JC on Immigration

Keeping with the recent events theme, the other day thousands of people marched in cities across the country in support of pro-immigration legislation.  This may come as a surprise to many of you out there reading the LORB, but JC is a staunch supporter of lessening immigration requirements.  JC supports allowing illegal immigrants to become legal residents of this country and start on the road to citizenship.  I feel this way for two main reasons.

Reason #1
This country is a country of immigrants.

The United States of America would not be where it is today if there was not a steady supply of immigrants.  This country was founded by immigrants and the descendants of immigrants.  Every single one of us has a member of our family who emigrated to this country.  Who are we to say that someone seeking a better life is not allowed to come here because of her socio-economic status or country of origin?  It is very hypocritical of us to put limit the ability of others to come here when all of us have descended from immigrants.  I see no problem allowing those seeking to better there lot from coming here and being given the opportunity to do so.  If a man or woman wants to come here and work hard in a job that most natural born citizens feel is beneath them in the hope that their children might have a better life, then there is no good reason why we should close the gates to this country and deny them that opportunity.

Reason #2

Legal residents pay taxes.

It is estimated that 11 million people are currently in this country illegally.  Most of these illegal residents are working in jobs where they are paid in cash and not having income or Social Security taxes deducted from their earnings.  I will venture to guess that these folks are not filing any tax returns either (I don't blame them; if I was paid in cash, I would not file any returns).  It is obvious that we cannot deport all of these illegal residents and we cannot prevent more people from coming here illegally.  The country needs to respond to this situation by allowing them to become legal residents with Social Security numbers who will leave a paper trail when they do not pay their income taxes.  Given the size of the deficit, I cannot see why Congress would not want to do something that might increase revenues.

Congress needs to enact legislation that loosens restrictions on immigration and gives illegal immigrants the ability to become legal residents.