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Illegal Immigration Essay

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The subject of illegal immigration seems to be a very hot-button topic for many Americans. The subject seems to lose public outcry on either side at any given moment, then suddenly cause tremendous tremors on our social conscious. The subject of illegal immigration has many sub-issues, but one of the most problematic is that illegal immigrants are a financial drain on the American economy. Ellis Island is the location where European immigrants passed through and were documented. According to June F. Tyler, “Before 1890 each state handled immigration according to its own rules. After that date the federal government assumed this responsibility. Ellis Island became the first immigration station, opening for business in 1892.”(1) …show more content…

An estimated 6.6 million of the 11.6 million unauthorized residents were from Mexico.” (1) These numbers are staggering, and common sense tells us that something is wrong with our system. The term “illegal immigrant” is now politically incorrect and the sympathizers are trying soften the image by coining the term “undocumented worker”. The term undocumented “worker” states exactly what they are here to do, work. But this is not as simple and noble as it appears. When the first wave of immigrants to the United States came via Ellis Island, they were primarily from Europe and came with skills that helped shape our nation. Some were tradesman, seamstress, architects, etc. As noted by Steve Malanga, the early immigrants that came to the United States came for different reasons “Though fleeing persecution or economic stagnation in their homelands, that era's immigrants brought important skills that fit easily into the American economy and helped supercharge the work force.” (1) Today’s massive wave of illegal immigrants simply do not possess those types of skills. Many are here to do menial jobs at below minimum wage. The immigrants that enter the United States the legal route come with strong skills that help advance our technological and medical fields. They do not become burdens on society by using government services. The illegal immigration advocates want the American public to swallow the fallacy that these fine law-breaking citizens are here

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