January 15

Blog #10 – 4 questions about immigration

While studying the Gilded Age and the 3rd wave of American immigration, we brought up a lot of questions in our discussions. 

1. Is the wall on our border with Mexico morally / ethically right thing to do  given that the majority of illegal immigrants are people who overstay their work or college visas and NOT those who cross the Mexican border illegally?  Why or why not?

Breaking news: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110115/ap_on_re_us/us_border_security_virtual_fence

This article talks about how the U.S. is getting rid of the “virtual fence along the Mexican border b/c it’s too costly. 

FILE - In this undated file picture provided ...    US scraps virtual fence along Mexico ...

2. There are vigilantes called the American Border Patrol who patrol the U.S. / Mexican border and occasionally engage in extra-legal activities.  Their leader, Glenn Spencer, also has been one of the more outspoken anti-immigrant voices in American for the past 12 years or so, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.  See link: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/american-border-patrol/american-patrol 

People are allowed to express their opinions and even broadcast them on the internet.  However, do they have the right to patrol the border and take the law into their own hands?  Their defense was that the American government is not doing its job of protecting the border. 

A young man walks next to the border fence between ...

Here’s the ABP’s website: http://www.americanborderpatrol.com/index.html

Also, CBS News put together a segment on the border fence. Here it is:

3. Should America completely cut off immigration to the U.S.?  Why or why not?  Should the country allow in more people legally?   Why or why not?  Among the issues associated with these two questions, we discussed depressed wages and low-paying jobs and their comparison to the Gilded Age.  

4. Should we make it easier for illegal immigrants in the U.S. to become citizens?  Why or why not?  Former President Bush’s plan included putting the estimated 12 million illegals on the road to citizenship by giving them Social Security numbers so that they can start paying taxes on jobs that they already have (some use fake SSNs).  They’d also have to learn English, apply for the citizenship process, and pay fines. 

Pick 2 of the 4 questions and answer them.  Each question should be around 125 words.   Thanks. 

Due Tuesday January 18 before class begins. 

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Posted January 15, 2011 by geoffwickersham in category Blogs

65 thoughts on “Blog #10 – 4 questions about immigration

  1. Maddie Perfitt

    3.I think that America should completely cut off immigration for a certain amount of time. If we do it completely, our population will go down because we do have people leaving the country with no one to replace them. It would completely ruin our economy. With less people, that means less consumers. And less consumers means less money earned, ending in less money gained for workers. If immigrants are that much of a problem, then we can prohibit them for a certain amount of time, but no country can survive without anyone coming into the country. I don’t believe we should allow more people in because we already have illegal immigration as it is, and allowing more in will just make people think they all can come, increasing the illegal immigration percentage.
    4. I think we should leave becoming a citizen the way it is now. Immigrant requirements are at a good standard right now. It helps keep our country with its own identity instead of just a bunch of people put into on area. It also forms a sense of unity and comfort knowing that everyone in the country should know these things, or speak this language. Giving them social security numbers would reduce the amount of fake social security numbers. Immigrants should be entitled to everything the average American born citizen has to like paying taxes and fines. This is also a way to get more money for the country

  2. Riley Landgraf 4th hour

    3. America should not completely cut off immigration from foreign countries. If we cut off immigration completely then imagine how mad the rest of the world would be if we cut off access. America is so diverse and we have to many immigrants that if we cut off the ability for their family to join them here it is very unfair. Also, many young people in foreign countries want to come to America for college or to live here because they think its better, why limit their options? I think if we cut off immigration completely then we will become very similar to North Korea and that is not what we want to aim for. I think the country should allow more people in. As crowded as everyone thinks America is it really isn’t and we can always improve our country.

    4. I think we should make it easier for immigrants to become citizens. Everywhere else in the world makes it easier for an immigrant to become a citizen of their country it is unfair for us to make it harder for people to come into our country. It is also unfair that you have to learn English to move here. Over thirty million people in the united states live in a home where English is not always spoken. There has to be quite a few people in America who don’t know how to speak English fluently. Also, a test is a childish way to allow people into this country I think. There has to be a better way.

