Pros And Cons Of Immigration Reform

The article begins with a sort of anecdote about 24 year old Greisa Martinez, and her experience with the immigration and “naturalization” process. She is now an immigration reform activist, and reflects on her excitement of the up and coming attention on the immigration system. She tells article author Patricia Smith, “‘It’s exciting for us to think that people are very serious about it this time’”. Smith then continues to explain that both democrats and republicans agree it is time for some changes, but they cannot seem to agree on what those changes are. Democrats are moving to make these illegal immigrants citizens, while republicans, “remained opposed to granting any kind of permanent status to those here illegally”. Republicans are being swayed because as John McCain said in a TV interview, “We are losing dramatically the Hispanic vote, which we think should be ours”. Yet with that said Smith goes
on to say that it’s not only the politics fueling these discussions. There are “New Realities”, illegal immigration has decreased substantially for many reasons, economics both here and in Mexico (“where 60% of illegal immigrants come from”), next, in recent decades the birthrate in Mexico has plummeted, draining the pool of potential immigrants, and finally, there has been a real effect with the billions being spent on securing the border. Smith explains that the illegal immigrants would not be guaranteed residency after applying, “[they] would have to pay a penalty and any back taxes they owe, pass a background check, and get in line behind legal immigrants waiting to be approved for residency”.
It seems like a good plan but some lawmakers are questioning its effectiveness, (Texas) Congressman Lamar Smith states, “When you legalize those who are in the country illegally, it costs taxpayers millions of dollars, costs American workers thousand of jobs, and encourages more illegal immigration”. Author Smith then moves on to mention the Dream Act, and how it could have potentially legalized the status of children brought illegally into the U.S. But that was not enough for these young people who now want the same opportunities for their parents and older relatives. Smith then moves to conclude, while bringing up the fact that Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s parents are immigrants. “Rubio says immigration reform is critical to encourage economic growth: ‘We just have to get this thing done for once and
all’”. I have learned many things from Patricia Smith’s article on immigration. First, I have learned that both major political parties can admit that there is a serious problem with the immigration system in its current state, and next, that although there is agreement of a problem, there has been not progress on a problem. Republicans have decided there is problem and that they would like to do something, but that they do not approve of the proposed democrat’s solution. The democrats have proposed that steps and measure be taken to work at granting residency for those 11 million illegal immigrants already settled in the United States today. Although there is not currently a solution, immigration is a the top the agenda in Washington. If the plans discussed in the article where to go through, I don’t think that much would change for our nation. These people are already here, if they were to become citizens they would now be paying taxes just like every other american citizen. I feel like nothing would personally change for me, or my state. These people are already here and are practically leading normal lives like you or I, so there is nothing but good to come from making the pay the same taxes we do and abide by the same regulations we do. I believe it is a very smart idea to make these people actual functioning U.S. citizens. The way we as a nation handle the people who enter our country is very flawed, and fortunately we are getting better at it. But what is there to do with those who are already here, then officially add them to the population. To those republicans who say that this process of awarding them amnesty making them citizens will only encourage illegal immigration. We are doing better, and there are plenty of reasons to support the idea that people from Mexico have no reason to illegally come into our country. There economy is improving, the population is not increasing dramatically, and perhaps most flattering to you, we have spent billions and billions on our border security. There is absolutely no reason not to move forward with the naturalization of these people.