“Argumentative Essay Immigration”
Many people in the United States do not realize that the first
immigration law came into effect in 1790. According to George Bendon, the
“Naturalization Act stipulated that, “Any alien, being a free white person, may
be admitted to become a citizen of the United States.” (21).
Since then, immigration has changed. Pia Orrenius and Madeline Zavodny
point out that, nowadays, many of the immigrants” both legal and illegal” come
from Mexico, Central America, and South America, and do not fit under the
original law. Unauthorized or illegal immigration to the United States did not
become a substantial issue until the 1970’s (86).
The definition of a legal immigrant is one who entered into the country
with permission and has filled the correct paperwork to become a citizen. An
illegal immigrant is on that entered the country without permission or has
stayed past the expiration of their Visa or permit without permission. In my
opinion all immigrants should have to apply for citizenship no matter how they
arrived in this country within two years. This will help ease the arguments from
both side of the issue. I will prove this by using these points: the views on
immigration, immigration population, and economics of immigration both legal and
illegal.
First I would like to discuss the viewpoints on immigration from both the
born-citizen population and the Latino Population. The reason I say the Latino
population is because most immigrants are from Latino cultures.
In The Longman Writer, Nadell, Langan, and Comodromos; use an essay by
Star Parker stating that Born-citizens believe that people wanting to enter into
this country should do it legally; not sneak in during the dead of night; should
have to follow our laws, and be required to speak English. They believe that
illegal immigrants should not use the civil rights movement to stake claim as
why they should be allowed to stay in this country (458). They also fear that
immigrants will bankrupt our welfare and school systems. On the other hand
Nadell, Langan, and Comodromos also use an essay by Roberto Rodreguez to show
the opinion of the Latino population stating; the Latino population believes
they have the right to be here because they are neither illegal nor immigrants,
because they are from this continent and earth (456). They believe they should
not have to give up their culture to live here which includes their language.
Both populations agree they should not give up their culture or language, but I
do believe they should have to learn English to be in this country and earn
their citizenship.
Second, I will take a look at the population of legal immigrants, illegal
immigrants, and their children. Kalina Qingwen Brabeck Xu uses the U.S. Census
to show the Latino population in the United States, I will try to sum all this
information up. The Latino population in the U.S. totals 44.3 million people.
Around 40% are foreign born, 25% are their children. Of the noncitizens 55% are
undocumented adults. There are approximately 6.6 million families headed by
undocumented adults that have children that are citizens by birth (210).
Last, I want to look at the economic aspect of immigration. This includes
jobs and welfare. It is widely known that immigrants come to this country for
better job opportunities. Immigrants do not take American worker; in fact, they
are the ones willing to take the low paying, back breaking, labor intense jobs
that most native-born Americans refuse to work (Bendon, 21). If they are in a
state with strict illegal immigrant hire laws, and produce a social security
card to be able to work legally they contribute to social security, but can
never collect it. According to D. Griswold statement the welfare and illegal immigrants cannot claim it,
except for their U.S. born children. Most of these parents are afraid to try to
claim it in fear that they may be deported (160). Even legal
immigrants cannot receive benefits until they have been citizens for a minimum
of five years (160).
In conclusion, although there are many legal and illegal immigrants in
this country we do need reforms. There are many cultural, economic and legal
issues that need to be examined as our country’s population is dynamically and
drastically changing due to the influx of immigrants: legal or illegal. All
immigrants should have the right to keep their culture with the addition of
learning to speak English. As well as seek and secure employment to feed their
families. The illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay, but have to apply
for citizenship within two years to truly better themselves and our economy.
Work Cited
Bendon, George. “Help Wanted.” Grounds
Maintenance 41.5 (2006): 20-30. Vocational and Career Collection. Web 28
Oct. 2013
Griswald D. “Immigration and the Welfare State.” CATO
Journal [serial outline].Winter 2012 2012:32 (1): 159 Available from:
Master File Premier, Ipswich, MA. 28 Oct.
2013.
Nadell, Judith, John Langan, and Eliza A.Comodromos, The
Longman Writer Rhetoric, Reader, and
Research Guide. Ed. Lauren A. Finn. Eighth Edition. New York: Pearson
Education, Inc., 2011. Print.
Orrenius, Pia M., and Madeline Zavodny. “The Economic
Consequences Of Amnesty For Unauthorized Immigrants.” CATO
Journal 32.1 (2012): 85-106. Business Source Complete. Web. 28 Oct.
2013.
Xu, Qingwen Brabeck, Kalina. “Service Utilization For Latino
Children In Mixed-Status Families.” Social Work Research 36.3 (2012): 209.
Master File Premier. Web. 28 Oct.2013.
