Amnesty Gamble

Granting amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants is causing many Americans to be skeptical of the whole idea.  Americans believe that it could threaten their way of life and in general its a bother. Being able to grant amnesty means giving illegals countless opportunities to better the lives of adults and that of their children. Coming to America can give some sort of hope to illegal immigrants that it can and does get better if you take advantage of the changes. Most importantly allowing immigrants to stay shows better diversity in our nation’s population and culture.

In the article “Immigrants Enriches You and Me”, by Nicholas Kristof, he mentions a few vulgar comments like “repulsive to our habits and tastes” and “immigrants are steep in ignorance”, that were made by The Christian Examiner and Harper’s Weekly (Kristof 1). These writers made it out to seem as though having illegal immigrants in our country is a disgusting idea and inappropriate. In reality, immigrants may be ignorant to American ideas and ways but the idea is that they come to America to learn about the differences. All illegal immigrants see is opportunity to better themselves and their families by finding any job that pays, learning the English language as time passes, and giving their children the option of education. Who’s to say that undocumented immigrants are the ignorant ones, when people opposed to the idea of amnesty don’t accept their differences and what they contribute to America. In terms of “repulsive to our habits and our taste”, what good habits and tastes do Americans show to anyone in this world? That its okay to exploit women and judge those that are different? If anything, immigrants bring culture to North America and better habits like being family oriented and working hard because that's all they have. In a sociology study, it showed that 75 percent of undocumented immigrants highest priority is family (Halm 3). Illegal Immigrants offer this idea that families stick together because that's what makes the individual stronger. Americans can benefit from some of these habits which are so called “repulsive to our habits”.

This idea that undocumented individuals shouldn't be granted amnesty and sent back to where they came from is outrageous. In that case, we should all start packing and going back to where we descended from because unless your Native American, we all technically are illegal. Kristof mentions, “For starters, unless you are a full-blooded American Indian, we have you” (Kristof 2) No one in this country has the right to say “immigrants” shouldn't be here unless you are in fact an American Indian. Ed Butowsky, the author of “We Cannot Afford Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants” wrote, “But if his fix, as rumored, is to grant amnesty to an estimated 5 million illegals, he’ll be making a huge mistake, because we simply can afford it. Amnesty will cost you, the American taxpayer a fortune” (Butowsky 1). He goes on to say that on average it will cost $14,000 a year for each undocumented immigrants. But according to the Stephen Goss, the chief actuary for Social Security Administration and the Center for American Progress, unauthorized immigrants have contributed $100 billion to Social Security over a decade and don’t collect benefits and paid another $11 billion in taxes in 2010 alone (Kristof 2). If these unauthorized immigrants alone received permits and entered into the system, they can add another $45 billion in over 5 years in payroll taxes. (Kristof 2) Adding up all those profits, it seems to me as though $14,000 is being covered and is even exceeding. Yes, 12 million illegal immigrants times 14,000 amounts to a terrifying number and looks as though its impossible to generate enough to cover the cost of granting amnesty, but it doesn't account for those who are not documented as illegal and still contribute to these numbers and the fact that they do not receive the luxury of benefits, 401k, and social security.

Those that are undocumented didn't ask to be born in places where there isn't much for them to grow on as a person, it was all by chance. As Americans with more than opportunities, it is our job to give them the chance for a better life and to allow undocumented immigrants to contribute to our country because it is not hurting anyone and most importantly, no American is getting deprived of their opportunity to succeed because of those who are illegal. Instead of fighting against one another, Americans must unite because it makes us a stronger country and then America can really live up to the idea that it is land of opportunity and diversity. It shows that this country judges no one and accept everyone.