where advancement was once unquestioned, there is a threat of stasis in the modern day. There are plans to prevent immigration that could result in the shrinking of the American economy and further implications on the world. According to Heer (29), the report on immigration illustrates that immigration in the US from 1910 to 2010, led to net benefits of approximately $50 million a year. Even though Booth (81) argues that immigrants have taken over the workforce resulting in unemployment for Americans, it is crucial to consider some of the shortages that immigrant fill for. For instance, there is a scarcity of qualified nurses in the US, and a large percentage of the practitioners practicing in the nation are immigrants. Therefore, there is no denying that the $50 million net worth is due to the expertise of immigrants.
The $50 million gains do not look into other benefits of immigration. For example, immigrants are younger. Therefore, they tend to slow the aging of the workforce. The situation would be different in the case that the US had a small population that ages quite fast with no people to fill in the gaps in employment. There is no denying that most of the immigrants today lack the expertise that the founders had to create such a great nation (Krikorian 333). Nevertheless, the low skilled immigrants can reinforce the labor supply of high skilled natives. A good example would be to offer babysitting services and release expert mothers to go to work. On the other hand, high-skilled immigrants have a significant impact on innovation.
The current US government has taken minimal interests in the welfare of people born outside the country’s borders. The situation results from the parochial sense that focusing on immigrants reduces the government’s efforts towards ensuring American citizens live in functional status (Heer 29). However, the income of the immigrants is essential for the nation’s
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greatness. As the country takes less interest in immigrants, it is crucial to consider the current insecurity in many countries. An increasing number of terrorist attacks and conflicts have increased insecurity. Thus, even though the US is making attempts to reduce immigrants especially from Islamic nations due to numerous security threats, there is a need for worldwide unity (Booth 77). Therefore, the USA should be making efforts to promote uniformity in fighting terrorist attacks instead of secluding other nations.
Therefore, immigration and not other suggestions such as trade liberalization or the elimination of obstructions to capital flow as Schuck (44) suggests provides the best option to increase the income of the poor and enhancing economic output all over the world. Current research shows that a 35-year-old man with qualifications from Peru would make an average of $452 in a month. A Peruvian with the same skills working in the USA would earn approximately $714 each month. The apparent wage gaps highlight the significant value of a place, that is, the physical and social resources of the USA automatically increases the productivity of workers from developing nations (Heer 36). However, the case does not indicate that foreigners get to benefit from the infrastructure in the US while Americans get fewer opportunities. Without the immigrants, there would be a shortage of workers in the USA and thus, affect economic growth.
Booth (82) who is against liberal immigration points out that research indicates that newcomers in the US who moved to the nation from 1990 decreased the salaries of American high school drop-outs by approximately 3.1% or $900 each year. Many critics have raised concerns over the numbers. Even though it may be a big deal, helping the high school dropouts cannot offer the necessary expertise in some areas that the immigrants can provide. It is essential
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to consider the fact that there are more crucial tools to help the high-school dropouts have a better standard of living than immigration law (Cole 692). For instance, the government can introduce a better earned-income tax credit to help the individuals have better lives.
It is also essential to consider the fact that the spirit of self-creation is what made the great nation of the USA. The country supports the dreams of many people unlike the case in places such as Britain where individuals live based on social class. American social frameworks and hierarchies are clear, fluid and dynamic. The country is one that supports mobility by letting individuals create a name for themselves rather than emphasize on nobility (Booth 80). Therefore, it is pointless to claim that immigrants take opportunities created for American-born citizens yet they live in a nation where they have equal opportunity to enhance their lives. Americans should work towards making themselves marketable in the workforce rather than expect opportunities handed over to them just because they are citizens (Cole 691). In the modern day, the reason immigrants get better opportunities is that they have the necessary expertise to fill in the workforce shortages in the USA.
Even though it is necessary to support immigration, it does not mean that the US should open their borders to all newcomers. Such a move would only enhance insecurity, especially with the increasing terrorist threats today. Despite the economic benefits, immigration remains a sensitive subject everywhere. A survey by the Pew Research Center in 2010 showed that three in four Americans preferred more strict laws on immigration. The same poll was evident in 66% of Germans and 77% Venezuelans as well as 89% South Africans (Heer 40). Therefore, most nationals would like tighter restrictions on immigration for security purposes among others.
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Since, the growth of the economy requires the ability of immigrants to offer their expertise and services to other nations, imposing sensible restrictions is the best solution instead of banning immigration.
Thus, one practical solution would be to introduce an expanded guest worker program. The nation could give visas to foreigners for a specified time so that they can work in the USA then later go back to their home countries. The step would help spread the advantages of immigration and also benefit the nations sending their migrants who would offer a more productive role in the workforce following their experience in the US. Considering the poor prospects of economic growth, there is no denying that the economy in the USA and other nations could use some help (Cole 693). Thus, considering immigrants have been a significant force in the growth of the USA, banning immigration only creates shortages in the workforce. On the other hand, having an expanded guest program ensures the USA can regulate the immigrant numbers in the country and at the same time ensure economic development.
Therefore, one could not help but agree with Tamar Jacoby (332) that immigration increases the virtues of hard work and fortitude in the US. The roots of the nation’s development are founded on the determination of immigrants from various countries to create a better lifestyle for themselves. Thus, immigrants have been a vital force in the growth of the economy. It is pointless to state that foreigners reduce employment opportunities for American-born citizens yet they live in a nation that promotes self-creation and mobility. The immigrants, therefore, offer effective competition with the locals who need to enhance their living standards by making themselves more marketable in the workforce. The economic benefits of immigration make the
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introduction of an expanded guest program crucial to fighting the disadvantages of the relocation such as increased insecurity.