http://www.epi.org/economic_snapshots/entry/immigration_helps_boost_relative_wages_of_u.s.-born_workers_at_all_lev/Executive Summary Grecia Mata
Undocumented Immigration
Undocumented Immigration has always been a major issue in the U.S. 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.
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 have brought up a system called E-Verify which is to check or verify that the workers are legal and not using someone else's social security. 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. As Brunsma said, they do have a big impact because the whole community is terrified because they do not know what will happen. "These raids have immediate effects on the entire community." (Brunsma and Boza-Golash, 2008) 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. The U.S. Government has sort of wasted money on prisons for immigrants. This money could of been used to purchase something better. "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)
"Around 3% of the increase from 1994 to 2007 in wage inequality between workers with less than a high school degree and workers with a college degree or more can be attributed to immigration." (Shierholz, 2010) The graph below shows the impact of immigration on weekly wages from the years 1994 to 2007 according to the education they have. The percent change has been negative in the foreign born category unlike for U.S. born where it has had a positive percent change. "Monthly Census Bureau data show that the number of less-educated young Hispanic immigrants in the country has declined significantly." (Camarota and Jensenius, 2009) Hispanics are taking advantage of the educational opportunities here in the U.S. that it is making the society of illiterate people decrease. It is making the Hispanics look good and to rise and have an opinion in the Government because of education.
http://www.epi.org/economic_snapshots/entry/immigration_helps_boost_relative_wages_of_u.s.-born_workers_at_all_lev/
People need to stop and think about how they discriminate and hurt immigrants."Every day, in the United States, thousands of illegal aliens unleash a reign of terror on Americans." (Chapman, 2010) If they are not causing harm, they should not be afraid. They are humans that deserve the same rights we have. They have suffered so much that they have earned to be treated equal and even as humans."It’s time for both Democrats and Republicans, along with average Americans, to acknowledge, appreciate and incorporate the over 12 million undocumented workers in this country into the mainstream system so that los de abajo (those on the bottom) can also enjoy the fruits of their labor with a sense of dignity and respect that they’ve earned." (Huerta, 2009) Undocumented workers work more than anyone because they have the harder jobs. Only the people who were once undocumented understand the undocumented workers that have been looking for a new opportunity."When Human Rights Watch conducted a study of the meatpacking industry they found that workers who tried to form trade unions and bargain collectively were "spied on, harassed, pressured, threatened, suspended, fired, deported or otherwise victimized for their exercise of the right to freedom of association."(Boza-Golash and Parker, 2006)
It is like they are sacrificing their life and everything they have for the "American Dream." "They're really an exceptional sort of American. They come here having left their family and friends back home. They come at some cost to themselves in terms of security and social relationships. They are extremely success-oriented, and adjust very well to the competitive circumstances in the United States." (Balko, 2009) Undocumented immigrants have great ideas and they use them to move forward and find success."Nearly 2.3 million undocumented families, about three-quarters of those who are here illegally, have at least one child who is a United States citizen, according to the Pew Hispanic Center." (Gonzalez, 2009) Many say that undocumented immigrants come to the U.S. just to have their children be born here and so that later when the child grows up they can fix their status from immigrant to resident or even U.S. citizen. "A federal bill called the Dream Act would expand that approach and provide some undocumented students with a path to citizenship, but it is hardly at the top of the long to-do list now facing Congress." (The Economist Newspaper, 2009) Many students have been waiting so long for this Dream Act. This act is so that undocumented immigrants can have a chance to continue their education and attend college.
Students should care and pay attention about this problem that is Undocumented Immigration because it has become a major issue to the community. Everyone needs to know about this so that they can help maybe a relative or someone they know that is a undocumented immigrant. The cost of the jails is important as well because the government is wasting so much money on that instead of something useful. It is also good to know why people immigrate and how much they suffer once in they arrive. People also need to be aware that many undocumented immigrant families get separated and they suffer more than anyone else. Students can learn more and be part of the protests for the Dream Act.