Custom essays on Immigration Reform

This year it has been deported a record number of illegal immigrants – 350 thousand people. A simple mathematical calculation shows that if one illegal immigrant cost $ 30,000, the total amount spent by ICE was $ 10 billion 500 million dollars. The amount is really big.
“The only people who lose from immigration reform are the guards in the prisons, armed ICE agents and factories which produce the handcuffs, – says Schneider. – Their wages depend on the suffering of innocent people, who are accused in an elementary desire to earn money to feed their families…” (Goldstein. 2010).
Based on statements by some immigration organizations, politicians and experts in the field of economy let us discuss the main features of the upcoming reform.
First. It is already clear that the starting point for legalization it will be the identification of every illegal immigrant. Consequently, people who don’t have passports (foreign passports or ones, they got in the country of birth) are unlikely to be able to get American documents. People “without the past” may be potential terrorists, criminals, etc. Understanding this factor, we can confidently say that about 7% of illegal immigrants will never receive a residence permit.
Second. I am sure that the government will organize a thorough verification of the identity of every illegal immigrant about committing crimes and violations in America. Let me remind, that the creators of the two failed projects in the Congress for immigration reform Dream Act and the Strive Act repeatedly emphasized that even the arrest for violation of public order (for example shouting loudly in the street) should serve as a pretext for refusing to authorize. Thus, this criterion will remove about 3% – of 5% of illegal immigrants (and after the passing a fingerprint percentage the percentage can increase).
Third. Probably illegal immigrants will have to give up the prospects for reunification with their families. The thing is that if they will invite their parents, children and spouses from abroad, the U.S. population will grow exponentially and it will be a huge problem. The representatives of the Republican Party have offered to give residence permits only to those illegal immigrants who once and forever will relinquish the right for the family reunification.
Fourth. For every illegal worker will need to pay the fine ($ 5000 – $ 10000). Moreover, the undocumented workers will be obliged to pay the taxes for each year of stay in the U.S. As to determine the real income of an illegal immigrant is not possible (most of them worked and continued to work on the cache), the bill provides a standard amount of fines. For example, $ 1000 for each year of stay in the country (the same amount was by John McCain in the Dream Act).
Fifth. The government is unlikely to be kind to the disabled and sick illegal immigrants. The business environment and economics require people without documents to work hard and pay taxes, rather than be on the shoulders of the state. Consequently, fears such as “after the reform happens, every illegal will become a social parasite” is unlikely to become reality. Passing a thorough medical examination is one of the criteria for legalization applicants.
Sixth. It is possible that the first time, every illegal immigrant will be signed to a specific workplace. America today needs the laborers, and the people with certain skills. The Republicans offer two options for employment: 1) The illegal immigrant finds the employer and signs a contract with him for several years. 2) The state sends him to a specific job (most likely in the field of agriculture). Thus, during the probationary period (3 – 5 years) the illegal immigrant will have to demonstrate his willingness to work for the country, pay taxes and respect the American laws (Brambila. 2010).
In my opinion, the coming immigration reform bill will incorporate the above points. Only with the fact that all legalization restrictions will be observed by millions of people, this bill will go for benefit the U.S. economy. The Congress is not going to give green cards to everyone, because in the reality the “comprehensive immigration reform” will never be “comprehensive”.
Briefly speaking, every illegal immigrant will receive from it the following benefits:
– The possibility to work legally in the U.S. (tax payment is required);
– To possibility to travel easily outside of America and return back without problems (again, time of travel trips or business trips may be limited by the bill);
– The possibility to receive health insurance through an employer (but it will not be free insurance);
– Get the little chance one day (in 10 – 15 years) to become a citizen of the United States.
Meanwhile, 12 million illegal immigrants (in reality, their number ranges from 10 to 20 million people) are still waiting for the adoption of the bill (Kazmi. 2010).
I also want to mention that this reform is supported by a large number of Americans. The Associated Press transmits that in several cities in the U.S. there were meetings in support of immigration reform. According to the authorities’ information, thousands of people attended them. In particular, the meeting was held in Las Vegas. The protesters waved national flags of the United States and held banners with messages such as “Stop separation of our families”, “Reform of today” and “workers, taxpayers, voters” (Kugler. 2010).
One more time I want to mention the advantages of immigration.