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Khashae Barnes
2/12/14
5th Hour
Immigration
Weve all seen those commercials late at night. The ones with the kids in third world
countries that are alone and afraid. The random celebrity will tell us how much those kids in
some remote village need us, when reality is, theres another breed of kids right here in America
that need us too. They are the children of illegal immigrants. U.S. politicians think that illegal
immigrants should be deported instead of being granted citizenship. Illegal immigrants should
be allowed to remain in the U.S. and obtain citizenship because they contribute to our society as
a whole, they take jobs Americans think theyre too good for, and their families deserve a better
life just like everyone else and they shouldnt be forced to abandon their children.
Illegal immigrants come from all over the world. Therefore we as Americans have
a unique opportunity to allow many different cultures and traditions into our country. This
would greatly contribute to our society. Although Americans shouldnt give up their culture
entirely, there is no problem with improving our society as a whole with the skills and ideas of
illegal immigrants who only want to help make America better. Illegal immigrants also have
the potential to bring many innovative ideas and businesses to our country. The patriarch of
the Gonzalez family, said that if he was a legal citizen with his skill set he could open his own
business and provide employment to others in his area, boosting the local economy (30 Days).
Unemployment is currently a major issue in America. If letting illegal immigrants stay can help
this issue then why kick them out? The potential contributions of illegal immigrants are ones that
Americans would be ignorant to refuse.
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Aside from creating businesses of their own, illegal immigrants also help other
businesses survive. Most unskilled immigrants support and sustain jobs for more highly skilled
Americans, which keeps our country afloat ( Jacoby 22). This is because Americans are less
likely to take lower paying jobs while illegal immigrants are willing to do whatever they have to
in order to support their families. Most illegal immigrants take tough manual labor jobs that even
unemployed Americans wont. Unemployment has been stuck at more than 8 percent ( Smith
9). Letting illegal immigrant stay can help improve this terrible number. Roughly 7.5 million of
the 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. are working doing jobs that we need done ( Jacoby
22). As Americas economy is recovering, it will need these immigrants workers more than ever,
both legal and illegal ( Jacoby 22). Without illegal immigrants, our economy wouldnt be able to
function the way it does.
Although there are many reasons we should allow illegal immigrants stay in the country,
the one that should tug at Americans heart strings the most is the fact that these are good people,
who deserve a better life, who are being deported and forced to leave their children behind.
Producer Morgan Spurlock showed America where some of these illegal immigrants lived before
they came to the U.S. (30 Days). These immigrants lived in shacks that to most, wouldnt even
be considered homes. Some illegal immigrants didnt even want to immigrate to the U.S. at all
but were forced to in order to provide for their families (30 Days). Illegal immigrants are not
criminals (30 Days). They are not here to cause trouble. These people are risking their lives, and
the lives of their children to flee their homes and come to the U.S. just to be a part of what weve
created here. To some, thats about as patriotic as one can get. For generations this country has
been known as the land of opportunity for people of all races and social class, no matter how
they got here. Who is the government to say that this age old dream excludes these people just
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because they may have hopped a fence instead of taking a plane or a train? All people deserve
the right to a better life.
Some politicians argue that illegal immigrants use too many of Americas resources such
as schooling for their children, and garbage removal ( Lacey 20). However these people are
wrong. Most illegal immigrant children come to the U.S. as children, therefore they are a special
case ( Smith 9). If America deports all illegal immigrants they will quickly come to realize
that many of them have children that were born legally in the U.S. Therefore, if their parents
are deported they will become that states responsibility. Eighteen years of paying for food,
clothing and shelter for these children will make America responsible for more than just their
education and cost more than anyones everyday garbage pick up. This is also coming from the
same nation that created the no child left behind program yet, theyre forcing the parents of these
children to do just that.
Illegal immigration has been a topic that everyone has been going back and forth about.
Yet what most fail to realize is this isnt about just a simple law. Its not about a black and white
version of right and wrong as far as the Americas immigration policy. These are real people
with real families they have to provide for. If we as Americans can help them do that, then why
wouldnt we? These illegal immigrants often come from nothing, but they are willing to come
here and work hard to earn a living. These immigrants contribute to our society with new ideas
and customs, take jobs that Americans wont, and overall just want a better life for themselves
and their children. So when thinking about illegal immigrants, picture those kids in that third
world country and how much they need our help. Then think about the kids and families right
here in America who need us just as much.
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Works Cited
Immigration. 30 Days. FX. 26 July 2006.
Jacoby, Tamar and Tom Tancredo. Does the U.S. Need Illegal Immigrants? Upfront
Magazine . 12 March 2012: 22 .
Lacey, Marc and Damien Cave. Scenes from the Border. Upfront Magazine. 2 January 2012:
18 - 21.
Smith, Patricia. The Great Immigration Debate. Upfront Magazine . 8 October 2012: 8- 11.