I didn’t mention this in my blog but after Virginia Tech I was thinking within a few weeks immigration would be the main focus in politics, today it was…but I’m not really sure if it was because of Virginia Tech. Densely populated cities known for their immigrant populations like Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago, New York were the sites of protest to the immigration reform package proposed by President Bush in March.
Immigration is a complex issue, and I find myself on the fence. I can sympathize with both sides, I have relatives who are decent, hardworking people, and they have been waiting over 10 years now to get approved for a green card and become American citizens the legal way. I would love for this to happen, but I doubt it will, especially after 9-11, and now illegal immigration. However, the government cannot order the immediate deportation of all 12 +million illegal immigrants. If actually happened, it would have disastrous effects on our economy, especially CA’s economy (it’s the 7th or 8th largest in the world in terms of GDP=>$1.5 trillion), a good portion of the 12 million are in California. American workers are not getting marginalized because of this massive importation of cheap labor…Americans would not take the jobs the illegal immigrants in SoCal work for the same wages. Working in a strawberry field, gardening/landscaping in the 100 degree California summer for minimum wage. If the US were to deport this new labor force, that wouldn’t create jobs, in fact it would push outsourcing. If US companies cannot get the low cost labor in the US, they will simply leave and look for it in some other country, like Mexico. Mexico will get thousands of jobs, because of our immigration policy.
A better worker visa program must be worked out though because the current proposal forces illegal immigrants to after working here in the US for sometime to go back to Mexico and then apply for citizenship. I do not think these applications for citizenship should take preference over those who have been waiting for 10 years.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18411370/page/2/
Immigration is a complex issue, and I find myself on the fence. I can sympathize with both sides, I have relatives who are decent, hardworking people, and they have been waiting over 10 years now to get approved for a green card and become American citizens the legal way. I would love for this to happen, but I doubt it will, especially after 9-11, and now illegal immigration. However, the government cannot order the immediate deportation of all 12 +million illegal immigrants. If actually happened, it would have disastrous effects on our economy, especially CA’s economy (it’s the 7th or 8th largest in the world in terms of GDP=>$1.5 trillion), a good portion of the 12 million are in California. American workers are not getting marginalized because of this massive importation of cheap labor…Americans would not take the jobs the illegal immigrants in SoCal work for the same wages. Working in a strawberry field, gardening/landscaping in the 100 degree California summer for minimum wage. If the US were to deport this new labor force, that wouldn’t create jobs, in fact it would push outsourcing. If US companies cannot get the low cost labor in the US, they will simply leave and look for it in some other country, like Mexico. Mexico will get thousands of jobs, because of our immigration policy.
A better worker visa program must be worked out though because the current proposal forces illegal immigrants to after working here in the US for sometime to go back to Mexico and then apply for citizenship. I do not think these applications for citizenship should take preference over those who have been waiting for 10 years.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18411370/page/2/
2 comments:
Immigration is the backbone of this country. America was CREATED because of immigrants. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." What ever happened to this?
It is, recall the many immigrants coming into the US at Ellis & Angel Islands at the beginning of the last century, and a decade or so later you have a huge economic boom (1920s). Once people get here, or have been here for sometime, they don't other to intrude on this high standard of living we enjoy in the US...but really, it's like you said because it's because of immigrants we have this high standard of living.
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