Immigration Matters for All

 As expressed in my prior blogs, the obstacles for an integral immigration reform are here to stay for a longer period of time if nothing is done by the end of this year. Even though it has lately received much support from people, organizations, some CongressmEn, and the President, to be passed, there is a continuous debate about how the reform will help society. This time, I would like to highlight some of the benefits that immigration brings to this country in general.

 First, I would like to focus on the impact that immigration has on the economy and labor force. Immigrant entrepreneurs are helping local economies by starting their own businesses and creating jobs that bring more revenue to their communities. Just to illustrate, companies such as Facebook, Google, and Linkedin have at least one immigrant founder. Furthermore, immigrants represent a big portion of U.S. labor market, generating high and low income in a wide variety of industry sector. Even though people think that immigrants avoid paying taxes on those incomes, a good number of immigrants (legal and illegal) pay their taxes. The IRS has estimated that around 6 million unauthorized immigrants file individual tax returns each year.

Culturally, immigration also plays a significant role in this country. U.S. has always welcomed people from all around the world since its establishment as a nation. Each individual coming to this country brings his or her own ideas, traditions, and culture.  If we stop for a moment to think about our classmates or coworkers, we will be able to notice the diversity of backgrounds and cultures that surround us. As mentioned in an article by Johan Lehrer, psychologists have discovered that exposing people to different cultures (diversity) can make people more creative and willing to consider multiple interpretations of the same thing.

Regarding education, skilled and educated immigrants have contributed enormously in the development of new technologies, companies, and even cures to diseases in the area of medicine. U.S. schools and universities welcome students from around the world who are trying to pursue their careers in different fields, offering a good education system. Once they complete their programs, some of them stay here, contributing to society with their expertise and knowledge acquired in classes. Education translates into better jobs and those high-paying jobs support the economy of this country as well.

To conclude, immigration as said by Barack Obama at a naturalization ceremony has made America stronger and prosperous. There are so many ways in which immigrants have contributed to this country, and when I say immigrants, I refer to those who have and do not have legal status in this country. I just mentioned a couple of benefits in this post, which I hope called your attention to the importance of passing a reform. It is true that not everyone sees immigration with good eyes, but by making these remarks, I hope you understand why immigration matters for all.

Do not forget that this whole nation is made and supported by immigrants!

SOURCES

Image:

http://newamericamedia.org/2010/04/will-immigration-reform-impact-the-us-labor-market.php

Web:

http://www.analysisonline.org/site/aoarticle_display.asp?issue_id=1&news_id=140001400&sec_id=140002434

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703730804576313490871429216