Benefits of Immigration

Many people have the idea that immigration is a bad thing, whether it’s illegal or not, but the truth is, immigration is generally good. People probably believe that it is bad because they don’t quite understand what comes out of it. Here are a few facts concerning  immigration:

1. President Bush’s temporary worker program
   • Allowed undocumented workers to remain in the country if they were applying for a green card & payed $1,000
   • Benefited those already in the country who entered illegally or overstayed their visas
   • They had to show proof of employment & were sponsored by an employer, spouse, or children old enough to be considered citizens
2. Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986
   • Undocumented immigrants who had been in the country for 4 or more years could get a green card without the fear of being deported
   • 2.8 million undocumented immigrants came forth
3. Bracero Program
   • 4.6 million Mexicans entered & worked legally (Mexicans had long worked in the US & helped improve the economy)
   • Increased by 62k in 1944 & 450k in 1956
4. Estimated 8-11 million undocumented immigrants in the US
   • Some organizations estimate it to be closer to 15 million
   • Number of undocumented immigrants is suspected to be growing by 500k/year
     • Calculated by the number of new undocumented immigrants entering the country minus the number leaving, becoming legal, or dying each year
5. 3.8 million undocumented immigrants were deported after WWII
   • More immigrants entered than were deported
6. Only 500k student visas are given a year
   • There will be an estimated 7.74 billion people in the world by the end of 2012- you do the math.
7. There is an estimated shortage of 20 million workers by 2026
   • According to Alan Greenspan, US Federal Reserve Chairman (1987-2006), this enormous shortage “could increase inflation & decrease the quality of life across the country.”
8. Government benefits
   • Undocumented immigrants will come forward to apply because, although they wish to obey the law, they wish to stay in the country more.
   • Passing the DREAM Actwould give the government a better count of how many undocumented immigrants are in the country.
     • Important for national security & future immigration policies
   • If the DREAM Act is passed, DREAMers will become part of government tax lists
     • Important for infrastructure, public schools, etc
   • Undocumented immigrants will no longer work “under the table” at the expense of working citizens

Immigration is what made the US this great big melting pot of diversity. It wouldn’t be the great country that it is without immigrants. Fun fact- Did you know that 40% of businesses are run by immigrants or their children? And the next time someone says, “This is America, speak English!” Tell them this, “Exactly, this is America & there are more countries in America than just the USA- most of which speak Spanish, so learn Spanish.”

Related articles

• ‘Deferred Action’ for Undocumented Youth: Immigration Reform’s New Day (nation.time.com)