Cutting back in response to economic realities
The first concern should be theeconomic cost imposed by the huge influx of immigrants and their effects on wages and jobs. The fact is that we need to educateand employ the people already here before we can worry about paying for the education, welfare,and health care of hundreds of thousands of newcomers each year. Plus, the burden isn't spread evenly; most immigrants settle in big cities and Sun Belt states. We should restrict the number of newcomers and look more closely at how their arrival affects us. The immigrants we do accept should either have jobs waiting here or have the skills to support themselves.The nations first obligation is to protect the welfare and well being of those who are already American citizens.
What Should be Done?
Cut the total number of legal immigrants. Accept immigrants only if they can support themselves here. Favor newcomers who either have useful skills or who are willing to take jobs Americans don't want. Require sponsors of legal immigrants to earn substantially more than poverty-level wages. Grant political asylum only to individuals who can prove that they face persecution.
Arguments For This Approach
The influx of immigrants is straining public schools, hospitals and other services in the states that get more than their share of newcomers.There's only so much we can afford to do. Many Americans are struggling economically. The government should not make things worse by inviting millions of immigrants to compete for jobs. Providing immigrants with generous public services turns America into a magnet for the world's poor. We should take care of American citizens first -- in public services, jobs and education.
Arguments Against This Approach
Immigrants open businesses, create jobs, and bring needed skills to U.S. companies. Relatively few immigrants receive public assistance. Legal immigrants pay taxes. They ought to be able to benefit from the public services their taxes pay for, just like any other taxpayer. Many immigrants are working in menial low-wage jobs that native-born Americans shun. They're not depriving anyone of work.
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