Is it Even Possible to be Anti-immigration?

Think long and hard about this next question: Is anyone truly indigenous to the United States? Even though some people may be a minute part of Native American descent, there is no one left that honestly has claim to the country. Whether on the Mayflower, off a boat, or via plane a part of everyone's family has migrated here, but still people are against immigration. Being first generation here, I do not comprehend how people can be against an institution that has formed our country.  We are not only a possible "new life" for some people but, a safe haven from the hardship and persecution from their country. That naiveté is why racism and discrimination is still prevalent in this country even though 10 years ago President Bush described the United States as a "Kinder, Gentler Nation" for his campaign slogan. 


Besides the moral factor of being cold hearted against immigration only a callous person can be so ignorant to ignore its evident benefits.  Immigrants do jobs that no American would want or have the patience to do, and do the job more efficiently than the average lazy American would.  At my family's restaurant, the dishwashers are all legal, documented Mexican immigrants who work for every single penny that they receive. They not only provide efficiency, but, as said in an article written by the media resource KBPS of San Diego, "Their low wages increase employers’ profits and lower consumers’ costs." (St John 1). If Americans did jobs such as farming, constructing, and dish washing all our everyday expenses would rise tremendously because Americans would want to get paid more, for doing less. 


Continuing with the monetary aspect of immigration, if the U.S. government reformed their immigration policies to include a legalization of all the undocumented immigrants in this country, the economy would actually spur the economy. "Immigration reform would increase U.S. GDP by at least 0.84 percent. This would translate into at least a $1.5 trillion cumulative increase in GDP over 10 years, which includes approximately $1.2 trillion in consumption and $256 billion in investment." (Economic Benefits 1).  As some already know our GDP (Gross Domestic Product) as of 2009 was 14.67 trillion dollars, however our national debt is 45.67% higher than our GDP, making our national debt 14.01 trillion dollars (After subtracting the GDP). Ultimately our country would almost have to double its GDP to outset the debt which is completely impossible however the legalization of immigrants can help decrease that enormous amount of debt. Legalization would also help American employers because it would allow for immigrants to have a higher productivity by eliminating petty fees, which then would lead to the expansion of their company, and finally more opportunity for advancement for Americans employees in skilled occupation.  Also an increase "under an optimal visa tax would be 1.27% of GDP or $180 billion." (Dixon 1).


With all of this information at hand, how can one truly be against immigration?  We truly are an immigration nation, and that fact is unarguable.  Our culture has been influenced and consists of fragments of various cultures however people continually ridicule immigrants, specifically Hispanics. However, if those said people were not ignorant they would have noticed that, historically, a portion of The United States that we know today, was once their land. Nevertheless we must let bygones be bygones and set aside our malice towards others because arguing ultimately goes no where.  Best said by Gus Portokalos in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", "We all different, but in the end, we all fruit."


Works Cited

Dixon, Peter B., and Maureen T. Rimmer. "Restriction or Legalization? Measuring the Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform | Peter B. Dixon and Maureen T. Rimmer | Cato Institute: Trade Policy Analysis."The Cato Institute. 13 Aug. 2009. Web. 05 Jan. 2011. <http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10438>.

"The Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform." Immigration Policy Center. 11 Jan. 2010. Web. 05 Jan. 2011. <http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/economic-benefits-immigration-reform>.

St John, Alison. "Costs And Benefits Of Illegal Immigration Are Unequally Distributed | KPBS.org." KPBS San Diego: Public Radio, TV and Web. 23 July 2010. Web. 05 Jan. 2011. <http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/jul/23/costs-benefits-illegal-immigration-unequal/>.