There has been a constant debate on whether illegal immigration affects the United States’ economy and its jobs in a positive or negative way. Some feel that undocumented immigration harms the economy and labor force, while others believe that it benefits the U.S. economy. Most people are not satisfied with the current U.S. immigration policies, including the fact that there are more than 11 million undocumented immigrants residing and working in the United States. The United States is a country that was built up from immigrants. Almost all of its residents are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Immigrants have always changed the size and composition of the population, and have even reshaped the economy and labor market. They have also …show more content…
Those who believe that illegal immigration is harmful argue that it discourages American citizens from seeking jobs and makes employers more dependent and reliant on hiring illegal foreigners (Ruark 1). The illegal foreigner population also allows for employers to offer its workers a low pay and bad working conditions. Immigration-reduction advocates argue that the increase of working illegal immigrants results in an increase in unemployment and low wages for native-born Americans. This is because undocumented foreigners are willing to work for less money than U.S. citizens and to be paid this small amount on a regular basis (Correa-Cabrera and Rojas-Arenaza 303). Those against having illegal immigrants hold jobs believe that America has a responsibility to its people and to protect their economic interests and they feel the U.S. is not doing that (Ruark 1). They argue that the immigration system brings in workers much faster than jobs are being created. According to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), undocumented immigrants cost the United States “’at least $10 billion more than they contribute to the economy,’” (Correa-Cabrera and Rojas-Arenaza 302). It is estimated that a family of illegal immigrants uses about $2,000 more in services than they pay in taxes (Correa-Cabrera and Rojas-Arenaza …show more content…
Scholars have argued that illegal immigrants fill in the job positions that no other U.S. worker would want to fill (Nadadur 1041). These scholars claim that if the population of undocumented immigrants were to be reduced, the economy would suffer (Nadadur 1041). Scholars have used the labor market theory in attempt to better explain that illegal aliens do not take jobs of native persons. This theory splits the economy up into two different labor market sectors: primary and secondary sectors. The secondary sector is comprised of low or unskilled work or jobs which are characterized by low pay and temporary jobs (Nadadur 1041). As for the primary labor market, it is characterized by skilled work or jobs, stable employment, efficient management and effective trade unions (Nadadur 1041). Those who work in the primary sector are “capital intensive” and it costs a lot of money to train and lose them (Nadadur 1042). People who work in the primary sector are able to work their way up the job ladder, unlike those in the secondary sector who have a very slim chance of being able to move upward in their occupation. This labor market theory holds that native persons are more likely to seek jobs that require skills, that pay better, and are more secure (Nadadur 1042). The secondary sector has a shortage of jobs and this forces employers to rely on hiring
Competing for jobs against native Americans, immigrants are not only using valuable government resources from welfare and other programs, but they are also increasing the rate of unemployment. True, the jobs immigrants are tak...
Illegal immigration has been a problem that has plagued the United States for many years. This problem is not new to the country because thousands of immigrants have crossed over the oceans and Mexican border since our country was founded. The underlying problem is the lack of assimilation to the American ways of life and the acceptance of existing rules and laws. With the already fragile economy and the largely growing unemployment rate Americans must make every effort to close its borders to undocumented workers to ease the strain and retain any available jobs for unemployed Americans and legal workers. Aviva Chomsky writes “immigration plays a much more complex role in the employment picture, and many different factors affecting employment and unemployment.”(4). Chomsky so on to say, “it indeed seems to be the case that immigrants and low-skilled citizens are competing for the same jobs”(11). Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants enter the country and start working either under illegal names or take agricultural jobs in which they are paid under the table. Chomsky solidifies this fact when she say “some immigrants work in the informal economy, and are paid under the table in-cash, so they don’t have federal and state income taxes, or social security taxes, deducted from their paychecks”(36).Which a lot of employers are catching on to because on doing this they don’t have to pay taxes and can turn more of a profit This also hurts the country’s economy because no one is paying their taxes and so there is no money flowing to pull the country out of the current recession. This burden indefinitely falls on the shoulders of the rest of the legal citizens of America who are inevitable paying the way for this one sided labor for...
