Illegal Immigration and the Economy Essay

The United States of America, being a country founded by immigrants, is known all over the world as the land of great opportunities. People from all walks of life travelled across the globe, taking a chance to find a better life for them and their family. Over the years, the population of immigrants has grown immensely, resulting in the currently controversial issue of illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants are the people who have overstayed the time granted on their US, visa or those who have broken the federal law by crossing the border illegally. Matt O’Brien stated in his article “The government thinks that 10.8 million illegal immigrants lived in the country in January 2009, down from a peak of nearly 12 million in 2007.”(Para, 2)

“Today's foreign immigrants account for approximately one-third of America's annual population growth, not only because of their large and increasing numbers, but also because of America's low birth rate (16 per 1000) and low fertility rate (1.8)” (Carlson). The current population of the U.S. is 212 million people, if one-third of them will leave, then a country’s economy will crash. The impact of the anti-immigrant laws have is completely negative, because if immigrants will go back home or will move to another country, the state loses workers and consumers who earn and spend money and pay taxes in the state. These taxes are the part of the country’s budget, which is distributed of the benefits for all residents of the country. The absence of immigrants will impact and loss in many different occupations and industries, from construction and landscape to finance and IT. Though some U.S.-born workers could fill some of those jobs, large gaps in several sectors would remain and cause a decline in the economy. The generations of immigrants have helped lay the railroads and build American cities, pioneer new industries and fuel our Information Age, from Google to the iPhone and society cannot just lose these people or not let potential ones of them enter into the country. The consequences of an anti-immigration law will cause to the recession of the

Today, the United States is home to the biggest migrant population on the planet. Despite the fact that Immigrants s adapt rapider in the United States contrasted with created European countries, immigrants policy has turned into a profoundly antagonistic issue in America. While a significant part of the civil argument focuses on social issues, the Economic impacts of immigrants are clear: Economic analysis discovers little support for the view that inflows of outside work have lessened occupations or Americans ' wages. Economic theory prospects and the greater part of academic research affirms that wages are unaffected by immigrants over the long haul and that the financial impacts of immigrants are for the most part positive for natives and for the general economy. Immigrant’s s have dependably been fundamental advantages for the U.S. economy and contribute enormously to the country 's aggregate financial yield and duty income. In the last year, for instance, workers added $1.8 trillion to U.S. total GDP (Kwon, 2013). Business analysts have found that Immigrants s supplement native conceived laborers and increment the way of life for all Americans. Moreover, as buyers in neighborhood groups, Immigrants make interest for private ventures and strengthen the economy. Immigrant’s business people have additionally assumed a critical part in progressing economic development and making organizations.

Joe Messerli published an article that addressed the positive and negative effects immigrants have on the U.S. Obviously, having a larger population causes there to be greater competition to obtain work, however, the majority of the positions obtained by illegal immigrants are those that are undesired by Americans; low-skilled, low-paying, labor-intensive jobs (Messerli 2). Illegal immigrants pursue careers like dishwashers, landscapers, field workers, housekeepers, and food-processing plant workers. Very few Americans have the desire to obtain these jobs, whereas, illegal immigrants fill those positions gladly and do so at decreased wages. They also stay employed in those positions for many years, normally without the possibility of promotion. Americans however, only remain in such low-skilled, low-paying jobs for a short time, seeking to advance to higher paying positions.

Edwin notes that the failure and monetary costs of the ‘enforcement-only’ approach that the government is currently practicing. Edwin acknowledges the need for effective immigration reform; he proposes an immigration policy that rises and fall with U.S labor demand coupled with strict enforcement of wage and labor laws. Edwin also discusses the value of illegal immigrants on the American economy.

Immigration has been an essential but disruptive aspect of the people and the political state of the United States; however, debates related to immigration and its benefits are intensified significantly. Opposing immigration keeps ranting on how government should exercise better law to control over the people entering into the States from the foreign land. One of the most buzzed argument is that American citizen is unemployed because immigrants stole their jobs and disrupted the economy (Hoban, 2017). Also, an appeal to National security and vulnerability after several terrorist attacks all over the world and also to the government to keep track and maintain the no. of immigrants to create a safer environment (Cafaro, 2009). However, the contrary to these arguments have often been proven right. The pattern of the immigration shows that the contribution of the immigrants has resulted in an economic boost that cannot be overlooked by the government.

