Americans are naturally nationalistic. A strong sense of patriotism accompanied by beer and barbecue epitomizes our culture. These values are part of what makes America great, but they also emit xenophobia.
We live in a time where immigration holds a negative context. It’s associated with overpopulation, increased job competition and crime. Immigration not all negative, though.
Immigration resurrected Hazleton, Pennsylvania, a town once opposed to immigration. Passed in 2006, the Illegal Immigration Relief Act aimed to make the lives of illegal immigrants terrible so they might leave.
However, immigration led to a revived workforce, which helped Hazleton climb out of a recession.
Neal DeAngelo, with the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress said, “The Latino community right now is the driving force behind a lot of the new businesses that are being opened up.”
Immigration leads to economic growth, increased wages for native-born Americans and increase job opportunities. They spend money on American businesses, allowing more room for growth. Immigrants are also statistically more entrepreneurial than most home-grown Americans, leading to more spending and economic development.
Americans face economic problems with the baby boomers beginning to retire. The government is struggling to pay their social security. Immigrants offer a solution: The more immigrants pay into social security, the easier it is to pay for baby boomer retirement.
Promises of walls and anti-immigration policies demonstrate American’s xenophobic attitude. Immigration gives life to dying communities.
We should base our international policies on fact — not ramblings of faux politicians. Facts show immigration is a solution to many common problems today, and we should remember this in the upcoming election.
Why would we entrust our vote to someone with a warped idea on how to get our country in a better financial standing? Immigration is the key to economic development, and nobody wants to move to a country with racist policies.
Isolationist ideals held in the ’30s, but hold no weight today. We are too reliant on the economic incentives of allowing immigrants into our country. The economic and social benefits far outweigh the negative consequences of immigration, which are mostly misconceptions.
Contrary to popular belief, immigrants pay a large amount of taxes. Whenever an immigrant pays rent, buys gas, clothes or electronics, they pay taxes. The U.S. Social Security Administration estimates immigrants and employers paid about $13 billion in payroll taxes for benefits they receive.
The vast majority of immigrants are here legally, not harming anyone.
Studies project Caucasians will be a minority within 30 years. I can’t figure out why this trivial detail is an issue for some people. What does it matter that whites aren’t majority? Desiring one’s own ethnicity to remain the majority is a petty, racist idea.
A more lenient immigration policy promotes tolerance and economic development. America is often called “the land of opportunity,” and we should prove it. Opportunity does not discriminate based on race, and neither should our immigration policies.
America is a melting pot. We should keep this ideal in mind when we decide on a solution for illegal immigration. Do we want to spend money making our country more unappealing to other countries, or do we want to broadcast an open door policy of acceptance?
Kain Hingle is a 19-year-old psychology sophomore from Mandeville, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @kain_hingle.