Givens 1

Jake Givens
Professor McGriff
English Comp. 1
27 October 2014
Issues on Illegal Immigration
The United States faces many problems, and one of the main
problems that are debated is Illegal immigration. Millions of illegal
immigrants have come from all over the world. All of them for
different reasons. One might want to better the future for their family,
one is probably looking for a fresh start, one is probably looking to
make money in the states and bring it back to where they originated.
The question is, should we allow this?
In Timothy Dolans article Just and Humane Immigration
Reform will Bring Immigrants Out of The Shadows. He goes on about
what our countrys main roots are, making it possible for anyone to
succeed in our Country. He also goes on to say poor and low- skilled
workers should be able to enter the country legally and safely.(qtd. In
Dolan) I however believe in differently. Because of illegal immigration,
there have been many problems in the United States. One main issue
is that the illegal immigrants are taking many jobs away from the
American workers. Another issue is the majority of illegal immigrants
do not pay taxes. Also, many immigrants now move into our country
illegally rather than come through the illegal immigration process.

Givens 2
Illegal aliens come into the United states to take jobs that offer
them a better opportunity in bettering their life. U.S. employers who
can hire them for lower wages than they would have to pay to hire the
U.S. workers often welcome them with no risk. From my research I
have concluded that illegal immigrants have gained a whopping
amount of over a million jobs between 2008 and 2010 (Passel).
In Robert Lynchs article, "Granting Illegal Immigrants a Path
to Citizenship Would Boost US and State Economies." He tries to
inform people about how many jobs America would gain, and how
much more money the US would make if there was no illegal
immigration. He states that, with legalization and citizenship,
undocumented immigrants will produce and earn more, pay more
taxes, and boost the American economy, and produce job growth.
(qtd. in. Lynch) However, he doesnt seem to know that illegal
immigrants generally do not pay taxes. Mexicans that live in America
send billions of dollars out of the United states and back to
Mexico(Passel). This does not only hurt the US economy, it destroys
job growth.
Incredibly, our government doesnt know just how many illegal
aliens there really are living in this country, nor do they know how
many cross the border each day. However, three to eight thousand
cross the border each day. More immigrants enter our country
illegally than legally. Half of them dont even have a high school

Givens 3
education. Taxpayers spend around $12,000,000,000 a year to school
illegals. It is federal law to grant free emergency healthcare to illegals,
costing Americans more taxes to pay. It is also a study that 30% of
people in prisons are not legal citizens (passel).
Many people have their differences on the issue of illegal
immigration. People like Timothy Dolan believe that everyone should
have a chance no matter if youre illegal or not. Then there are some
people like Robert Lynch who actually thinks making immigration
100% legal will better our countrys economy, and produce job
growth. While people like me believe illegal immigration is bad and
needs to be stopped. We will not succeed as a country if immigrants
are coming in illegal rather than through the illegal immigration
process. Illegals are taking our jobs for less money, not paying taxes,
and filling our prisons up with all of the illegal actions they are doing
in our country.

REFERENCES
Passel, Jeffrey S. and Dvera Cohn. Unauthorized Immigrant
population: National and State Trends, 2010
Pew Hispanic Center, February, 2011.
Dolan, Timothy. Just and Humane Immigration Reform Will Bring Immigrants Out
of the Shadows. Immigration. Ed. Debra A. Miller. Farmington Hills, MI:
Greenhaven
Press, 2014. Current Controversies. Rpt. From Catholic Bishops: Fix Unjust
Immigration System. USA Today 9 June 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. W
eb. 12 Oct. 2014
Lynch, Robert, and Patrick Oakford. "Granting Illegal Immigrants a Path to
Citizenship Would Boost US and State Economies." Immigration. Ed. Debra A. Miller.
Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2014. Current Controversies. Rpt. from
"National and State-by-State Economic Benefits of Immigration Reform." Center for
American Progress. 2013. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.