Immigration Reform

Paper Summary:

The author of this paper examines the issue of illegal immigration to the United States from Mexico and the need for reform in existing immigration laws. The paper's author postulates that the arguments put forward by opponents of immigration reform are, for the most part invalid and based on racial stereotyping as opposed to reasoned argument. The author states that despite being "illegal", Mexican immigrants are an essential part of the US' work force and as such, deserve the same rights that are accorded to workers who are also citizens. Examples are given of state discrimination against illegal immigrants from Mexico as well as attempts by federal courts to give such immigrants a modicum of protection.

From the Paper:

"The Supreme Court began to challenge immigration laws in 1875 by ruling that individual states did not have the constitutional right to regulate immigration, as this was exclusively a federal issue. (Heer 37) From this time forward the Supreme Court and other federal entities have had the sole responsibility of enacting and enforcing immigration laws, many of which followed the traditional pattern of allowance only when the US had a need for labor. The first act was to level a head tax on immigrants, which would presumably answer the state's individual desires to bar paupers from entrance into the US. It is possible that many of the ensuing regulations and challenges to Mexican immigration have been as a result of the early sentiment that stresses that those in the direst economic need should not be able to enter the US."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Heer, David M. Immigration in America's Future: Social Science Findings and the Policy Debate. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1996.
• Parker, Star. "Se Habla Entitlement." The Longman Reader. 8th ed. Eds. Judith Nadell, John Langan, and Eliza A. Comodromos. New York, Pearson Longman, 2008. 421-423.
• Rodriguez, Roberto. "The Border on Our Backs." The Longman Reader. 8th ed. Eds. Judith Nadell, John Langan, and Eliza A. Comodromos. New York, Pearson Longman, 2008.416-418.

More papers on Immigration Reform:

• Persuasive Essay # 127845 : "McCain-Kennedy Bill for Immigration Reform"
• Persuasive Essay # 136204 : "Immigration Reform Systems"
• Persuasive Essay # 133529 : "Immigration Reform"
• Persuasive Essay # 120998 : "Immigration Reform"

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