  3. Tharron Combs

    Immigration in America is a subject that has been getting a lot of talk in the media over the past year or so, between sources that think immigration is an extremely important part of our country, people who think that immigration should continue at lower rates because of risks to the American economy, and anti-foreign fearmongers who think that any immigration at all is bad.
    I would say that immigration is an extremely important part of American culture and the American identity as we know it today. Take, for example, the mass immigration of Europeans to America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This immigration both bolstered the economy with one of, if not the largest, workforces ever seen, and it also served to infuse the United States with cultures previously unbeknownst to Americans. Take also into account that Caucasians, who represent a vast majority of people living in America today, were originally immigrants from Europe, so if it were not for immigration America wouldn’t even exist. Last but not least, take into account the American dream, that lofty idea that even the poorest, most downtrodden man, with hard work, can sustain himself and prosper in America. It is this ideal that drives people the world over to come to America to try to make a living, and to deny the people of Mexico that undeniably American ideal would be to deny who we are as a country.
    There has also been much talk about whether or not it makes sense to make it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens. I would say that it makes a lot of sense to allow illegal immigrants to become citizens because then they would be performing the basic civil duty of paying taxes, and helping the American economy instead of draining it as they would without paying taxes. Contrary to what many opponents of allowing illegal immigrants their citizenship would say about a decrease in the number of jobs available, I would say that this would cause increased competition for jobs, which would mean better workers, and competition is what capitalism is all about.

  4. Nathan Willey

    3. No, the American government should not completely cut off immigration. Yes, it is true that we have a relatively large problem with illegal immigrants but that doesn’t mean that we should punish those who are willing to go through the proper procedures to cross the border. If people in Mexico or Canada want to come over and become members of the US then they have to go through the rules and regulations of the US. If we were to start letting anyone into the country who wanted to, we would face some very intense population problems and the percent rate for unemployment would most likely skyrocket! Because of these things I believe that immigrants should have to follow the rules to get into and become a citizen of the United States of America but this shouldn’t limit people from getting in if they’re willing to follow the rules.

    4. Yes, I do believe that we should make it a little easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens for one reason and one reason only: The taxes. It may sound bad, but if they’re going to come into our country illegally then they need to do what all REAL American citizens have to and pay money to our government. They may be able to get jobs but sometimes they can go without having to pay taxes and that isn’t fair to anyone who lives here! So I believe that we should make becoming a citizen easier because if immigrants do get over the border, they need to follow the rules.

  5. Lenny Gross

    I know it says to only answer two of the above four questions, but I am bored and have nothing to do and this is interesting. Sorry you have to read more.
    I believe that the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico to America and the wall is completely morally incorrect. This is because of the vast amount of people who are trying to escape the worse, and step into a new light. Mexico’s crime rate may have declined in the past 100 years, but the country is currently in one of its darkest ages, for the police corruption and violent drug cartels practically run the nation. Many people are trying to escape because their life is on edge with the violence. It may be illegal for aliens to enter this country, but the wall between us is morally improper.
    In some situations, like civilians patrolling the Mexi-Merica border, I believe the people of this country must solve some problems of their own, maybe not in the matter that requires radical activities, but yes, to an extent, some of what their leader Glenn Spencer is doing is necessary. The government for too long has watched immigrant illegally flow into this country, and people then are given the responsibility to protect this country from the entrance of aliens. HOWEVER, this gives nobody a right to use violence, the use of guns by civilian patrollers is completely uncalled for.
    I believe that the country should not completely cut off immigration in the U.S. This would cause a rash break out of anti-America parties across seas. The day nobody else is allowed in the country is the day America faces more scrutiny than the nations population has ever seen before. I don’t believe the country should allow more people to enter the country. When people aren’t granted legal permission to enter America, the government (or whoever grants such abilities), usually has grounds and a good reason to do so.
    I don’t believe that it should be easier to enter the country, however only the in words of time frame, meaning it just shouldn’t take so long, but they should still be required to meet the same standards. This is because if it were too easy, population would erupt and jobs would become scarcer, or more under minimum wage would sprout up, which leads to an unhappy, unsuccessful America.
    -Lenny Gross

  6. Devan Moosherr

    3. America should not completely cut off immigration from foreign countries. If America was to cut off all immigration, think of all the culture that would be lost. America would not be what it is now. It would lose the “melting pot” theme that it has. So many immigrants have brought over so many great things to the United States. Without those things we would not be where we are as a country right now. America should not let in too many immigrants. Our country is getting over populated as it is, and with more and more people coming in, that means fewer jobs for the people that were here to begin with. I do feel that the smaller the country, the fewer the people that should be let in to the United States.

    4. I feel that the United States should make it easier for immigrants to become legal citizens. Many countries are facing poverty and other terrible problems, and the way that we have to become citizens does not make it fair for people that need to escape the problems in their country. America could be a family’s only way of escaping death. The government should make some major changes to the laws.

