The Immigration Cancer Essay, Research Paper

The Immigration Cancer

The first move stopping immigration decided by Congress was a law in 1862 restricting American vessels to transport Chinese immigrants to the U.S. The Alien Contract Labor Laws of 1885, 1887, 1888, and 1891 restricted the immigration to the U.S. of people entering the country to work under contracts made before their arrival. Alien skilled laborers, under these laws, were allowed to enter the U.S. to work in new industries. By this time anti-immigrant felling rose with the flood of immigrants and in this period the anti-Catholic, anti-foreign political party the Know-Nothings, was already born. The problems and issues are still much the same today, as they were 150 years ago, but as the numbers and facts show the immigration problem is growing worse and worse.

After World War I a marked increase in racism and the growth of isolationist sentiment in the U.S. led to demands for further tightened legislation. In 1921 a congressional act provided for a quota system for immigrants, which the number of aliens of any nationality admitted to the U.S. in a year could not exceed 3 percent of the number of foreign-born residents of that nationality living in the U.S. in 1910. (Potter, Gerald., Congressional Quarterly 1921) This law applied to nations of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Asian Russia, and certain islands in the Atlantic and Pacific. In the 1980s concern about the surge of illegal aliens into the U.S. has led Congress to pass legislation aimed at cutting illegal immigration. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 allows most illegal aliens who have resided in the U.S. regularly since January 1, 1982, to apply for legal status. Also, the law prohibits employers from hiring illegal aliens and mandates penalties for violations.

Debate over immigration and immigration policy is not new to the nation’s history. From time to time, Congress brought legislation to control the flow of immigration. As immigration rises and hatred grows more laws will be implemented trying to release some of the pressure. Illegal immigration has some pros and cons. Here are some of the so-called pros if they re really that is debatable. It offers cheaper labor to businesses. By not paying minimum wages to the workers who are willing to work for a lower price, this gives the business an edge over other competitors. It Provides culture diversity in the United States. Bringing in immigrants gives more and different cultures to the U.S. which can expand businesses to other fields of the world. Also giving people a more understanding of other cultures. Lowers the cost of products produced in the U.S. that we buy. If the businesses can produce products and services at a low price keeping there overhead low, then we as a consumer will also pay a lower price. Most illegals are skilled workers and helps run the economy. Other countries economies are also being helped. The workers bring money to their families out side of the U.S. which in most cases the U.S. dollar has a higher value than their own. Most people disagree saying the cons of this issue out way the pros. Here are some of the cons to this hideous problem. Illegal immigrants pay no tax. If they pay no taxes then how can we as a country pay for public services we as well as they do. Sending money out of our economy and sending it to their families abroad. If money is taken out of our economy it causes a monetary problem. this can cause an inaccurate account of money in circulation, which might cause inflation. Lower wages; if an illegal is willing to work for under the minimum wage then the employer will not pay more for the job to any other employ. In fact might higher only illegals and take away jobs form legal residents who are willing to work. When illegals come to this country they do not get tested for diseases that might infect the population. Which can cause a health problem. Such as polio, tuberculosis and other forms of diseases. Illegals cost the states money, paying for education, health care, and other social services. In an already under funded programs they give these services a more heavy burden to deal with.

When it comes to illegal immigrants there are a lot of interest groups that have been involved in this issue. From businesses to governments agencies. The businesses, especially in agriculture. Agriculture employs more undocumented workers than any other industry in the country. Half of California’s 700,000 farm workers are estimated to be undocumented. “Three decades ago, the percentage of foreign-born farm workers in California was 50 percent,”8 the San Francisco Chronicle stated. “Now it is 92 percent.”(Opinion, SF Chronicle, July 4th 1998) Agriculture, however, is not the only industry with an insatiable need for the cheap labor provided by immigrants. These business groups have a lot of interest in illegal immigration. They provide cheaper labor, which cuts costs and causes better competition. 11 Government agencies are also involved. The new immigration legislation nearly doubles the size of the Border Patrol. In addition, National Guard and active-duty armed forces personnel are used more and more along the border.

Our ideas for solving the problems are pretty straightforward. First, would be implementing a armed wall on the U.S. Mexican border. Pat Buchanan first proposed this in the 1992 Presidential elections. The idea of the wall is since economical deterrence and any other programs we ve done over the past 40 years since Mexican immigration has risen has been an absolute failure. Since we re unable to solve the problem through peaceful courses of action, it s time to get serious. 92% of illegal immigration comes from Mexico with 6% coming from the Caribbean and the other 2% from SE Asia and Europe. So the 1st key in slowing down immigration would be stopping the Mexican s from coming into our country. The wall would completely shut down their efforts to take away the glorious opportunities American s have. If you shoot them as they come over attempt to come over. What would be the benefit for them? They couldn t possibly make it and after a few got shot the message would be clear that American s don t want us here and if we try we re going to pay the price. The other steps to keeping them in their own country would be to improve the economic conditions within their own country. The idea would be to cut off foreign aid, instead of relying on American and international handouts they could start to develop something they ve yet to have the initiative to start. Industry & Hard work!

Immigration has taken a great toll on the United States the immigrant population is growing faster then the native born population and it s about time we do something about it and take back our country not theirs. Sure it s true that we were all immigrants at one time but just as the constitution changes America has changed as well. We re no longer the Great Melting Pot we re our own separate culture and that culture has no more room for illegal immigrants and very minimal room for new immigrants. The idea of closing the borders up is not a racial issue or a cultural issue; it s a simple matter of self-preservation. It s the way to keeping our country great and keeping those undesirable for our country out. It s way past time to find a cure for the Immigration Cancer.

Works Cited

Conover, Ted. A Journey Through the Secret World of America’s Illegal Aliens. Vintage, 1987.

Opinion, The Immigration Crisis. , SF Chronicle, July 4th 1998

Dan Carney, ” Social Policy ” Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report, 9/7/96, Vol. 54 Issue 36, p250

334