I am opposed to illegal immigration. I, however, see it for more than just an issue of people coming here unlawfully. I see this problem as a political mess created by government irresponsibility, corporate greed, and the media’s intent to hide very real problems caused by illegal immigration.
As an American, I believe everyone has a right to freedom and a better life. Therefore, I want anyone who wants to live their life free of persecution and terrible circumstance to come to America. Our doors should be open to all.
However, I would like everyone to come to the United States legally, as the majority of immigrants in history have. Individuals coming here unlawfully are ignoring our laws, and causing social and economic issues when they try to start a life here. Although, this is only part of a much larger problem.
American politicians, the media, and profit-hungry corporations are capitalizing on the circumstances of human beings, and gaining much more than the families hoping to find a better life.
Democrats and Republicans usually play to the ideals of their supporters just for votes, and we always hear the same rhetoric about enforcement, amnesty, and general reform from them about this issue. We see the rallies, but where is the reform? Whenever some form of immigration reform legislation is introduced, we see both parties in Congress act childish and nothing gets done.
Of course, political irresponsibility isn’t the only thing. American companies love to benefit off the opportunity to draw immigrants who will work for them without the hassle of giving them rights that a citizen would have. Minimum-wage and entry-level work is therefore mostly unavailable to youth and adults in need of work, because employers hire undocumented immigrants for “cheap labor”.
The chains and businesses under the control of corporations mask their unlawful hiring practices, and the result is more American unemployment and social tension. Illegal immigrants shouldn’t apply for the job, but who is more to blame? The person who is in a foreign land illegally and trying to survive and support his family, or the greedy businessmen who knowingly hires an illegal alien, while abusing human rights and breaking federal law?
The media is also a major part of the illegal immigration problem. Chris Wallace, Keith Olbermann, Bill O’ Reilly, and Lou Dobbs are just some who work in the media that let their political views get the best of them. Don’t get me wrong, I think Bill O’ Reilly knows his stuff, and the O’Reilly Factor is great political entertainment. Even so, if Americans believe the media (and I’m not only talking about Fox News) is unbiased, think again.
I can’t blame the media too much though, because they can do a really good job. However, their little ways of portraying one side or the other in a more favorable light really bothers me. Liberal and conservative bias can really kill journalistic credibility.
Besides these three major factors of illegal immigration, who else is to blame? Mexico can certainly be blamed, as that government seems to not be able to enforce immigration whatsoever, and doesn’t want reform services for its own citizens who want better lives. Even pro-illegal immigration supporters can be blamed, as well as illegal immigrants because they are fueling a misconception that Americans against unlawful immigration don’t want immigrants at all.
The last factor I think really complicates this issue is race. I understand that there are indeed people in this country that are ignorant, and are nothing but racist scum. I can also understand the anger of foreign-born people when they are called all kinds of things, and threatened because of who they are.
Even though I am an anti-illegal immigration supporter, I do have empathy for those struggling in this problem, and strongly understand this is a human issue also. I want laws enforced and borders secure, but I cannot support the cruel plan supported by some conservative leaders of systematically deporting every man, woman, and child, and destroying their lives. Yes, they have broken laws, but I would rather see illegal immigrant criminals, like drug dealers, rapists, and murders, deported before an innocent little boy who has done nothing wrong.
Considering all of this, hopefully you can understand that we won’t solve this problem until both sides of the issue accept that they will not get everything they want in American immigration reform. Yes, illegal immigration is wrong, although, as you have read, this issue is about human suffering and hope, and that is the most important thing when we finally reform immigration