Illegal Immigration i Should Illegal Immigrants Be Deported? Philosophy 518 Dr. Davis June 25, 2012 Illegal Immigration 1 Introduction It is important for businesses and professionals to be versed in ethical issues because it helps with decision-making when faced with different situations that create a moral dilemma. Business and professional ethics help to develop a certain moral standard and expectation in the business world. The ethics in which a business or a professional operates within benefits both the giver and receiver.
Engaging in the exchange of goods, services and information requires some level of trust in order to maintain civility. The thought that a person or a business is doing things that are unethical would weigh heavily on rather or not to do business with them. Understanding the existence of a common standard provides a mutual sense of security and trust for everyone. Issue There are constant ethical issues to deal with in a democratic society. We are always faced with conscience or sub-conscience dilemmas dealing with all kinds of issues. One issues in particular is illegal immigration in the United States.
Should Illegal immigrants be allowed to stay in the United States? This is a topic that gets emotions running high because it deals with everything from basic compassion for another human being, to homeland security. This issue is important to both legal and illegal immigrants, as well as American because it affects us all in some way or another. According to the Pew Research Center there are approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country . Identifying the right thing to do defines the moral Illegal Immigration 2 thread that lies within us. There’s always a situation or circumstance that tugs at these moral threads.
What is the right thing to do? Failure to control our borders is creating a major economic burden for the United States. Illegal immigration is a looming problem that is growing out of control. Many have illegally crossed the borders, while others have over stayed their visas. The current laws and enforcement is place needs to be analyzed for its effectiveness and any necessary changes need to be implemented. Analysis Illegal Immigration Pro: Illegal immigrants should be deported Point: They have broken the law to enter into this country and should not be allowed to stay.
Illegal immigrants should have to go through the proper steps in order to gain legal citizenship like anyone else. They should not be rewarded with citizenship for breaking the law. Illegal immigrants are not legal citizens of this country and are not entitled to the same rights and privileges as legal citizens. The law can’t be broken in their pursuit of happiness. Counterpoint: Although the law was broken to enter the country, many immigrants are fleeing from some horrific conditions like famine, war, political strife, religious persecution and ethnic cleansing.
America is the greatest country in the world and it is more than merely a good deed, it’s our moral responsibility to protect these people by allowing them to take refuge in our country and start a new life. Illegal Immigration 3 Point: Illegal Immigrants are an economic burden by driving up the cost of government resources such as health care, education, welfare, etc. and not reimbursing these programs by paying taxes. It is costing the federal, state and local government billions of dollars for programs that are already in jeopardy of not being able to sustain their obligations to American citizens.
These costs are impacting the economy negatively and compromising the social fiber and effective operation of this country. Counterpoint: Although illegal immigrants don’t contribute to the reimbursement of governmental services through income taxes, they do pay sales taxes and purchase goods and services. Con: Illegal Immigrants should not be deported Point: Immigrants greatly contribute to the work force and service industries by doing the jobs that most Americas won’t do. There are very few Americans that will do landscaping, housekeeping, farming, agriculture, pick up garbage, or any other manual labor job for minimum wage.
Deportation will hurt a lot of businesses that rely on foreign labor for jobs that Americans won’t do. Counterpoint: There are American citizens with minimal skills that earn less money and have fewer job opportunities because they have to compete with immigrants in the job market. Legal citizens are required by law to adhere to the labor and wage laws. Having illegal immigrants in the work force only adds to an already-existing surplus of low-skilled workers. Having these jobs filled at such a low rate drives down wages and work conditions. Illegal Immigration 4 Point: Many illegal immigrants have kids who are U. S. itizens and deportation would tear these families apart. This would result in more single parent or no parent households. The psychological and financial hardship would force their U. S. citizen children into deportation with their family. These American children may have to start over in a country with an unfamiliar language, culture, and fewer resources. Counterpoint: That’s unfortunate, but not the United States problem. The act of breaking the law is not a coincidence, but a conscience choice with built in risk. There is a process to gain legal citizenship in place to help properly integrate immigrants into this country.
