The background on the issue
The US president has allowed vowed that he would protect Americans, jobs, and national security because most Americans argue that the immigrants affect the US in diverse ways. There is a belief that any of the illegal immigrants continue to affect wages and take jobs that could be done by Americans. Americans feel that all undocumented immigrants burden society, medical, and education costs, therefore, affecting the economy negatively. Since Trump moved to America, he has tightened the migration policies, including signing an agreement to build the Mexican wall. Most Americans who support the move to have strict policies say that such measures are necessary to protect Americans and will help to provide more jobs for Americans. Some of the Americans have a different opinion, and they agree that, indeed, illegal immigrants have taken so many responsibilities and cost the US treasury billions of dollars. President Trump has a similar opinion, and he cites that undocumented immigrants have a substantial economic cost, and they affect the taxpayer approximately $113 billion per year, which is quite significant.
My stance on this topic
In my honest opinion, I believe that immigrants have a positive impact on the economy. However, undocumented immigrants could have both negative and positive effects on the economy. Let us look at how and what these immigrants do when they come to the US. A majority of illegal immigrants do not have work permits, and so, they will work in the industries and provide a good source of manual labor. For instance, many illegal immigrants from Mexico work in houses and gardens as manual laborers. Most Americans do not like manual jobs, but a majority of the illegal immigrants are ready to take these jobs. For me, I feel that this is a positive thing. On the other hand, as much as these illegal immigrants do help in doing manual jobs, most of them take away posts that otherwise would be done by Americans. They do these jobs at low rates, which means that they affect the market and prices significantly, which is harmful to the economy.
How my views have changed
After reading the “Micheline Maynard’s Illegal Immigrants: Do They Help Spur Growth,” I have learned my new things, and my views on this issue have changed considerably. I have gained a new understanding of how illegal immigrants affect the American economy. According to the current US president, illicit immigrants have continued to rise, and in 2007, they hit roughly 500,000 marks. The number has, however, reduced considerably since Trump became the president. He introduced new laws, which made it hard for illegal immigrants to come to the US. I have come to learn that, indeed, illegal immigrants pose a threat to security and jobs. The book allowed me to understand that when a country such as the US is flooded with illegal immigrants cost the government education, employment, and security. The records show that the US government has incurred more than $113 billion in a year, most of which goes to education, medical expenses, and law enforcement. I have now come to learn that the US government has to cater to these illegal immigrants as if they were Americans. So, the government has to spend more on education, bills, medical cover, and other expenditures. Therefore, the book has helped me to understand that illegal immigrants harm the economy.
Part II
Thesis statement
“Undocumented immigrants have become the backbone of the American workforce. Illegal Immigrants are vital to our economy because there is a shortage of low-wage workers as well as their potential to rejuvenate struggling rural communities. “
Quote 1
“Illegal Immigrants are vital to our economy because we have a shortage of people willing to do low-wage work” (Maynard 169-92).
Explanation
This quote shows that the US requires workers because most Americans are not willing to do low-wage jobs. Illegal immigrants provide a source of labor in this area.
Quote II
“About 69 percent of agricultural employees are from Mexico. The same is true in the construction industry; experts say immigrants are helping to fill labor shortages, and they constitute more than 25 percent of the housing construction workforce” (Maynard 169-92).
Explanation
This clearly shows that undocumented immigrants help to fill the labor shortage and help in doing manual jobs.
Quote III
“In construction, for example, about 25 percent of jobs go to undocumented workers, according to an in-depth series in The Texas Tribune. There are almost always jobs waiting for them, it said, because of a building boom in the state’s biggest cities” (Maynard 169-92).
Explanation
A majority of the illegal immigrants come to big cities, where they help in provide labor in the industries, which is a good thing for the US economy.
Works Cited
Maynard, Micheline. “Immigrants and the Economy.” CQ Researcher, 24 Feb. 2017, pp.
169-92, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2017022400.