One common misconception among native-born Americans is that with a virtually unlimited supply of “outsiders” willing to do a job for less than the native who is currently doing that same job, the value of the low-skilled work force is decreased as a whole. This, in turn, leads to the belief that immigrants are depressing the wages of that working class. However, over the last twenty years, numerous studies have been conducted in order to find out if this is true or not and in most cases the findings indicate that, “Immigration seems to have no effects on the wages or employment of white natives and very slight, if any, negative effects on the wages and employment of native blacks.” (Waldinger, David, Lichter 19)

Immigration has fueled the American society from the beginning of its creation. Without immigrants, there would be no America. From ones searching for religious freedom to others seeking economic prosperity, America would not be the successful country it is today without its foreign-born masses. This country has thrived on its people’s diverse contributions, and it has stimulated our economy greatly. It is the place, no matter who one is, to thrive in the acceptance of one another’s differences. Unfortunately, there are others that oppose the very thing that has made America what it is today. Despite certain disapproval, the impact immigration has on America is remarkably beneficial to the economy; this is evident when analyzing its positive effects on gross domestic product (GDP), wages and employment, and other economic contributions, which in turn has stimulated colossal economic growth for America.

The US labor force would not survive if it was not for illegal immigrants. If there were no illegal immigrants our labor force would decrease by four percent (Isidore 5). “We could not have grown as much as we did in the 1990s if we did not have immigrants… our growth would have been slower (Isidore 5).” Having illegal immigrants in our labor force increases the amount of resources we have, which increases the amount of production in the country. “Some economists discuss that not only do U.S. consumers benefit from lower prices as an outcome of the low wages most immigrants are paid, but that the convenience of lower-wage labor helps create more work for higher-skilled, higher-paid workers who are generally born in the US (Isidore 14).” Illegal immigrants are opening up higher wage jobs, because they take over the lower wage jobs. Many immigrants take jobs in the field of construction, agriculture

Throughout history, immigration has remained a complex and influential piece of presidential policy—from the Age of Mass Migration, which led to the Immigration Act of 1924, to present day policy, which may result in the construction of a border wall. The debate on immigration remains contentious, inspiring emotional and empirical arguments by politicians and the public alike. Many of these aspects are discussed and defined within Abramitzky, Boustan, and Eriksson’s paper “A Nation of Immigrants: Assimilation and Economic Outcomes in the Age of Mass Migration” and Peri’s paper “Immigrants, Productivity, and Labor Markets,” which analyze American immigration, both past and present. From these papers, it is evident that adopting a nativist

Illegal immigrants help boost the United States economy by paying some taxes. Like American citizens, illegal immigrants may pay local, state, and federal taxes including sales tax that helps support government services that they may not be able to access (Ewing 9). Since more American citizens are becoming aware of the benefits of an education, openings are being created for illegal immigrants in low paying jobs (Nadadur 1037-1052). Americans, unlike illegal immigrants, have more diverse careers. Aliens are more concentrated in specific job areas, resulting in a decrease in immigrant labor cost. This helps boost the United States’ economy (Carter 777-795). Of the approximate eleven million illegal immigrants in the U.S., most work in labor intensive jobs. Careers such as construction and agriculture tend to attract illegal aliens and they account for about twenty-five percent of the work force in these areas (Ewing 9). Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve admits that illegal immigrants help improve the United States economy and does not suggest turning them away (qtd. in Quindlen 90). Anna Quindlen, in her article “Newcomers By Numbers,” agrees with Bernanke and believes that immigrants are the factor that helps keep prices low. She also adds that immigrants are not causing American citizens unemployment, but are simply taking the low wage jobs that citizens are not willing to do and even boosting the economy (90).

The most avidly debated effects of immigration involve the United States’ economy and labor force. It is estimated that there are 12 million undocumented immigrants in the United States today, and their impact on the economy can be perceived as positive as well as negative. The overall effect is unclear, and this essay will present both sides of the debate.

The world is becoming an increasingly interconnected place and this trend is continuing. As a result, countries are facing new problems that are requiring policy changes in many highly contentious fields. Of major concern are the immigration and citizenship policies of many western nations that are receiving a majority of the immigrants. This is a highly salient issue because people are concerned about the effect immigrant populations will have on voting trends and the jobs that they could take from citizens. Rarely discussed, though of vital importance, is the immense impact that immigrants have on the economy, as they take low paying jobs that the average citizen would scoff at. If these immigrants are willing to take such low paying

Immigration is a controversial topic that has impacted our society for decades perplexed by policies media coverage, perceptions based on one’s own lack of knowledge, personal experiences and a host of other factors that influence how our society views immigrants and immigration policies. The United States is a diverse population of people and filled with experiences that come from various walks of life that contribute to enhancing our social culture, economic development, and cultural acceptance.

Today, the United States is home to the largest immigrant population in the world. Even though immigrants assimilate faster in the United States compared to different developed nations, immigration policy has become an highly controversial topic in the Unite States, while much of the debate is around culture and religion, the effects of immigration on economy is clear. Immigration policy has become a highly pressing issue in America. While much of the debate centers on cultural issues, the economic effects of immigration are clear. Economic analysis finds little to no proof to support that influx of foreign labor have reduced jobs or American wages. Economic theoretical predictions and a bulk of academic research confirms that wages are unaffected by immigration over the long term and the economic effects immigration are mostly positive for natives and for the economy over all.