Immigration and the U.S.

The United States was founded by a group of foreign citizens who entered a new land to establish a great nation, free of government entanglement and open to respecting rights granted to the people.

In the decades that followed, millions of immigrants, from England, Ireland, Italy, Germany and many other countries entered U.S. borders to establish a better life for themselves. The country coined the phrase, “the American dream” and we became a multi-cultured nation thriving on our old customs and a new collaborated identity. Over 98 percent of our current population is immigrant based, according the 2010 Census.

Today, immigration reform is a heated topic of debate, with 11 million undocumented immigrants living illegally within our borders. However, it is clear that the U.S. needs to reform its immigration policy to help these people gain legal standing and eventual citizenship. Doing so is not only a basic tenet of our cultural fabric, but it will provide significant improvements to our nation’s economy.

One significant boost benefits Social Security. As 75 million baby boomers prepare to retire, the 75-year shortfall of benefits beyond the taxes expected to be collected is $8.6 trillion. The influx of legal immigrants greatly narrows the funding gap that looms over the program. Over 75 years, immigrants will add $4 trillion to the Social Security trust fund, the biggest potential benefactor to solving the program’s financial crisis.

Other benefits come from skilled immigrants. According to a study done by University of California professor Giovanni Peri, the significant economic gain from immigrants will come from those willing to invest in training, pursue education and move freely from job to job without fear of their legal standing. Between 1990-2010, foreign scientists and engineers working in the U.S. with legal work visas contributed to an aggregate increase of $615 billion towards the Gross Domestic Product, according to the study.

Further, this addition of foreign scientists and engineers did not hamper employment perspectives of U.S.-born workers, but added to the number of labs, universities and companies doing research and thus creating jobs in the U.S.

An important aspect of immigration reform to remember is that this will not be a “free pass” for those who entered the country illegally. Any plan for changing immigration needs to hold the previously undocumented immigrants responsible for back taxes and other fees before granting full citizenship.

Also, companies which continue to hire undocumented workers for their financial benefit need to be monitored closely and penalized for any infraction. In order to institute serious change with regards to immigration, both ends of society, employer and employee, need to be held responsible.

Economically, immigration reform will fund social security, cut federal deficits, increase the gross domestic product, and stimulate job growth through innovation and development from foreign workers.

Morally, we are a nation of immigrants, currently turning our back on new immigrants in what is one of the greatest hypocrisies this country has ever endured. We came here to establish a free land. We then exterminated Native Americans and suppressed African Americans and women. We will look back on our nation in 50 years and cringe at our mistakes if we do not welcome immigrant-friendly policy changes.

Changes that allow undocumented immigrants to become citizens, pay their dues to society and help us thrive overall as an ever-developing country.