Illegal Immigrants: Misjudged? by Adrianna Blount

Note: This post was written by a student in the spring of 2018.

Historically, the United States has been referred to as the country where dreams come true. Not only is the country of dreams full of opportunities, the United States has also earned the nickname “the Melting Pot” of the world, since people from all countries and nations come to live in freedom. Although the United States has freedoms and opportunities, diversity can be seen as a threat to the economy and the native-born citizens as more and more illegal immigrants appear to flood the nation. Illegal immigrants may suffer the consequences of having mixed-status families, such as undocumented parents of U.S. citizen children. Immigrants, in general, should receive educational benefits because they provide for their families, all the while helping the economy rather than crippling it, as some might suggest.

Immigration to the United States is not something of a new concept but rather is the entire foundation of the nation. Through Springer Science & Business Media, Roberto Gonzales (2009) states in an article that “as of 2005, there were 14.6 million people living in a little more than six and a half million undocumented families, and there were an estimated 1.9 million undocumented children under the age of 18” (p. 420). There are also families with different legal statuses that exist in the U.S., which can be referred to as mixed-status families. There are many cases in which the children are U.S. citizens while their parents are undocumented, which, quite obviously, causes problems for these children. An article written in Social Work demonstrates that since deportation policies are geared toward the undocumented parents, citizen children could possibly be left behind in their native country to be cared for by someone not known to them, or they could possibly be taken to an unfamiliar country with their parents. This article also mentions what Justice Brennan thought about this particular issue during Plyer v. Doe in 1982, in which he states that “condemnation on the head of an infant is illogical and unjust…no child is responsible for his birth, and penalizing the…child is an ineffectual—as well as unjust—way of deterring the parent” (as cited in Zayas & Bradlee, 2014, p. 168). Children do not get a say in the given circumstances and should not suffer consequences for their parents’ attempts in giving them better opportunities in life.

Furthermore, children, whether legal or not, deserve to receive an education, especially in the country known as “The Land of Opportunity.” An article written in Berkeley La Raza Law Journal explains that the DREAM Act is “a legislative effort that can generally be characterized as an attempt to fulfill two goals: ‘(1) allowing and assisting undocumented children to attend college; [and] (2) creating a legalization process for the undocumented children.’” This article also elaborates on ex-President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which “offers qualified applicants ‘deferred action’ from removal, as well as the opportunity to apply for two-year work authorization.” During the case of Brown v. Board of Education, the Court stated that to deny a basic education to these children also denies them the possibility of being able to contribute in the progression of the United States (Federico, 2013, p. 9, 16). Children should not be rejected in obtaining the opportunities to get an education because they did not have a choice in the matter.

Some people argue that immigrants harm the economy and do not do anything to benefit the United States. However, the results of immigration are actually the opposite and help the economy, which allows the United States to prosper. A well-written article in the International Social Science Review expresses how immigrants bring diversity to the United States, that is American culture. More specifically regarding the economy, this particular article quotes the National Research Council in that “immigrants add as much as $100 billion to the economy each year and they will pay more in taxes than they use in government services [including receiving an education] over their lifetimes.” This clearly states that immigrants pay taxes, but this particular article also continues to explain how immigrants are also consumers in the economy, which generates even more money into the economy. Immigrants, as consumers, “buy cars, cell phones, food, [etc.]…pay taxes, contribute to society culturally, and have demonstrated their willingness to engage in hard work. They may or may not have documents, but their contributions to American society cannot be denied” (Marietta, 2006, p. 66). Undocumented parents work hard to provide better opportunities for their children and, in doing so, allow the economy to prosper, which keeps the United States going strong.

Personally, I have seen a family from Mexico work hard to make sure their children get an education and gain opportunities that are not available in Mexico. For instance, my father owned a construction company he started himself and hired many people from this one family to work for him. These parents were undocumented; however, the children are U.S. citizens. The children were able to attend school while their parents continued to work to provide for their families in the country and also be able to send money to their family left behind in Mexico. Also, these adults were able to learn English and learn about American history as well as current events. With that, they were able to take the citizenship test and continue to provide for their families while keeping the economy strong.

Immigrants, specifically illegal immigrants, are often seen as a threat to the American economy and therefore are condemned for being allowed to receive an education. Many mixed-status families suffer the consequences for attempting to follow their dreams for a better life full of opportunities not only for them, but also for their children. The ability to receive an education allows for these children to have the possibility of contributing to the continued growth of the United States. These children also deserve the right to an education given that they did not choose their circumstances and, therefore, should not be punished for it. Not only do these children have the potential to contribute, but their undocumented or documented parents work hard and help the American economy prosper.

References

Federico, R. (2013). Lifting the “lamp beside the golden door”: An argument for immigration reform, advocacy, and transformation through testimonies. Berkeley La Raza Journal, 23, 3-34. Retrieved from https://scholarship.law.berkeley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1254&context=blrlj  

Gonzales, R. (2009). On the rights of undocumented children. Society, 46(5), 419-422. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/1561812/Gonzales_Roberto_G._2009._On_the_Rights_of_Undocumented_Children._Society._Volume_46_Number_5_419_422           

Marietta, M. (2006). Undocumented immigrants should receive social services. International Social Science Review, 81(1/2), 61-66. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41887260?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents     

Zayas, L. H., & Bradlee, M. H. (2014). Exiling children, creating orphans: When immigration policies hurt citizens. Social Work, 59(2), 167-175. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/sw/article-abstract/59/2/167/2276173?redirectedFrom=PDF