Undocumented Workers
About sixty percent of the undocumented population in the U.S. is comprised of people from Mexico (Salcido 1985). Because of this, the term, undocumented immigrant, is widely connected to the Mexican people. Along with the term, many negative associations are made with undocumented Mexican immigrants. One of the main problematic topics related to these people is their affect on the economy and the work force. Many different opinions have formed over this issue, creating a lot of controversy.
The article “The Economic Impact of Undocumented Workers,” describes the various positions held by people on the subject of undocumented laborers (specifically Mexican) in the workplace. It breaks down the different opinions by categories. These categories include the affect of undocumented laborers on social services, job …show more content…
opportunities for U.S. citizens, and patterns of migration. Most of the article is written in an unbiased manner. However, the author ends the listing of opinions from different standpoints with his own opinion, solution, and claim. Salcido states that the massive deportations and expansion of border patrol operations are only superficial attempts in solving the problem (Salcido 1985). The author also claims that undocumented workers positively impact the economy. “ Once the undocumented alien has the job, he or she is able to contribute to our economic system as a consumer. Certain industries are dependent on undocumented workers, without these workers they would go out of business” (Salcido 1985). Lastly Salcido offers two solutions. The first solution presented is to initiate a guest worker program, as implemented in Europe. This allows foreign workers to be hosted in the U.S. temporarily and work. The second solution the author gives is to grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants. Salcido reasons by saying that these workers hold unskilled and low paying jobs and many do not use social welfare services. The author concludes with the importance of legalizing undocumented aliens as his claim (Salcido 1985). Although two solutions are presented to the problem of undocumented immigrants in the economy and the workplace, only one of them is a true possible solution. A guest worker program has many issues within itself. For example, the program fails to account for the families of workers. The program relies on the rotation of workers in and out of the country. However, this can cause many families to be separated. The workers may not have the resources to move their families with them while they are contracted to work in a different country, forcing them to choose a location for their family to reside while they work in another. Additionally, guest worker programs do not offer stability. Once the contract is expired, the workers must return to their home countries and search for jobs there. Without the assurance of a job, some people might prefer to risk illegally entering the country in order to possibly stay and work for a longer period of time than that offered by the program. Lastly, programs such as this one have a minimum wage set for the workers. Some might argue that the price cap protects the workers against unfair wages, however, if employers decide the minimum wage is too high, they might continue to hire undocumented immigrants not participating in the program at lower rates. Because of these reasons, guest worker programs are not a valid solution for undocumented workers.
Despite the author giving a faulty solution, he also gives a solution that benefits all parties, legalizing undocumented aliens.
Granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants is a reasonable answer to the immigration issue. These unskilled laborers work for low wages and do not use social welfare services as often as thought to (even though they do pay taxes in some form, in contrast to popular beliefs). Additionally, many undocumented immigrants pay for a taxpayer identification number in order to have a credit score to buy/rent/lease homes and cars. Lastly, the workers do not displace or compete with workers for skilled jobs. Instead, they represent an additional supply of labor in the unskilled market; doing the undesirable and underpaid jobs most people stray away from (Salcido 1985). In conclusion, undocumented immigrants in the United States of America deserve to remain in the nation and continue to positively impact the society around them. The United States of America, as a whole, has to empathize on a greater level and pardon these hard-workers for trying to realize the “American Dream” just as the nations European ancestors did before
them.
The article “The Economic Impact of Undocumented Workers,” describes the various positions held by people on the subject of undocumented laborers (specifically Mexican) in the workplace. It breaks down the different opinions by categories. These categories include the affect of undocumented laborers on social services, job …show more content…
opportunities for U.S. citizens, and patterns of migration. Most of the article is written in an unbiased manner. However, the author ends the listing of opinions from different standpoints with his own opinion, solution, and claim. Salcido states that the massive deportations and expansion of border patrol operations are only superficial attempts in solving the problem (Salcido 1985). The author also claims that undocumented workers positively impact the economy. “ Once the undocumented alien has the job, he or she is able to contribute to our economic system as a consumer. Certain industries are dependent on undocumented workers, without these workers they would go out of business” (Salcido 1985). Lastly Salcido offers two solutions. The first solution presented is to initiate a guest worker program, as implemented in Europe. This allows foreign workers to be hosted in the U.S. temporarily and work. The second solution the author gives is to grant amnesty to undocumented immigrants. Salcido reasons by saying that these workers hold unskilled and low paying jobs and many do not use social welfare services. The author concludes with the importance of legalizing undocumented aliens as his claim (Salcido 1985). Although two solutions are presented to the problem of undocumented immigrants in the economy and the workplace, only one of them is a true possible solution. A guest worker program has many issues within itself. For example, the program fails to account for the families of workers. The program relies on the rotation of workers in and out of the country. However, this can cause many families to be separated. The workers may not have the resources to move their families with them while they are contracted to work in a different country, forcing them to choose a location for their family to reside while they work in another. Additionally, guest worker programs do not offer stability. Once the contract is expired, the workers must return to their home countries and search for jobs there. Without the assurance of a job, some people might prefer to risk illegally entering the country in order to possibly stay and work for a longer period of time than that offered by the program. Lastly, programs such as this one have a minimum wage set for the workers. Some might argue that the price cap protects the workers against unfair wages, however, if employers decide the minimum wage is too high, they might continue to hire undocumented immigrants not participating in the program at lower rates. Because of these reasons, guest worker programs are not a valid solution for undocumented workers.
Despite the author giving a faulty solution, he also gives a solution that benefits all parties, legalizing undocumented aliens.
Granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants is a reasonable answer to the immigration issue. These unskilled laborers work for low wages and do not use social welfare services as often as thought to (even though they do pay taxes in some form, in contrast to popular beliefs). Additionally, many undocumented immigrants pay for a taxpayer identification number in order to have a credit score to buy/rent/lease homes and cars. Lastly, the workers do not displace or compete with workers for skilled jobs. Instead, they represent an additional supply of labor in the unskilled market; doing the undesirable and underpaid jobs most people stray away from (Salcido 1985). In conclusion, undocumented immigrants in the United States of America deserve to remain in the nation and continue to positively impact the society around them. The United States of America, as a whole, has to empathize on a greater level and pardon these hard-workers for trying to realize the “American Dream” just as the nations European ancestors did before
them.