Essay On Immigration In America
Consequently, the topic of refugees of war often brings with it the question of national security. After September 11, 2001, terrorism became more prevalent in the minds of every American. For many Americans, the answer to this threat is to close borders to immigration completely. However, if all the borders closed completely, the U.S. economy would suffer greatly from the drastic loss of foreign visitors and foreign students (Griswold). Griswold sums up the issues with this belief by saying, “The problem is not that we are letting too many people into the United States but that the government has failed to keep the wrong people out.” Blocking all immigration doesn’t solve the threat of terrorism as many terrorist attacks are not carried out
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The general stereotype of immigrants in America is that they are lazy and will ride welfare and food stamps until the day they die. Much to the dismay of those who scream about lazy immigrants, this stereotype is almost entirely false. In fact, due to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act of 1996, signed by President Bill Clinton, new legal permanent residents cannot collect food stamps or any form of welfare for their first five years in the U.S. (Binswanger). After five years of residing in the U.S., many immigrants will have established lives and not even need welfare or food stamps. Immigrants also help to repair America’s damaged economy by paying back more in taxes than what they use in social services (Hernandez 68). In fact, “Immigrants….will pay a net $80,000 more in taxes during their lifetimes than they collect in government services” (Griswold). Immigration is also helping to repair the balance in social security as the Baby Boomers die out (Hernandez 71). Hernandez also elaborates that legal immigrants are providing a net benefit of $611 billion back into social security (71). Legal immigrants to the U.S. are not abusing the welfare or food stamps system any more than those citizens that were born in
The general stereotype of immigrants in America is that they are lazy and will ride welfare and food stamps until the day they die. Much to the dismay of those who scream about lazy immigrants, this stereotype is almost entirely false. In fact, due to the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity and Reconciliation Act of 1996, signed by President Bill Clinton, new legal permanent residents cannot collect food stamps or any form of welfare for their first five years in the U.S. (Binswanger). After five years of residing in the U.S., many immigrants will have established lives and not even need welfare or food stamps. Immigrants also help to repair America’s damaged economy by paying back more in taxes than what they use in social services (Hernandez 68). In fact, “Immigrants….will pay a net $80,000 more in taxes during their lifetimes than they collect in government services” (Griswold). Immigration is also helping to repair the balance in social security as the Baby Boomers die out (Hernandez 71). Hernandez also elaborates that legal immigrants are providing a net benefit of $611 billion back into social security (71). Legal immigrants to the U.S. are not abusing the welfare or food stamps system any more than those citizens that were born in