Recent polls have placed immigration on top of the “most
important problem list.” A record 55% of
eligible voters say the large number of immigrants entering the United States
represents a critical threat to American interests. Ninety percent of
Republicans believe this to be true.
The national discourse on immigration has become so polarized
that a consensus on the issue is impossible. The opinion pages of the Observer
Reporter are no exception. The newspaper’s editorials, letters to the editor and
op-ed pieces have taken strong positions on opposite sides of the debate.
For example, on January 11, 2024, a letter to the editor advised
“Stop being so afraid of immigrants! Each wave brings people who come here not
to steal, but to live and work and raise their families. Give the U.S. Border
Patrol what they need to keep out the bad apples.”
On February 14, 2024, an op-ed written by David Ball
concluded, “President Biden is guilty of dereliction of duty….the American
people will pay with our treasure, our health, safety and security.”
On March 2, 2024, an O-R editorial was titled: “Immigrants
are a boost to the economy, not a drain on it.” The editorial gave the opinion,
“…history has shown that they actually brought great benefits to this country.
The same holds true today.”
A letter responding to this editorial called it “dishonest
and naïve.” The author went on to comment, “Draining Third World cesspools and
providing them with transportation, living quarters, free education and
healthcare, while giving us taxpayers the finger does absolutely nothing to
enhance our national security.”
A second letter responded to the O-R editorial with the
caption: “The U.S. has thrived thanks to immigration.”
There are actually three issues in play when analyzing the
immigration dilemma. The first focuses on the causes of world migration and immigration
patterns. This important topic is largely ignored by commentators.
Almost all Americans support the second issue, the need for
legislation to address the border crisis. Unfortunately, former President Trump
has placed the remedy out of reach.
The third involves the role that immigration plays in
American economic development. It has been overshadowed by the border crisis.
With the goal of bringing some love and understanding to immigration, each
topic will be discussed below.
World migration and
immigration patterns. Immigration is hardly a problem unique to the United
States. In 2024, there are more borders in the world than at any time in human
history. Borders are often drawn arbitrarily. They divide intact communities of
like-minded ethnic or religious people. Nonetheless,
most individuals prefer to remain in their country of birth. Unfortunately, wars,
political strife, climate catastrophes, and climate change are forcing large
numbers to migrate in order to survive.
Forced migration often causes a negative domino effect. As
an example, large numbers of young Bangladeshis sought refuge in Palermo, Italy
after thousands of oppressed migrants from Myanmar entered Bangladesh, leaving
nothing for the native population.
Americans enjoy mobility, choices on where to live and
economic opportunities unavailable to most of the world’s population. It is
difficult for our citizens to imagine the desperate plight of international
refugees. If anything, America should be embarrassed that poorer countries host
many more displaced people, with fewer resources, and less hysteria than we do.
According to the Economist, in spite of all the worlds’
trouble spots and migration of people, the numbers on the move are only a sixth
of what they were after the Second World War. Moreover, as populations grow
older, there will be less migration. In the interim, the problem is not only a domestic
concern; it also requires cross-border and regional cooperation.
The border crisis. No
one disagrees that security at the southern border must be tightened; or that
the requirements for granting/denying asylum entry must be revised; or that the
legal process on asylum requires streamlining; or that a realistic number of
workers should be admitted based on market requirements; or that new immigrants
must be permitted to work and to pay taxes.
Congress has known for decades that only a comprehensive
immigration bill will change the law and permit all of the above revisions. Recently,
a working group of bi-partisan senators drafted enabling legislation that
President Biden agreed to sign. Former President Trump nixed the deal by
demanding that House Republicans not support it. Trump wants the border impasse
to remain an open sore to attack President Biden in the general election. Once
again, Congress’ self-inflicted southern border crisis and humanitarian refugee
catastrophe have become political pawns.
Why we need
immigration. Lost in all the grim news and political posturing in Congress
is the undisputed fact that managed immigration is essential to America’s
economic progress. Immigrants fill labor shortages, contribute more in taxes
than they receive in benefits, and open about 25% of new small businesses in
the United States.
According
to the Cato institute, a conservative think-tank, “Immigrants increase the supply of labor,
which increases the supply of goods and services that people need; their
consumption, entrepreneurship, and investment also increases the demand for
labor, creating better‐paying jobs for Americans elsewhere in the economy. Fundamentally,
immigrants are not competitors. They are collaborators. Unfortunately,
America’s immigration system fails to recognize this fact, leading to
catastrophic consequences.”
The United States has the ability to enrich its diversity
and strengthen its economy. It is time to show immigration some love and
understanding.
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