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United States Immigration Policy

Stephanie Schafer
American Government and Politics
Summer Semester 2016
Perparim Gutaj

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Stephanie Schafer
American Government and Politics
Summer 2016
Perparim Gutaj

The issue of immigration is a highly discussed topic in the political sphere as of late.
Both parties and both political candidates have a lot to say about the topic. But what are the
issues inside immigration? There must be more than just the argument that immigrants are
taking jobs from Americans. Immigration is a matter of domestic policy, and the way we
decide to handle it in the coming years will determine our identity as a nation, both through
social and economic policies. Should America decide to become an exclusionist nation, never to
allow any immigrants citizenship, or should we make assimilation a bit easier, keeping our
current state, but changing how we go about immigration affairs?
From an exclusionist perspective- meaning that no immigrant will be granted citizenship
(or even be deported)- this would alter the identity of our nation by not allowing those who
desire citizenship a chance to assimilate into our culture. This is in exact opposition to the way
our country has been run for years. The very culture of the United States is one of a melting pot,
and changing from many different ideas and cultures to only one new era of America would be
a huge cultural and social shift. It might not look so drastic so suddenly, it would indeed take
time for it to play out, but eventually the very fabric of America would change so dramatically,
that one might not recognize it from the far distant future.

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As far as an economic perspective is involved, it would be radically expensive to shift
from allowing immigration to not allowing it at all. Donald Trump has spoken of his wall
separating the United States from Mexico. This would be an enormous undertaking to build. He
claims that he would have Mexico build it as well, making it their financial burden instead of the
U.S.s, but is that realistic? No, it isnt. At the end of the day, if we were to build a wall between
the two countries, it would cost so much more than what is claimed that illegal immigrants are
taking from our economy. A wall is not cost effective, and inevitably will contribute more to our
national debt than promised.
Deportation on the same hand, is just as expensive, if not more so, because Mexico would
not have to help with deportation- it would be an issue that only the United States could
handle. We would be taking people out of their homes in the United States and sending them
back to their countries of origin. That is incredibly expensive. There would need to be higher
task forces regulating the raids, stricter border control with guards to monitor people flow, and
the actual price of sending people back. This adds up quickly. Airfare or gas, and payroll of
employees regulating immigration and deportation would require an inordinate amount of
money.
The states identity from easing assimilation would not change too much. It is true, the
United States gets a bad rep from how difficult it is to become a citizen, but if we were to change
the ease of access, it might aid in that reputation. Other countries would see us in a better light
than we are viewed, and those immigrating to our country would contribute more because they
would be able to enjoy the full rights of citizenship, in a much easier manner. This would in turn,
add to the cultural diversity of the United States.

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The economic perspective from making assimilation easier has two facets. One is that we
would spend more money making programs possible, as well as employing people to assist. This
would require more government funding and potentially taxation. The other is spending money
on reorganizing existing programs and spending time setting new laws.
In essence, either option will be expensive for the United States, whether it is by
spending money to turn people away or help them in. The option of making assimilation easier
doesnt change the culture and society as much as shutting down any option of citizenship does.
Since there are so many points similar between the two sides, what is really the problem
here for either case? Either we do allow immigration or we do not. The consequences for the
state remain the same. So what is to be done?
Because America was built on the principle of immigration, it makes sense to keep that as
an option for anyone who would like to become a citizen of this country. It is already expensive
enough to get here for most immigrants that making it harder and more expensive for them is
really heartless. Understandably, it isnt about fairness, its more about differences between
countries. But that doesnt mean the United States cannot offer other solutions to those who seek
a better way of life.
It is important to note that both options are expensive. Often political parties argue so
much in favor of their own agendas and opinions that they fail to mention the truths about how
much everything will cost. Democrats dont mention that the government programs they want to
run will cost money that will come out of taxes. Republicans dont admit that deportation and the
supposed wall will up taxes as well. There is no way to avoid spending money on the issue.
But that doesnt mean that we shouldnt do something. Making it easier for assimilation
helps some of the problems that both Democrats and Republicans find on the issue of

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immigration. It satisfies the desire to help others, as well as some of the arguments based around
the economy, including taxes.
Aiding assimilation offers protection to those fleeing hostile situations in their own
countries. A 2013 Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans support various elements
that would comprise comprehensive immigration reform, including creating a path to citizenship
for undocumented immigrants (88 percent), requiring employers to check immigration status of
workers (84 percent), tightening border security (83 percent), and expanding short-term visas for
skilled workers (76 percent). (CFR.org, 2015) These options are very good for those seeking a
better situation and life.
In conclusion, Americans should consider making things easier for immigrants. Not only
will it help change the way people look at America, but it will continue to add to the rich culture
in our country and offer aid to those who are out of luck.

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Works Cited
<https://theconversation.com/trumps-wall-and-the-cost-benefit-analysis-of-immigration-47199>.
<http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/how-united-states-immigration-system-works-factsheet>.
<http://www.cfr.org/immigration/us-immigration-debate/p11149>.