Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
IMMIGRATION
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Kobach, K. W., (2008). Reinforcing the rule of law: what states can and should do to
reduce illegal immigration. Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. 22, 459-483.
Kobachs article explores the economic impact of immigration legislation and the
scope of a states authority in addressing those issues (so not to violate federal
legislation). The cost of federal immigration has direct and significant financial
consequences on individual state. However, states have wide latitude in affecting
their own immigration legislation provided they employ careful drafting to not
offend federal law. Despite the inability to avoid all costs as a result of federal
immigration laws, states can take legislative actions to: (a) deny public benefits to
illegals, (b) deny tuition to illegals, (c) prohibit hiring of illegals, (d) create state
criminal laws which mirror federal ones, (e) create criminal laws regarding
identity theft, (f) provide assistance to ICE, (g) deny bail to illegals; and (h) deny
drivers licenses.
The article is fact and empirically based, generally objective in terms of providing
information of what states options are (while having a bias that states should do
something). This is one of the stronger and more credible sources (the author is a
Professor of Law at the University of Missouri) for what legal options currently
exist pursuant to state and federal law. For the purpose of the paper, this source
will help in narrowing and focusing the argument by showing there are legal
limits of what can currently be done.
Peer-reviewed: Yes
Orrenius, P. & Zavodny, M., (2012). The economic consequences of amnesty for
unauthorized immigrants. Gato Journal, 31(1), 85-102.
Orrenius & Zavodnys article explores the practical effect of various immigration
policy laws in the United States from an economic policy perspective. The article
summarizes various U.S. attempts of addressing unauthorized and illegal aliens
through amnesty or similar systems. It shows that various legalization efforts
have caused a domino affect of economic and societal consequences (e.g., higher
incomes for previously unauthorized workers, greater tax revenue collected from
newly legal but higher benefit expense for states, and the effect on the transient
labor markets). Starting from the assumption that deterring future illegal
immigration is preferable, the authors demonstrate how policies and immigration
laws can have unintended consequences and how certain alternatives may wish to
be considered (e.g. temporary worker programs).
The article is more nuanced than other sources dealing with the economic effects
of immigration in that it seriously tries to analyze the practical consequences of
different policies, even if such outcomes are not always neatly defined or if they
provide contradictory positions. It provides a more holistic snapshot of how one
action may have various implications on a larger system (both economic and
social) and has less of a position of advocacy. The article will provide helpful
arguments and citations regarding the consequences of certain amnesty laws and
will allow the research paper to have a greater foundation in its analysis.
Peer-reviewed: Yes
Porter, L., (2006). Illegal immigrants should not receive social services.
International Social Science Review, 81(1/2), 66-72.
Porters article briefly summarizes the history of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (INA). The article also describes a number of amnesty programs and touches
upon how such programs create unfair costs for the U.S. taxpayers. It then details
areas where illegal aliens either contribute to societal costs or shift opportunities
away from U.S. citizens including: (1) educational, (2) certain labor markets, and
(3) in healthcare. Finally, Porter argues in favor of stricter border security and
enforcement of immigration laws (e.g., redeploying the military at the border and
fines on businesses that employ illegal aliens).
The article provides a relatively objective account of why both Republicans and
Democrats supported the INA. The rest of the article, however, is strongly biased
against illegal immigration and amnesty and provides basic statements about the
stresses of illegal immigration on the U.S. society but has far less developed
support than some of the other sources do. The article will assist in the
explanation of the wide support for the INA among political parties despite their
various and often conflicting positions on immigration policy today.
Peer-reviewed: Yes
Ruark, E.A. (2015, January 30). White House Report Confirms President Obamas
Executive Actions Will Harm American Workers, Taxpayers. Immigration Issues.
Retrieved March 20, 2015, from http://www.fairus.org/issue/white-house-reportRuarks article criticizes President Obamas executive actions related to
immigration (namely, the granting of social security numbers and work
authorization to illegal immigrants). The author suggests that the presidents
claims that the economy will benefit from these actions are misleading,
inconsequential, and an affront to the rule of law. The article suggests that the
executive actions ignore the real problems with the economy including the
shortage of well paying jobs. Finally, the article concludes the executive actions
will actually hurt the economy instead of helping it.
The article highlights a series of contradictions in claimed benefits in the
presidents executive report on immigration. The article employs economic data
to persuasively undermine some of the claims of the White House report, but is so
strongly biased in tone that it is less than an authoritative source than some other
more scholarly articles. Nevertheless, the article will be a helpful secondary
source to provide supporting arguments to critique current claims in favor of
granting social security numbers and the associated benefits to illegals.
Shultz, G. (2015, March 05). Getting at the Roots of Illegal Immigration. Wall Street
Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/
George P. Shultz, a former secretary of labor, Treasury and state, and the director
of the Office of Management and Budget, points out that in order to address the
issue of illegal immigration, our government should look at the root of the
problem. According to this news article, the recent influx of illegal immigrants
hails not from Mexico, but rather, countries in Central America such as:
Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The writer states that most undocumented
immigrants choose to cross the border illegally because of corruption, human
trafficking, and the desire to give their family better lives. He adds that since
America is a land of opportunity, as a part of a whole, the U.S. should recognize
its role in assisting these countries. The author said, Yes, secure the border by
helping address the conditions that drive desperate people here (Shultz, 2015,
n.p.).
The article is balanced and provides fair judgment on the issue of illegal
immigration. In addition to the authors qualifications, the evidence the author
used to prove his claim makes this article credible and reliable. The valuable
information will be used to further examine problems on illegal immigration.
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