  7. Chris Robbe

    2. Until we change the laws on immigration, I don’t think it’s that big a deal that people are patrolling the border. If the law calls for the border to be protected and the American government is being lax on that, the people should be allowed to defend the border. I’m not sure of the current situation, but by what Mr. Wickersham has at the top it sounds like there are periodic killings on the Mexicans who are attempting to get into america by civilians, so I believe that if these people are offering their support, they should be supervised and punished for murder if they kill anyone entering the country, but they can be extra eyes if they want to be. So as long as the law calls for the border to be protected, they should be able to help out.

    4. I believe that we should make it easier for illegal immigrants to become citizens. The main reason for this is that all the downsides have already occurred from them being in the country taking many illegal or low-paying jobs, the advantage to this is that there are more taxes being paid, plus there would be the initial fine (since they came into the country illegally). Another reason is that they would then also be made to take the test and learn English so that it’s the people throughout the country are able to communicate with one another. There is no new downside that would occur with this plan besides that the country would now have 12 million more people needing jobs (this is already happening, just not officially)

  8. Cierra McPherson

    Yes, I am aware that this is late and my apologies for being absent today. That isn’t the point however; I will be answering questions two and three. Starting with number two, with asking if people have the right to patrol the border and take the law into their own hands I would have to say yes. Mr. Wickersham you said it yourself when stated that people are allowed to express their opinions and even broadcast them on the internet. I feel that as long as you stay in your place as a citizen and you are not interfering with the jobs of people who are actually trained as border patrols it should be okay to take up space and attempt to protect the United States. Although I don’t think it’s the smartest thing in the world to do I feel that if you feel that someone is not living to their expectations of their job then you should go right on and do so as you wish. Third question, which is should America cut off immigration to the U.S.? No, America should not cut off immigration completely. I feel that a lot of immigrants, mainly Mexicans, get underpaid to work in the U.S., jobs that I think that Americans wouldn’t even do. Immigrants are obviously coming to America for a better living. I feel that a lot of immigrants had many contributions. Hmmm the country allowing more immigrants, I don’t think that’s going to happen. Do I personally feel that it should…NO!!! Not only can the US not afford it but I think people who are illegal immigrants will honestly get overwhelmed and it would be over populated and basically a disaster will occur (I guess). I feel that if the person is coming over here to start off with a better living and want to do right, then you should be able to have what people so call the “American Dream” and try to start a new life. Whereas if you’re coming to the states just to expand your drug franchise or something of that sort then you shouldn’t. But how will you know? Well I don’t know either. I guess this where homeland security comes in. Basically I feel that allowing more immigrants all around the world not knowing their intentions, some immigrants can possibly become a menace to society. And we already have that in the states. i.e. Arizona and several others.
    Thank you for reading

  9. Calvin Greer

    Yes, the wall on our border with Mexico is definitely the morally and ethically right thing to do! Regardless of who the majority of illegal immigrants are—people overstaying their visit or people who cross the border—you got to look at the phrase closely real quick: ILLEGAL immigrant! They legally aren’t a member of our country, which means it is against the law for them to be in our country. If we all of a sudden decide that it’s cool for illegal immigrants to enter our country, then what’s to stop us (the people) from deciding that other illegal things are totally ok too? Well gee, if random people from Mexico can enter our country, then why can’t I shoot my enemy in the face!!?? It’s the law, and it’s illegal. Our country, government, and most of all, our justice system, will be viewed as a complete joke if don’t crack down on what we say is “illegal”.

    I do not think that non-government groups should have the right to patrol the border and take the law into their own hands, however at the moment it’s better than nothing. It should be our government’s job to protect our border and keep our country free of illegal immigrants, because, like I just mentioned, if our government doesn’t prevent what it says is “illegal”, the whole justice system could get completely out of hand. Not to mention, our government knows that the large amounts of illegal immigrants is bad for our country because they don’t pay taxes, so why aren’t we doing anything! The government needs to keep tight watch on the border at all times to prevent these problems, not extra-legal groups.

  10. michael nona

    1.It is not a question of ethics whether or not the fence between our borders is fair. The number of illegal immigrants has been increasing and has become a large problem for Americans all over the country. Most affected are the small workers in the south. The immigrants can charge less for the jobs they do because they don’t pay taxes. This allows them to have lower rates compared to American citizens. When you look at it from an ethical standing it is not fair but it was becoming a necessity. This is the main reason that the fence, even though not morally ethical, is still standing.

    4. I think it would be a good idea to make it easier for immigrants to become citizens. If you allow them to be citizens they need to start paying taxes. With the amount for immigrants a decent percentage of the population you could easily get a large income, property and several other types of taxes from this community. If our country is in dept we should spend more time trying to make money to get rid of the deficit and less time worrying about illegal immigrants. What better way to forget a problem then to make it smaller by making them citizens. The only downside is there may be an increase in people leaving Mexico to come live in America.

