Beyond The Border

Since its inception, the United States has been founded and populated by immigrants from around the globe. During the early 1900s, millions of people entered the country in search of a more prosperous future through Ellis Island. In more recent years, it has become increasingly difficult to become a legal citizen of the United States for foreign emigrants. Under the current system, it is often times harder to immigrate to the United States legally than it is to enter illegally. Processing of a family visa can take several years depending on where an individual is coming from. For example, the waiting period for a F4 (family) visa in the Philippines is over 20 years. Processing times of F4 visas from Mexico, China and India are each over 10 years. Work visas are equally inefficient. Several work visas must be filed well in advance of the employer needing help. Work visas for “unskilled” workers can also take several years to be processed. Depending on where an individual is emigrating from, the cost of applying for a visa can also be a deterrent. I have heard numerous stories of individuals waiting several years for approval of their visa to live with their families from my girlfriend who is from Bogotá, Colombia. She also mentioned that the cost of applying for a visa is extremely high for an average person in Colombia. The $720 application fee could take a Colombian worker two to three months to earn, not accounting for living expenses.

 

The current system is not only a burden on individuals attempting to emigrate; it is a financial burden on the United States. Since it is so difficult to immigrate legally, there are over ten million illegal immigrants in the United States today. Since these workers are undocumented and working for cash, the United States government is unable to collect taxes from them. In our current trying economic times, tax revenues from ten million people could help substantially. The amount of money the United States spends on protecting the border is also money that could be better spent. Based solely on the number of illegal immigrants currently residing in the United States, it is apparent that the American taxpayers are not getting their money’s worth ($90 billion in 10 years). By loosening the immigration laws, the U.S. wouldn't have to spend so much money to protect the border from non-violent, non-drug trafficking immigrants. Coupled with the increased tax revenues, the United States would have a great sum of money to relocate into other programs. With no incentive for immigrants to enter the country legally, it is unlikely that many will. 

It is undeniable that the infusion of different cultures into the melting pot of the United States is and has been beneficial to us as a nation. The desire to come to the United States is so great that people will find a way here one way or another. The United States shouldn’t turn its shoulder on the very thing that made it what it is today. The current system benefits nobody and needs to be amended.

References:

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/03/the-real-problem-with-immigration-and-the-real-solution
http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/us-spends-90-billion-border-security-drugs-keep-pouring
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-24/legal-immigration-usa/50895150/1