Many people in the United States do not realize that the first
immigration law came into effect in 1790. According to George Bendon, the
“Naturalization Act stipulated that, “Any alien, being a free white person, may
be admitted to become a citizen of the United States.” (21).
Since then, immigration has changed. Pia Orrenius and Madeline Zavodny
point out that, nowadays, many of the immigrants” both legal and illegal” come
from Mexico, Central America, and South America, and do not fit under the
original law. Unauthorized or illegal immigration to the United States did not
become a substantial issue until the 1970’s (86).
The definition of a legal immigrant is one who entered into the country
with permission and has filled the correct paperwork to become a citizen. An
illegal immigrant is on that entered the country without permission or has
stayed past the expiration of their Visa or permit without permission. In my
opinion all immigrants should have to apply for citizenship no matter how they
arrived in this country within two years. This will help ease the arguments from
both side of the issue. I will prove this by using these points: the views on
immigration, immigration population, and economics of immigration both legal and
illegal.
First I would like to discuss the viewpoints on immigration from both the
born-citizen population and the Latino Population. The reason I say the Latino
population is because most immigrants are from Latino cultures.
In The Longman Writer, Nadell, Langan, and Comodromos; use an essay by
Star Parker stating that Born-citizens believe that people wanting to enter into
this country should do it legally; not sneak in during the dead of night; should
have to follow our laws, and be required to speak English. They believe that
illegal immigrants should not use the civil rights movement to stake claim as
why they should be allowed to stay in this country (458). They also fear that
immigrants will bankrupt our welfare and school systems. On the other hand
Nadell, Langan, and Comodromos also use an essay by Roberto Rodreguez to show
the opinion of the Latino population stating; the Latino population believes
they have the right to be here because they are neither illegal nor immigrants,
because they are from this continent and earth (456). They believe they should
not have to give up their culture to live here which includes their language.
Both populations agree they should not give up their culture or language, but I
do believe they should have to learn English to be in this country and earn
their citizenship.
Second, I will take a look at the population of legal immigrants, illegal
immigrants, and their children. Kalina Qingwen Brabeck Xu uses the U.S. Census
to show the Latino population in the United States, I will try to sum all this
information up. The Latino population in the U.S. totals 44.3 million people.
Around 40% are foreign born, 25% are their children. Of the noncitizens 55% are
undocumented adults. There are approximately 6.6 million families headed by
undocumented adults that have children that are citizens by birth (210).
Last, I want to look at the economic aspect of immigration. This includes
jobs and welfare. It is widely known that immigrants come to this country for
better job opportunities. Immigrants do not take American worker; in fact, they
are the ones willing to take the low paying, back breaking, labor intense jobs
that most native-born Americans refuse to work (Bendon, 21). If they are in a
state with strict illegal immigrant hire laws, and produce a social security
card to be able to work legally they contribute to social security, but can
never collect it. According to D. Griswold statement the welfare and illegal immigrants cannot claim it,
except for their U.S. born children. Most of these parents are afraid to try to
claim it in fear that they may be deported (160). Even legal
immigrants cannot receive benefits until they have been citizens for a minimum
of five years (160).
In conclusion, although there are many legal and illegal immigrants in
this country we do need reforms. There are many cultural, economic and legal
issues that need to be examined as our country’s population is dynamically and
drastically changing due to the influx of immigrants: legal or illegal. All
immigrants should have the right to keep their culture with the addition of
learning to speak English. As well as seek and secure employment to feed their
families. The illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay, but have to apply
for citizenship within two years to truly better themselves and our economy.
Work Cited
Bendon, George. “Help Wanted.” Grounds
Maintenance 41.5 (2006): 20-30. Vocational and Career Collection. Web 28
Oct. 2013
Griswald D. “Immigration and the Welfare State.” CATO
Journal [serial outline].Winter 2012 2012:32 (1): 159 Available from:
Master File Premier, Ipswich, MA. 28 Oct.
2013.
Nadell, Judith, John Langan, and Eliza A.Comodromos, The
Longman Writer Rhetoric, Reader, and
Research Guide. Ed. Lauren A. Finn. Eighth Edition. New York: Pearson
Education, Inc., 2011. Print.
Orrenius, Pia M., and Madeline Zavodny. “The Economic
Consequences Of Amnesty For Unauthorized Immigrants.” CATO
Journal 32.1 (2012): 85-106. Business Source Complete. Web. 28 Oct.
2013.
Xu, Qingwen Brabeck, Kalina. “Service Utilization For Latino
Children In Mixed-Status Families.” Social Work Research 36.3 (2012): 209.
Master File Premier. Web. 28 Oct.2013.