WP# 3 revised

WP #3

Walk up to any American citizen and ask them what they think about illegal immigration and they will willingly give you their opinions. Most opinions range from immigrants just need to go back to the country they came from and stop stealing our jobs to some actually having welcoming arms. However, those who actually welcome illegal immigrants are far and few between. But how are American citizens and the United States suffering with so many illegal immigrants coming into the country?
One of the first things that come to mind when discussing illegal immigration is taking jobs away from American citizens. There are between ten to twelve million illegal immigrants in the US. Illegal immigrants are interviewing for jobs right along side American citizens and then they are getting the job over the citizens. However, citizens already have a big advantage over the illegal immigrants. Citizens already have social security number which is a necessity when getting a job. Also some jobs now are requiring a high school diploma. This forces immigrants to do contract labor such as gardening or house cleaning. These jobs do not pay as well but they do bring money home to their families. Some immigrants send money back home. Right now the amount sent back home to Mexico is $34,591,197,968 and rising (immigrant counter). Since that money is being sent out of the country instead of staying and being circulated throughout the system. This makes less money available in the United States. However, looking at it from the immigrants’ view, day labor is not safe work. Day laborers are also mistreated and suffer abuse. They experience nonpayment as well as being denied food and water breaks (Valenzuela). Because some immigrants are undocumented they are unable to receive worker’s compensation. This means that they must pay for everything out of pocket. They also do not receive any money for days of work they missed (Query).
Another thing that can be seen as a benefit is children of illegal immigrants are attending public schools sometimes when they still live in Mexico. Public schools are funded by the government and use money from taxes to be able to keep their doors open. When immigrants do not pay taxes this more or less means their children are getting a “free” education. In Arizona alone, taxpayers pay 186,962,600 dollars a year. As a country we are spending 7.4 billion dollars to educate children of illegal immigrants. “That’s enough money to put a computer on the desk of every junior high school student in America” (Cost of Educating). In Georgia the annual cost is about 181 million dollars. If this money was not spent on immigrants’ children it could employ one thousand six hundred teachers’ jobs that had been laid off as well as paying additional three thousand eight hundred seventy-three teachers (Cost of Educating). Those who pay taxes even if they do not have children or children in public school still must pay the school taxes. But if someone is not paying those taxes then it puts a strain on the society. This forces taxes to increase to help get more money into the system as well as costing our children a good education. At the college, level illegal immigrants do not have social security numbers they should not be able to attend college. However, states are allowing illegal immigrants to attend college while paying in-state tuition costs under the revised DREAM Act in 2003. This also allows certain students to obtain permanent legal status if they prove themselves through college, military or community service. However, this causes the cost of tuition to increase as well making it harder for students to get financial aid.
In some instances illegal immigrants are taking opportunities and benefits away from American citizens. The United States cannot handle the stress it is putting on society much longer. A resolution needs to be found.
Works Cited

Illegal Immigration Counters. <http://www.immigrationcounters.com/> (July 6, 2007).

(2007). "Cost of Educating Illegal Alien Children in the US?" (July 16, 2007). <http://www.couplescompany.com/Features/Politics/schoolbudgets.htm>.

Query, J. (Winter 2006). " Workers' Compensation for Undocumented Workers: A Discussion of the Regulatory Complexities." National Association of Insurance Commissioners. (July 15, 2007).

Valenzuela Jr., A. (May/June 2007). "Immigrant Day Laborers: Myths and Realities." NACLA Report on the Americas. (July 15, 2007).
Wipf, J. and P. (2007). "Should Illegal Immigrant Children & Teenagers Be Educated in the U.S.?" (July 16, 2007). <http://immigration.about.com/od/ussocialeconomicissues/i/EduIllegalIss.htm