  11. charles zuccarini

    1) yes i belive that the wall that they are building on the u.s. border with mexico is ethnicaly wrong. considering how most people come through work visas and or other means all the the wall is realy doing is using up unessassary resourses and money that could be used to actualy trying to work on lowering the illegal immagrants. not only that the people that are building the wall are also doing illegal things in the process. and by building the wall on the mexican border. they are racialy steriotyping all illegal immigrants to be mexican. it is ethnicaly wrong and should be stoped.

    3)what i belive we should do is cut off immigration compleatly. but only with the countrys where the most immigrants are coming from and causeing the problems. i think we should let the people from the countrys who arnt causing as much of an immigrant problem for us let immigrants in. i belive that we should keep the leagalization of immigrants into this country as it is. if we lessin it any then more immigrants might be encouraged to come here. but we shouldnt make it so hard that its immpossible.

  12. Chase Dino Turner

    4. i dont think we should make it easier for illegal immigrants to become US citizens. actually i think we should do quick the opposite! it should be much harder than it is to become a us citizen because, being the most powerful country you should earn your way in, even though as america we are stupid we will be paying off china FOREVER considering we are trillions in dept, plus we arent even close to china in thier growth, all im saying is we should make it harder to become a US citizen rather than make it easier

    3. i dont think that the united states of america should completly cut off immigration to the US if we did that we would be idiots because we wouldnt grow like other countries i think we should just make it harder to become a citzien, and shold stop the if you marry an american you become a citizen. we need to stop illegal aliens and make it easier to identify then because there are tons of them in the coutnry. in the long run every country needs diversity, and people from all over the worl it helps us because people off different ethnicitys are sometimes more skilled at different things.

    chase turner hour : 4

  13. Emily Kakos

    3. I don’t think America should completely cut off immigration to the US because of many reasons. First of all, it is the fact that the US is so diverse and cultured that we are the top in the world. Different people contribute different things and it’s important that we have a little bit of everything so as to make the whole better. If someone wants to become a citizen of the US than they should be able to go about it legally. As of right now, the country shouldn’t allow more people in because we have SO many illegal immigrants that we just don’t have the enough jobs and work for legal ones! Illegal immigrants should really just become legal and then there would be no problem! And when they become legal, they should pay taxes and contribute to society just like every other LEGAL American citizen.

    4. I think there should be more organized ways to make sure that illegal immigrants could become legal US citizens. Some petitions for citizenship take months or years to be answered and it sucks that people have to wait that long! Even though they have to wait that long, I don’t think they should try to come into the country illegally. If we just organize the system, I’m sure that 99% of the people could be happy.

  14. Indya Sanders

    3. No the United States should not completely cut off immigration. The States should not cut off immigration because it is the backbone of our country. Without immigrants the country would not be started or improved today. Immigration brings different cultures and ethnicities together to make our country a true melting pot. Blocking immigration may stop our country from expanding. Ending immigration will not stop illegal immigrants from crossing. It will probably cause more illegal immigration because people want to leave their unlivable situations. It is also unfair to those who want apply for citizenship and become legal immigrants the right way because a few want to cross borders. If the government wants to stop something, they should stop people from overstaying their visas.
    4. I think we should make it easier for immigrants to apply and pass the citizenship test because certain questions on the test were questions that I was unable to answer as a citizen. I also feel as though we shouldn’t force them to learn English. If they are children we should allow them to take English as a second language. But if they are adults we shouldn’t force them to learn Spanish. It would be in their best interest learn the language, plus there is a neighborhood in Chicago where everything is in Spanish and there have been generations that haven’t learned English.

  15. Samuel Kepes

    • I think that the wall is morally right to have up. The main reason is that even if it is not the most effective tool we have, it still is a deterrent to coyotes. When it take them a long time to climb over the fence, this allows border patrol time to stop them. It’s also something that American citizens can see and feel better about. If the government said they were doing something not many people would believe it. But when people can see the fence, it reassures them that there is something being done.

    • I think the U.S. should not completely cut off immigration from other countries. The United States is build from the hands of laborers many of them ,though we do not want to admit it are here illegally. If we cut off immigration it would cause massive problems not only for the U.S but for other countries as well. This is because the United States has always been a release valve for other countries. When other countries have too big a population or a sect of the population feels threatened the U.S has been a country that people look to for refuge. If we cut off this flow of new minds the United States will cease to be the great melting pot that it is.

    Samuel Kepes

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