Illegal immigration has many diverse effects on the United States economy. Some people argue that the negative outweigh the positive, but there is no doubt that immigrants do carry a critical role.
Immigration has always been a major part of America. In fact, without immigration the creation of America would not have been possible. The majority of immigrants came to America for religious freedom and economic opportunities. However, for the most part before the 1870’s most immigrants were Protestants from northern and western Europe. These immigrants often migrated to the United States as families and usually lived on farms with family or friends who had already migrated beforehand. A lot of immigrants came to America with a plan or goal in mind. They often had saved up money for the long immigration overseas, were skilled in a certain trade, or had already been educated at a high level. Sadly, this would not last. Immigration became so prominent in America between 1870 and 1900 that the foreign-born population of the United States had almost doubled. A lot of German and Irish Catholics had immigrated in the 1840’s and 1850’s, and more decided to immigrate after the Civil War. A portion of Americans were biased against Catholics. Thankfully, the Irish spoke English and the German Catholics reputation was improved because of their Protestant countrymen’s good reputation. However, their children often lacked any skill or education, but they were able to blend in quite well with the American society. More and more immigrants would migrate to the United States without any skill or education and on top of that they were usually poor. These immigrants were called “new” immigrants and they came from all over the world including Italy, Greece, Poland, Hungary, and Russia. However, you cannot blame immigrants for migrating to America. Many immigrants faced religious persecution in their home countries which pushed them away, otherwi...
First, immigrants come to the U.S. to work and bring valuable skills which help grow the economy despite the negative views surrounding their part in the U.S. economy. Since the 2008-2009 recession the view on immigration and its effects on the economy has been more negative than positive (Peri, 2012). A study done by Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government found that about 50 percent of American adults believe that immigrants burden the country because they, “take jobs, housing, and healthcare”, while the other 50 percent believe that, “immigrants strengthen the country due to their hard work and talents” (Delener & Ventilato, 2008). Over the past decade, “over half of the increase in the U.S. labor force,… was the result of immigration-l...
While some argue that illegal immigrants burden the United States of America and its economy, others believe that they have become essential and are an important part of the US, economy. Illegal immigration has helped in the nation’s economic growth by enabling businesses to prosper, as the illegal immigrants have provided cheap labor and long hours of hard work. Businesses benefit from illegal immigration by saving a large amount of money since they are not providing insurance, both medical and retirement plans for their illegal workers. This results in a lower production cost for the companies and lower prices for goods and services for everyone. Although illegal immigrants may not contribute directly to the economy of the nation in the aspect of paying taxes like income tax, they contribute to the economy in the form of sales taxes by purchasing the supplies they need in the same way native citizens or legal immigrants do in order to survive and live comfortably....
As an effect legal immigration would make way for new jobs and if more people had more jobs they would more likely invest in the economy. Many immigrants remain illegal due to the long and rigorous applications and tests required to become a legal citizen. As well as hard tests, the fee to apply is a substantial amount especially for poor immigrants looking to immigrate for economic reasons (Swain). Many immigrants protest to lower fees to allow for a more efficient way to gain citizenship. Politicians debate on whether to lower fees often (EdTech). Many politicians believe if the fees where lowered it would allow a large number of immigrants into America. Allowing large number of immigrants could have both positive and negative effects. Crime rates could be increased, at the same time jobs would be created and the economy would begin to increase due to the amount of money spent in
Some people believe that the illegal immigrants are needed to fill in job positions were minimum skill is required, however there is no labor shortage, in fact the “unemployment among unskilled workers is high—about 30 percent”, demonstrating the overflow of unskilled workers (Malanga). If companies restrained themselves from accepting illegal workers, the chances for unskilled citizens to obtain jobs will increase and illegal immigrants might turn back home. However, most businessmen “want cheap labor that actually shows up and works”, so they stick to hiring illegal immigrants, only encouraging more to come pouring in (Reed 35). Once word of jobs accepting undocumented immigrants reaches families or friends of the hired illegal immigrant, it becomes a tempting deal that convinces further immigrants to come illegally despite the risks. This problem arises from the “employers who are ignoring the rules against hiring illegal immigrants” for their own benefit (Berlatsky). Since illegal immigrants have to remain cautious in the U.S. it becomes simple for employers to take advantage and hire them for cheap labor. Employers know illegal immigrants will not go “to the government to report that they were paid less than the minimum”, because of the fear of deportation back to Mexico (Henderson). One writer described this as being the “illegal "black market" for
The issue of undocumented immigrants has been a huge debate in the 2016 Presidential Debate. The increase in undocumented immigrants to the US has Americans scared that the increase is more like an invasion, but there are so many other reasons on why it is better to keep our undocumented immigrant population than deport them. The fact they better our economy, by taking low end jobs, or increasing our GDP per capita by 4% is a great place to start(). Most Americans say that deporting the undocumented immigrants is in America’s best interest, but in reality, the undocumented immigrants help America and even Americans themselves.