The kids that are US citizens of illegal immigrants are burdened by the enormous responsibilities on having to help their parents navigate their way through a foreign country. These kids have to translate and interpret communications, grocery shop, and carry out most tasks that a parent would normally do. The strongest and most convincing argument is not to deport illegal immigrants. As a civilized people we can’t in good conscience tear apart families. This issue pulls more at the moral strings and it is hard to dismiss what you feel in your heart is the right thing to do.
The children that are US citizens are entitled to the laws that govern us. We have to protect their right and best interest. We are not a country that separates families quickly. We go through all types of legal channels to put families back together even after courts have dismantled them for proven reasons. We spend millions of dollars in foster care and adoption because we recognize the importance of family and the impact it play on a child’s development. So to deliberately separate a child from their parents, knowing the affect Illegal Immigration 5 would be the wrong thing to do.
What makes this country so unique is its cultural diversity. Everyone except Native American is a immigrants in this country. This country is a melting pot of immigrants. The cultural diversity exposes us to a world of interesting and exciting differences. This country is built on freedom and unlimited possibilities and we can’t fault people for going after it. The majority of the jobs that illegal immigrant take are the one’s nobody else wants. Seasonal work, fruit and vegetable pickers, and housekeeping jobs are deemed beneath American standards. These types of jobs must be done, and employers have a revolving door for these positions.
Minimum wage isn’t enough for the labor that is required. Therefore, the average American isn’t motivated to work or stay at these jobs. Immigrants who earn just a few dollars a day in their native countries are more than willing and ecstatic to work these jobs. Because immigrants don’t have the skill set to do many other types of job, these jobs are viewed as opportunities. Immigrants bring a strong work ethic and take pride in the work that they are doing because they see it as an opportunity to have a virtuous life. These laboring jobs help keep the economy flowing.
A lot of industries and services would be non-existent, or services would be offered at a ridiculous amount if it weren’t for illegal immigrants working these jobs. This helps industries to stay in business and remain competitive. It also allows businesses to past the saving along to consumers, which increases consumer spending. There are a lot of businesses like Bodegas, restaurants and grocery stores that exist because their target market is of a particular region. These are legitimate tax paying businesses that cater to a certain demographic and their needs. They Illegal Immigration 6 ave a stable and loyal cliental that is continuously growing because the needs of their customers are growing. The argument to deport because the law was broken is a compelling argument, but one of convenience. We break the law speeding, or even on our tax returns but we’re not so law abiding that we go turn ourselves in. As long as the law is not continuing to be broken what’s the problem. Conclusion My decision has shown that my concern for the happiness and virtue of another human being is more important than laws. The argument to deport is a convincing one and I don’t come to me decision easily.
There is a part of me that vehemently agrees with the position to deport. I can identify with the anger and the feelings of being violated. It would be the same if someone broke into my house, demanded me to make them a key and allow them to stay. In return they offer to do all the cooking and cleaning cause no one wants to do the work anyway. I can’t explain the level of rage I would feel if this happened. I wouldn’t give it a second thought to put them out of my house. If a family broke into my home because an angry mob was trying to kill them, I would not give it a second thought to let them stay.
My position to deport is more of an emotion decision originating out of anger and feelings of my right not being prioritized. My decision failed to show the tangible benefits in allowing illegal immigrants to stay. I have changed my position completely. Before now I was clear that illegal immigrants need to be deported because the law was broken to get here. Factoring in children makes the decision not so Illegal Immigration 7 easy. I’ve learned that decisions of human welfare are not as cut and dry, as we would like for them to be. Issues of this magnitude have to be examined beyond the surface.
There are emotions and ulterior motives that affect the way this information is processed. I had to ponder over this subject and strip off all the layers to come up with what I feel is the most honest. When I put my family in their position, I ask myself would I break the law by illegally entering a country for the chance of a better life for my family? And I would. I also ask myself what would I want someone in a position to help me do? The answer is, I would want them to help me and my family get away from our unfortunate circumstances.
