We Need to Compromise on Immigration Policies
The chain fence burst open, and Honduran immigrants rushed through the Mexico-Guatemala border by the thousands. They ran straight for the nearest border bridge, where they clashed with a thick wall of riot shields. Tear gas exploded around them, and pepper spray soon followed. Yet, some still fought desperately to break through while others leaped into the water below, thrashing against the river current to swim to the other shore.
When the crowd finally retreated, only 50 of the 4,000 caravan migrants had managed to cross the border into Mexico. The rest stayed in Guatemala, searching for a way through. Since then, some of the remaining migrants have tricked their way through the border, traversing the Suchiate River by ferries and rafts.
The massive caravan originally came from Honduras to escape the poverty and violent drug lords so prevalent in the war-torn country, and it has been a subject of political discourse for the past two weeks. As the caravan marched to the Mexican border with hopes to eventually make it to the United States, President Donald Trump grew irate, and threatened to drop the US’s NAFTA deal with Mexico if it did not take action to stop the push.
"I must, in the strongest of terms, ask Mexico to stop this onslaught—and if unable to do so I will call up the U.S. Military and CLOSE OUR SOUTHERN BORDER!" Trump tweeted soon after making this demand. This prompted Mexico to heavily secure their border in an attempt to stop the caravan.
This move, along with Trump’s decision to militarize the US-Mexico border, has sparked widespread political debate with regards to immigration. With this debate comes the essential question of how to deal with immigration in the United States. Some argue that the United States as a world superpower has a responsibility to provide asylum to all immigrants. Other isolationists demand that US borders be completely sealed, countering that too much immigration is detrimental to American society.
The best solution to this contentious issue should consider both viewpoints. The United States, as a world leader, does have an obligation to aid immigrants suffering at the hands of governments that breach fundamentals human rights, but the nation should not do so at its own expense. If the US opened up its borders completely, immigrants would flock to the nation by the millions, an influx for which the United States is neither financially nor infrastructurally prepared. An overbearing immigrant population would also start to actually interfere with the well-being of true American citizens, especially in regards to employment.
On the other hand, completely shutting U.S. borders through militarization would require too much capital, and refusing all immigrants would be economically deconstructive. It would also be a hypocritical move gives in our values. The U.S. itself is arguably a nation of immigrants. Every US citizen can trace their roots back just a few generations and find that their ancestors once stood in the same shoes as modern immigrants: poor, desperate, and willing to sacrifice and work hard if granted asylum into the U.S.
Sealing borders would also cost the U.S. vast economic potential. Immigrants are well-known for being extremely hard workers that are willing to take “dirty” jobs that normal U.S. citizens reject. One of the Honduran caravan members, Cristian, expressed his desire to work. "I want to get to the States to contribute to that country,” he said, “to do any kind of work, [even] picking up garbage." By allowing at least some immigrants in, the U.S. would only fill the growing demand for blue-collar jobs that few Americans even consider taking. Immigrants would bring another valuable asset with them as well: their children. First-generation children are some of the most productive members of society, motivated by the sacrifices of their parents and the American Dream.
Immigrants do have something to offer to our nation, but too many of them can be detrimental. To strike a balance between these two sides, the best action to take is to halt illegal immigration and to be more liberal with regards to legal immigration. Legal immigration quotas should be expanded, and gaining US citizenship should be simplified. To ensure that illegal immigration is stifled, we must tighten our borders through militarization. With this system in effect, the United States can gain maximum benefit from immigration, while eliminating its negative effects that are so feared today.