There are many arguments for allowing undocumented workers in America; here are some against illegal immigration.
Though illegals immigrants contribute to the economy, they lower working wages for American workers. Why is it that some business owners violate the law by hiring illegal immigrants? Is it because they are better workers or more educated? No, it is because they are cheaper than Americans. Thus, if an American should want to break into an industry at the ground level, he/she is now forced to compete against people who are willing to work illegally for less. Americans cannot work for less by law, thus they are forced out of a job they could have had, unless they want to also work illegally. Since businesses compete, once one reprobate capitalist breaks the law, the rest must either follow suit or be outcompeted. This is a major problem with illegal immigration today.
Another problem with illegal immigration is that it is a slap in the face to law-abiding potential immigrants. By allowing people to flood across our two major borders, what does that tell somebody from Romania who would like to experience the American dream? It tells him that Americans value cheap illegal labor over the application process it forces on people who obey the law. I encourage all Americans to support and encourage the immigrants in our country and the very best way to do so is by opposing illegal immigration practices.
Some state that America cannot afford to round up and deport all the millions of illegal immigrants in our country. They’re probably right, and the good news is that America would not have to do so. This problem could be solved by more aggressive legislation and enforcement of anti-illegal immigration laws. If business owners are fined large sums and threatened with prison sentences because of this practice, they will quickly reconsider which method of employment is cheaper; a threat that should be backed up with undercover agents. Once owners get on board and start obeying the law, jobs for illegal immigrants will dry up and illegal immigrants will have to emigrate somewhere else to find work. If there is an employee shortage because of this, wages will rise and the “invisible hand” will ensure that employees are found to fills these jobs.
Finally, I hear many arguments that begin “but they are PEOPLE, you can’t just-” Let’s get down to hard facts: The world is becoming overpopulated and more people are going into poverty and starvation every year. America is a relatively wealthy nation with room for growth and naturally people will look to America as a place to go to provide for themselves and their families. How many such people can America support? 10 million? 100 million? 1 billion? Draw the line where you see fit, the point is that just because we have compassion for the poor does not mean we can save everybody from poverty by bringing them to our country. This saddens me, as I’m sure it does you but you cannot save a horde of drowning souls by placing them on a small boat; you’ll lose both the boat and the doomed people. Compassion in this world is a worthwhile pursuit, but it must be tempered with the proper application of wisdom and foresight.
Ryan Hunter is a mechanical engineering senior and a Mustang Daily guest columnist.