Massimo Sommacampagna
Duquette
AP Government
14 November 2010
Issue paper (Immigration policy)
As America is getting stronger as a superpower and larger, the issue with immigration is getting more and more complex with additional immigrants coming to America every year. Whether it may be illegal or legally, immigration is a topic that must be achieved in congress in order to make the American system more balanced out. Democrats and Republicans have been fighting this issue for a while and it just seems to enlarge in complications the more it is not resolved.
The Republican Party views the immigration policy on a strict conservative note by favoring more border security, tracking immigrants, and firmer laws on immigration. They view immigration only legally and do not approve of illegal immigration at all. Republicans do not appreciate the strain that illegal immigrants give to the American system, like not paying income taxes. They appreciate the hard process that immigrants must go through to become a citizen, therefore they do not approve of illegal immigrants not following procedures and residing in America illegally. Republicans contest “amnesty” programs and legalization. Their conservative view is very strong on immigration and they feel as if they are just looking out for the security and protection of the American people and its culture.
The Democratic Party favors a more liberal side to all the immigration issues with more open borders and less restrictions on immigration. Contrasting the Republicans’ view, they believe more on the fact that if an illegal immigrant works hard and shows good moral character than they should be aloud to reside in America. They do compare in views that there should be security at the border and they do discourage illegal immigration, although not to an extent as Republicans. Democrats also want the legal immigration policy to become less complicated and lengthy. They favor a simpler and easier process for immigrants to go through, to obtain their citizenship in America. Democrats’ liberal view wants America to open their arms for all immigrants and favors more immigrants to reside and work in America. Democrats perceive immigration as a chance to renovate the “American Community.” They have the belief that because America was built from generations of immigrants than the more immigrants we accept into our society the greater of a country we will become.
Issues like the DREAM Act and SB1070 really show how different the views are of Democrats and Republicans toward illegal immigration. These two different acts really portray the outlooks of these two parties. Democrats favor the DREAM act but oppose SB1070 while Republicans favor SB1070 and oppose the DREAM act. Republicans’ and Democrats’ view on immigration is truly a hard issue for them to compromise on but I believe that with analyzing their two viewpoints, they can reach an agreement if they both decrease some of their radical liberal(Democrats) and conservative(Republicans) ideologies.
Bibliography
1. Johnson, Jeremiah. "REPUBLICAN VS. DEMOCRAT: Platforms On Immigration." Editorial. Asian Journal. 1 Oct. 2008. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.asianjournal.com/immigration/atty-robert-reeves/174-republican-vs-democrat-platforms-on-immigration-.html>.
2. Gharekhanian, Garni. "Immigration: Republican and Democratic Party Positions - by Garni Gharekhanian - Helium." Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.helium.com/items/813587-immigration-republican-and-democratic-party-positions>.
3. "Basic Information about the DREAM Act Legislation | DREAM Act Portal." Welcome to the DREAM Act Portal | DREAM Act Portal. 16 July 2010. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://dreamact.info/students>.
4. "Democratic Party on Immigration." OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues. Web. 14 Nov. 2010. <http://www.ontheissues.org/celeb/Democratic_Party_Immigration.htm>.
