Most of the arguments against illegal immigration are spurred by ignorance. Simple economics repudiate the claims of Mexicans taking American jobs and lowering American wages. Unemployed whites use social services more than illegals do, and illegals actually contribute more government money than they use. Ethnic tensions arise partly from racist nativists ignorant to the benefits of immigration. Finally, illegal immigrants contribute to American culture rather than subvert it.

Some people are worried that an influx in cheap labor takes potential jobs away from natives. Statistically, this warrant is unfounded. A study of aliens found that mostly “illegals are taking jobs that no other Americans want (Corwin, 285).” For example, almost all California seasonal farm hands are Mexican because no one else wants the conditions and pay associated with the job. “In 1975, the depths of the recession in Los Angeles, 2,154 jobs were opened by the apprehensions of illegals, and the State Human Resources Development agency could not fill them (Corwin, 285).” Other jobs “opened” by the removal of illegal labor could only be filled by greencard commuters from Tijuana.

When Texas fought for independence, Santa Anna’s government was too turbulent to do much about it. “Mexico was so racked with internal convulsions during these nine years that it was unable to bring Texas back into the fold (Meyer, 329).” The U.S. essentially took advantage of the unstable Mexican government by annexing Texas. The resulting war allowed U.S. to grab even more land by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed by the then helpless Mexico. Some Mexicans, traditionally heavy with pride, still blame us for exploiting them. Historically, Mexicans have more of a right to work there than we do.

The drawbacks for opening the border are also minimal. Immigrants don’t take jobs from Americans and may actually help the economy and create jobs. The impact of immigration on native wages is actually a positive one. While becoming legal would entice them to utilize more social services, it would also allow for more efficient taxation methods. Finally, immigrants would tend to assimilate into American culture, rather than polarize it.

Some topics in this essay:
Resources Development, English Spanish, Spanish-descended Mexicans, Del Olmo, Hinojosa Schey, Department Justice, Border Leniency, Rio Grande, Usage Difference, Historically Mexicans, social services, american culture, illegal immigrants, illegal immigration, del olmo, del olmo 95, olmo 95, illegal labor, native wages, jobs americans, learn english, social services natives, immigrants social services, whites social services, persons mexican origin,