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>.
max, if you took my book please give it back!
ReplyDeleteMax - Your emphasis on the Dream Act and its opposition, SB1070, is very helpful in showing the conflict the two parties have. And in being that one, the SB1070, has been passed by Governor Brewer, while the other, the Dream Act, is still in debate shows the general leaning of Arizona residents being conservative, which is a most expected result. Arizona, being largely conservative in general is so due to it being impacted most negatively due to illegal immigration. The majority vote for the strict anti-immigration law is due to the risks of allowing unregistered illegals to freely waltz through our state. Drug cartel, random crime, etc. is partly to blame for illegal immigration. I'm saying this in general; however, as we know that not all illegal come here with bad intentions and many behave as model citizens in the society they are blessed to reside in. I do agree with the Dream Act and due to the neccessary measures that one must adhere in order to recieve citizenship, I see very little conflict in the law. I would expect most to be for the Dream Act, democrats and moderate conservatives included, all expect for strict conservatives.
ReplyDeleteMax- Your essay makes me wonder what other states believe about illegal immigration, SB1070, and the DREAM Act. Although illegal immigration is not a problem that only affects Arizona, we are definitely one of the top states affected by the practice. Your essay was well done, and I think it would be interesting to gather information regarding other states' opinions of each of these acts. Some states have passed similar laws in response to SB1070, others have had these laws in place for decades already; indeed, even musicians have formed the Sound Strike, which invites them to join in a boycott of Arizona on account of the law.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, you were absolutely correct in stating that "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."
Your outlining of which party agrees with what act/bill really helped to put things into perspective. Both parties need to come to an understanding the core of the issue lies in the process of immigration itself. It is too slow, and many of the people our age that I've talked to personally who are here illegally say their families had been waiting around 10-15 years and that coming here illegally and risking the consequences was a better option than staying where they were. I absolutely agree with what you're saying about both parties backing off their radical and Temporary solutions and focusing on a more permanent solution in immigration reform itself. Good job Massimo!
ReplyDelete@Sam: Thanks Sam! That's exactlly the point I wanted to get across! This issue is too important to keep putting off and keep having the parties disagree, the opposing parties must agree on immigration before it's too late.
ReplyDelete@Writergirl: Ya i wonder about what other states thin about illegal immigration also. I part of me thinks that they do not really care all that much on the issue and that is why the process of resolving the problem is so long! But I really hope not.
@Alana Turner: Yes, I don't see many things wrong with the Dream act also. I think it would get passed and the only group voting against it would be strict conservatives like you said.
Even though I somehow became president of the Teenage Republicans club I sometimes really don't agree with the parties opinions on certain issues, but this one I definitely have to agree with the Republican side. There are plenty of good hard working people in the world but America can not have them all. People that are interested in becoming a citizen need to go through the entire program. If it was easier to become an American citizen we would have a huge over crowding problem very quickly. The country does need to secure the borders to keep illegals out. Although becoming a citizen is a long and extensive process it has to be and the people that really want it and that are willing to work for deserve it and the ones that don't oh well.
ReplyDeleteVery thorough paper, and well written. I especially liked how you used the two pieces of legislation- SB1070 and the Dream Act- to exemplify the differences between the two parties very effectively. I think it is important that both sides compromise enough that they can come together on the pressing issue of making the citizenship process at least somewhat more efficient- I think both can admit that it is inordinately long and expensive. However, I also much more readily support the Republican idea of secure borders and not just "accepting" with amnesty those who have already passed in illegally- I'm sorry, but they're called ILLEGAL immigrants for a reason; it's against the law. That's like someone saying "Well, the line at the store to buy my milk was too long, so I just stole it without paying." Would Democrats think that's ok too? The analogy may be understating it a little, but I've got to say, I, at least, view them in a similar light. Jumping through beurocratic hoops is a reality of life, and sometimes that sucks, but that's the price we have to pay for what we have. So while I do think the immigration process could use some tweaking, I can't agree with the Democratic view on much else with this issue.
ReplyDelete