Amnesty?
Let Us Be Vigilant and Charitable
By: John F. Kavanaugh
&
Why Blame Mexico?
By: Fred Reed
Issue Question: Should we pardon immigrants for illegally pursuing a life in the United States of America, and who should be blamed?
My Claim: I believe every person is equal, and should be treated equally. If a person is wiling to risk everything to create a better life for another person, then they deserve the decency to be given a chance. Though to be a citizen they should be required to act as a citizen. They should pay taxes, speak English, read and write, etc. I also believe that America is at fault, and that it is our problem we’ve created.
Because: The 14th amendment states “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside”.
Because: America creates chances for these people that their country may not provide.
Because: “See this river? Don’t cross it. If you do, we’ll give you good jobs, drivers license, citizenship for your kids born here, school for kids, public assistance, governmental documents in Spanish for your convenience, and a much better future. There is no penalty for getting caught. Now, don’t cross this river here?”
How smart is that? We’re bating them (47.)
Because: The Catholic bishops of Mexico pointed out I January that the recent surge of immigration is a direct effect of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Opposing Claim: Some Americans believe that immigrants are criminals, who have broken the law to sneak into our country. Americans have created these laws, and they have found ways around them. “They have broken the law.” This is an interesting standard of ethics, justice or charity for a nation that sees itself as Judeo-Christian and humane (40.) The Government made a mistake, so its either go against everything America stands for, or welcome them into our country and make them do as we do.
Because: Mexico is a country, not a prison. It has no obligation to enforce American laws that America declines to enforce (47.)
Because: As for making the law our bottom line, do Christians know how many times Jesus was in trouble with the law? Do they know that the natural law tradition, articulated in the work of Thomas Aquinas, holds an unjust law to be no law at all? Do they forget that our nation was founded upon an appeal to a higher law than a positive law than positive law, an appeal shared by the labor movement, by Martin Luther King Jr., and by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony (40.)
Enthymeme:
Claim: America did not thoroughly look into the 14th Amendment when writing it, causing the problems with illegal immigration.
Reason: Back when the 14th Amendment was written, the US was not even close to what it is today, so we had no way of knowing. We have caused this problem; we should step up and take responsibility.
Grounds: We are not going to round up millions of people and physically throw them across the border. Whether we should doesn’t matter. Its fantasy. Too many people want them here or don’t care that they are here or don’t want to uproot families who have established new lives here. Ethnic cleaning is ugly.
Warrant: If the 14th Amendment wouldn’t state that if a person was born in America they are automatically a citizen.
Backing: If the Amendment said a quick background check of the parent’s citizenship, to approve the newborn child’s citizenship, America would not even be worrying about Illegal immigration at a severity it is now
Would have, Could have, Should have, we cant look back now. America is going to have to take responsibility, and find a solution to its mistake.
Summary of Argument:
I do not have a problem with immigration, however I oppose this article when it says that illegal immigration should not be a problem. It is fine for the opportunities of the United States to be available to people outside our country. However, if they want to be apart of what the country offers then they need to make the effort and make their immigration legal and documented. I do not want to exclude anyone from being in a free country, and enjoying all of the opportunity that awaits here. Yet, it is not fair to the taxpayers and working citizens who are funding these illegals. American citizens are putting their part in to the government, this should not be a free ride for illegal immigrants.
ReplyDeleteI believe that illegal immigrants should have to go through the process of becoming an American citizen. If they are not born in the United States and want to live here then they must complete the process but that does not mean we should treat them differently. People born in countries outside of the United States are humans just like we are, so we should not treat them any differently. I believe every person was created equally and should be treated equally.
