Delivery Opinion Piece Grecia Mata
Introduction: I believe that undocumented immigration is a big issue right now in El Paso especially because we are neighbors with Juarez. I chose this topic because I have relatives who have lived through this because they were once undocumented. Many immigrants choose to immigrate to the United States hoping to make their life more prosperous and have more opportunities.
Statement of Facts: Undocumented immigration has always been a major issue in the U.S. But many people are not aware of the reasons why people immigrate. Families often get separated in raids and are greatly affected by it. Undocumented immigrants are normal people looking for new opportunities and of they do not cause any harm they should not be discriminated. They deserve the right to be treated as human because of all they have sacrificed like their family, friends and even themselves."These raids have immediate effects on the entire community" (Brunsma and Boza-Golash, 2008). The Government has taken regulations and they have been trying to minimize the undocumented immigrant population here in the U.S. "E-Verify is absolutely where we are going in terms of incentivizing employers and making sure we are using a legal work force," (Gamboa, 2010) They think that this system will be effective to find out if people working in places are U.S. Citizens or Residents.
Division: As U.S. citizens we should have consideration of those people who try everyday sun down and sun up to have a good life and give those they love a better future. They sacrifice so much of their life, that they deserve a chance and to be legalized here in the U.S. People should understand that they do not migrate to cause harm but to find the American dream.
Proof: This problem cannot be ignored and should be fixed as soon as possible. Every week there is a raid in most major cities, immigrants are often aware of them and have the chance to hide or not go to their job. These raids separate families and scare the children. The children have nightmares of their parents being taken away by the authorities and it has a negative impact in their lives because they might not see their parents ever again. (Brunsma and Boza-Golash, 2008).
Refutation: Money has been wasted by detaining immigrants and sending them to jail when that money could be used for something more useful. "In 2005, Perry was among 14 state governors who asked Congress to provide $750 million for the Justice Department's State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which provides states partial reimbursement for locking up convicted undocumented immigrants." (Weber, 2010) Some people complain about undocumented immigrants being the reason why there is lack of jobs and opportunities when really they are trying hard to be successful in this country. Many immigrants do not fulfill their dreams and have to return to the same place and situation they were in before.
Conclusion: It is believed that undocumented immigration will only continue to be an issue and grow more and more if it is not fixed. President Obama will have to make a change and pass the reform so that they will be living in peace and with a better future. People in El Paso should start marches or groups that can strike for the undocumented immigrants rights. Research has shown how families get affected because of raids and families getting separated.