For its entire history, America has dealt with the influx of immigrants from all over the world. David Cole, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center and volunteer staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights, proves that immigration is more beneficial than some Americans believe it to be. In Cole’s essay titled, “Five Myths about Immigration,” he debunks the common stereotypes about immigrants and embraces the facts. These common stereotypes about immigrants are often fueled by ignorance and misinformation and can cause real- world harm to immigrants.
According to Cole’s essay, “Passion, isinformation, and shortsighted fear often substitute for reason, fairness, and human dignity in today’s immigration debates” (558). Politicians often alienate and demonize immigrants so much that we sometimes forget they are real people; real people who can do extraordinarily good deeds for this country. Immigrants contribute to economic growth in the U. S. through various ways. Over generations, immigrants assimilate to American culture and become productive members of society. Many immigrants come to the U. S. in search of a better life that could not be achieved in their home country.
With so many beneficial consequences that immigration provides, it proves that immigration is more good than bad. Immigration has wrongly been deemed as the cause for all that is wrong with the U. S. , when in reality, immigration benefits the U. S. in numerous ways such as growing our economy, enriching our society, and bringing out America’s reputation of being a humane and just country. If we continue to ignorantly use immigrants as a scapegoat, we will never be able to prosper and maintain our status as one of the greatest countries in the world.
It is proven that immigrants contribute to he economic growth in the U. S. through numerous ways. According to Cole’s essay, “Immigrants own more than 40,000 companies in New York, which provide thousands of jobs and $3. 5 billion to the state’s economy every year” (558). But it does not stop there, even on the opposite side of the country, one study in the Los Angeles County found that Mexican immigrants living in that county created numerous new jobs within only 10 years. These two instances are no out-of-the-ordinary examples; From New York to Los Angeles and every city in between, immigrants have always successfully created an abundance of jobs.
Many argue that immigrants only take jobs that are believed to rightfully belong to Americans, but numerous studies showcase evidence that immigrants actually create jobs that in return employ both citizens and immigrants. Many will also argue that immigrants are prone to living off of government benefits, such as food stamps and other welfare, when in reality they are hardworking people who would much rather have a job with a steady income. Most immigrants come to this country to make an honest living, and to assume they are all lazy and unwilling to work for prosperity is wrong, and incites more racist tereotypes.
Immigrants also pay taxes just like any other productive citizens and according to a 1994 Urban Institute report; the amount of money immigrants generate from paying taxes is notably more than the amount of money they cost the U. S. from services they received. All these economic benefits in return benefit the lives of the average citizen, even those who ignorantly claim immigration brings the economy down. These economic benefits are immensely profitable for Americans, but they do not happen instantly, it begins once immigrants assimilate and adapt to our culture.
Over generations, immigrants assimilate into American culture and learn to become productive members of society. Some Americans argue that immigrants refuse to assimilate into U. S. culture, but according to Cole, “our society exerts tremendous pressure to conform, and cultural separatism rarely survives a generation” (559). Little by little, immigrants newly living in the U. S. pick up on our language, behaviors, customs and so on, all through exposure alone. Over time, immigrants adapt to our culture and in return, they also enrich our culture by adding more diversity.
It is this diversity that enhances environments within our country such workplaces, neighborhoods, and also schools. After all, being a diverse country shows that we are a country that openly accepts the differences of others and embraces their freedom to be different as well. Pressuring immigrants to completely leave behind their previous culture and conform to “American Culture” is not only seen as controlling and unjust, it also assumes America has one single culture when in fact, American culture is composed from various individual cultures.
Although sometimes it can be rather difficult o work with different cultures and some cultures negatively interact with others, that should not be an excuse for anyone to fear immigrants nor immorally prohibit them from making a home where ever they please to do so. America is a melting pot of cultures, which helps portray itself as a beautifully diverse country where anyone is accepted with open arms. Immigrants choose this country for a reason; America is one of the most opportunity-filled countries that is rich in culture and diversity.
Not only does immigration enrich our culture, but it also enriches the lives of immigrants. Many immigrants come to the U. S. in search of a better life that could not be achieved in their home country. John Tierney, who is an author who works for the New York Times, values the humane aspect of immigration. In his essay titled, “Angels in America,” he discusses the life of a Mexican immigrant named Angel Espinoza who moved to the U. S. to better his life. Tierney tells the story of how Espinoza worked his way up; “Espinoza started off making less than $4 an hour..
But he became a cook and worked up to $15 an hour. He switched to driving a street- leaning truck, a job that now pays him $17 an hour” (564). Thanks to the abundance of opportunities that the U. S. offered to Espinoza, he was able to work his way up the ladder of success. Unfortunately, numerous immigrant families like Espinoza’s deal with the constant fear that one day their family will be ripped apart through deportation. Just like many immigrants, Espinoza came into the U. S. illegally and therefore is not able to qualify to become a legal citizen according to the current jurisdiction.
Luckily, politicians such as Democrat Bobby Rush work extremely hard to try to pass laws that protect mmigrant families, and make sure we keep a humane and just aspect in politics by not tearing apart families who are just seeking a better life. Not only are immigrants coming to the U. S. to seek a better life for themselves, but many also arrive to seek a better life for their children who in return, grow up to become productive members of society. Many immigrants are also refugees who are looking for a sanctuary away from whatever horrendous living conditions they faced back in their home country.
When immigrants come to this country to benefit their lives, they also benefit the lives of Americans. To deny any person the right to better his or her own life is simply unjust and inhumane, and that does not represent an America anyone wants to live in. American should be known as the land where humanity is always put first and justice is strongly enforced. With having a reputation like that, everyone living in America, from immigrants to citizens, would be able to feel proud of their country and feel comfortably secure knowing they live in a humane society where everyone is treated equally.
Immigration has wrongly been considered as one of the many causes for all that is wrong with the U. S. , when in reality, immigration benefits the U. S. in numerous ways such as improving our economy, enriching our diverse society, and bringing out America’s reputation of being a humane and just country. If we choose to continue to ignorantly use immigrants as a scapegoat, we will never be able to prosper and maintain our status as one of the greatest countries in the world. Fear, misinformation, and racist propaganda are no excuses to deny the right of any human to live wherever they please to do so.
Denying the flow of immigration from entering this country also enies the endless amount of possibilities for this country to flourish. Immigrants contribute to economic growth in the U. S. in a lot of different ways. Over generations, immigrants adapt to American culture and become productive members of society. Many immigrants come to the U. S. and have the opportunity to better their lives, which could not be achieved in their home country. With all these benefits, it only proves that immigration creates more benefits than damage to the U. S. and any claim that states differently is fueled by ignorance and misinformation.