CNBC covers both sides of the debate. Why won't the United States take advantage of the huge number of young people who want to immigrate here (many of them only seasonally)?
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The video doesn't go into the full history of immigration policy in the United States. We literally imported people for decades through indentureship and the slave trade. After the Civil War (and even starting a little bit before that), we began recruiting cheap labor from overseas (specially in Asia).
Irish, Italian, Chinese, French, African, Middle Eastern, Indian, Romani - the number of ethnic groups who came to America only to face discrimination, intolerance, and abuse runs into the dozens.
And then we haven't treated Native Americans well, either.
Discrimination is a multi-generational, endemic problem in this country. Every major political party has supported it. Every major political party has opposed it. They've done what was politically expedient, or what their foremost leaders passionately wanted to see happen.
The benefits of revising our immigration policies today are legion. Here are just a few good reasons to allow more people to apply for work visas, or even residency:
- Immigrants (both legal and illegal) pay taxes, including Social Security taxes (and illegal immigrants cannot collect Social Security - ever)
- Immigrants (both legal and illegal) contribute to local economies (paying rent, buying groceries, buying commodities, paying utility bills, etc.)
- Immigrants perform many low-paying jobs that most Americans would never consider applying for
- Immigrants bring skills we lack or abandon (over time)
- Immigrants stimulate economic activity among established communities
- Immigrants create favorable impressions of America in their home countries
- Many immigrants serve in our armed forces, protecting our country
- Immigrants contribute to the Great Melting Pot (our culture, our population)
Immigrants aren't going to replace us. They strengthen us. I'm descended from at least 5 generations of immigrants to the United States, going back to the 19th century. My family has contributed to this country in many ways over the generations, including serving in the military, starting business, agriculture, and more.
The hatred directed at immigrants for political expediency by certain groups and politicians undermines the strength and health of our communities and our country.
Instead of closing our borders and turning people away, we should expand the programs that help immigrants make a life here and acquire a legal status. They pay for themselves many times over. Investing money in unnecessary suppression of immigration is just a wasteful spend of precious tax dollars.