In 2007, the White House issued this statement in hopes to influence a Congressional debate: “Immigration has a positive effect on the American economy as a whole and on the income of native-born American workers” (Pear). This statement relates to the idea that immigrants actually enhance the productivity of American workers and increase their earnings in a significant amount, estimated at $37 billion a year (Pear). This is just one way in which immigrants support economic development in the United States. Since the U.S. is an i...
Recently, the U.S. government has been cracking down on illegal aliens and employers are in danger of raids and lawsuits for hiring illegal immigrants. Many employers either do not require any documentation or accept copies of documents (Rousmaniere 24-25), regarding legalization. Immigrants are desired employees and companies continue to hire them even with the risks. By working for lower wages, they keep the costs of goods and services down; the illegal alien work force helps improve the U.S. economy (Nadadur 1037-1052). However, illegal immigrants can have a negative effect when they encroach on American job opportunities (Carter 8). Some economists argue that illegal aliens actually help the host-country’s economy by adding to the labor force. However, other economists state that too many illegal...
Those who support immigrants being protected by the law believe that immigrants help the economy by creating lower wages which enables companies to make better profits. According to Becky Akers and Donald J. Boudreaux, immigrants “should be allowed to contribute to the United States economy in the Constitutional and legal precepts that guarantee all immigrants the opportunity to pursue life, liberty, and happiness in the United States” (22). If immigrants were not here in the United States, the jobs they do might not even get done by anyone else (Isidore 103). Immigrants fill up the jobs that many Americans do not want. “Specialization deepens. Workers’ productivity soars, forcing employers to compete for their time by offering higher pay” (Akers and Boudreaux 25). As researcher Ethan Lewis said, “Economics professor, Patricia Cortes, studied the way immigrants impact prices in 25 large United States metropolitan areas. She discovered that a 10-percent increase in immigration lowered the price...
Immigrants have always been an important part of United States’ population. Each year, there are hundreds of thousands of immigrants, from all around the world, including legal and illegal, come into the United States for job opportunities, new life, or the American Dream. “Immigrants have contributed significantly to the development of the United States. During the Lincoln administration, immigrants were actually encouraged to come to America, as they were considered valuable to the development of the country.” (Soylu & Buchanan, 2013). They believe that the US will give them more freedom, protection, and opportunities, which sometimes it becomes the major issues for immigrants. That’s why “the U.S. population is becoming more racially and
Although crime and terrorism has increased because of the absence of carrying out immigration policy, illegal immigration has caused the most effect on the economy. Most people think that illegal immigrants make the country more efficient and do jobs that U.S. citizens do not want to do. Although the truth is that these illegal immigrants are taking legal citizens jobs. As
Immigration has always been a topic of controversy, and the effects that immigration has on the United States are countless. Debates approach to whether or not the United States should take radical measurements against the eleven million-population living illegally in the United States and how the United States should address them (Costa et al). Such a controversy conveys deeper understanding of the current situation. In order to speak about immigration several factors should be analyzed: how is immigration contributing and/or hurting the United States economy? What weighs the most, the advantages or disadvantages? What’s the opportunity cost of taking one decision or the other?