ReplyDeleteadrianne
the last sentence in the summary of this argument is completely biassed. Not all U.S citizens are christians, citizens are free to be whichever religion they chose. Also, the statement that "some americans are criminals" is quite irrelevant considering that the U.S. justice system does what it can to justify any crime which American citizens or illegal immigrants may commit. America cannot be faulted for the criminals that chose to cross our borders. Maybe it is not ethical to split up families by sending away the parents of citizens who happened to be born here, but the immigrants who chose to cross the border illegally should have considered that before doing so, just as it may be unethical to put a child's parent in jail who committed a crime, but they should have considered that before committing the crime as well. Everyone who is in this country must abide by the same laws. Lack of knowledge of the law is no excuse for committing a crime. U.S is by no means responsible for housing those immigrants who can not speak english and therefore not find a job. There are consequences for every action and i must say, America is not as harsh on illegal immigrants as some other countries. Yes, this country does provide many opportunities for people, but it is quite clear that citizenship is required i order for people to take advantage of these opportunities.
ReplyDeleteThe united states is a free country it was made from immigration. Therefore, i believe in immigration, but i think if people want to immigrate here they must go through the process of becoming a legal immigrant. I do not believe in illegal immigrants coming into the United States and taking jobs away from american citizens. In society today people are struggling to keep there jobs and its frustrating to see American citizens without jobs when illegal immigrants just come to the U.S. to get paid more.
ReplyDeleteSome immigrants are wrong for breaking the law and entering the U.S. illegally. If that is their only choice for survival then breaking a law doesn't seem matter to them at all. Why would it if your family is starving to death. Anyone can agree they would do anything it takes to save the life of a loved one. So how can we simply call them criminals for this? Although, not every illegal alien has this pity story. Some simply come to make more money and have a richer life. Who can blame someone for wanting that? But that is not a justifiable reason to break a law. Many people do view them as criminals because they basically are stealing our money by, letting everyone else pay their taxes. Is this their only act of indecency here? The U.S. obviously needs to make it easier to become a citizen so these "criminals" can become citizens without breaking the law and making other people pay their taxes or they need to lock down and avoid immigrants all together. Either way, something needs to be changed.
ReplyDelete"America isn't at fault. It hasn't provoked other countries to come and become American citizens. The immigrants simply saw the success the U.S.A had. The Free Agreement was a needed document for the future growth of the country. Also, it doesn't matter if immigrants are criminals or not, the fact is that if they remain the economy will become unstable. They talk a lot of jobs from others with cheap labor. Even the Bishops, the symbol of our Judeo Christianity, believe ilegal immigrants are a problem. They just want it done in a more humane and realistic way."
ReplyDeleteduchuy
I believe that illegial immigration is a big issue in the United States. The article makes it seem as if there is nothing wrong with "illegal" immigration. The word "illegal" already says that it is against the law.. Yes, some immigrants come to America for good reasons such as finding a better home environment, work environment, etc. However, a huge portion of other immigrnts come to America illegally and cause harm to the American country by breaking laws and disrupting the nation. Therefore, I believe that regardless of what your intentions are for coming to America, everyone should go through the required process to come here LEGALLY, at the very least.
ReplyDeletesally
I believe we shouldn't look at the U.S opinions as religious anyway. The matter is in doing what's right because it's right. I agree with Michelle in understanding that were just as big of immigrants as they are. We're just a few generations down the line, this is no different from my grandparents traveling to the U.S back then. Although just like my grandparents they should be required to become legal citizens as well.
ReplyDeleteI believe that illegal immigration is a big deal in this country. We should allow immigrants to come if and only if they go through a legal procedure.
ReplyDeleteI believe that illegal immigration should be stopped but the USA can only blamed themselves because they allow it to happen. I do believe that they are let into the states them they have no motivation to become legal.
ReplyDeleteI agree that immigrating into America is not a wrongful act, but if you want to come over here, people need to take the right steps into becoming a citizen. Illegal immigration has become an out of hand situation and it needs to be stopped. America is a wonderful place that brings much hope to some who immigrate over, but we can not have illegal people all over our country. It is dangerous and we are becoming over populated with people who do not speak our language and do not know our customs.
ReplyDelete