The populace of the undocumented immigrants hit an all-time high in the 90’s in the U.S. However, in the recent decades the numbers have been reducing to the enhanced screening policies adopted by various regimes. By 2016, the population was estimated to be at 11.3 million (Perez, 2017). However, these figures are subject to changes due to the increasingly difficult process of ascertaining the statistics. Many of these immigrants find their way into the country in the quest to escape poverty and establish sustainable livelihoods. As such, they find themselves on the wrong side of the law. The employment of the undocumented immigrants continues to emerge as either beneficial or retrogressive depending on the side one assumes.
The undocumented immigrants ought to be allowed to access job opportunities as they provide cheap labor. Their input in the economy cannot be shunned. The undocumented immigrants have over the years participated in various sectors of the economy hence bringing in the much needed unskilled and semiskilled labor (Perez, 2017). They also channel back taxes to the government. These funds can be used to spur economic growth and foot the national expenditure.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The employment of the legal immigrants is founded on good social and ethical reasons. For every employed illegal immigrant, a family benefits massively. Understanding that many of these illegal immigrants have risked virtually everything to seek a better life should not be taken for granted. Laying off such persons would have a devastating domino effect where many families will be affected. They will fail to lead productive and comfortable lives.
The illegal immigrant workers are an asset to many private entities. This is because they boost these companies’ competitive edge. This is reflected in the reduced wage rates and enhanced productivity levels. These two elements promote profitability which translates to better commercial fortunes and ratings within the respective industries (Goodman, 2016). The companies enjoy reserve funds which can be used to improve various facets that may boost their standing within the markets.
On the other hand, employment of illegal immigrants may present disadvantages to various stakeholders. Firstly, the illegal status makes many of these workers miss out on social benefits such as Medicaid. Additionally, the existence of undocumented illegal immigrants leads to the straining of the public amenities or facilities. This is because much of these public amenities are tailor-made for the genuine populace which is acknowledged by the authorities through the existing population records.
The employment of illegal immigrants poses risks to businesses. There are stringent laws put in place to deter this trend. Employers are penalized by IRCA which asks employers to carry out due diligence whenever employing individuals (Goodman, 2016). Additionally, the employers are penalized for recordkeeping violations. It is through recordkeeping that legal status of the employees is effectively pinpointed. These unprecedented costs may affect the profitability and commercial standing of businesses.
In conclusion, the undocumented immigrants may be shunned by a section of the public but their contribution ought not to be shunned. According to James S. Holt, deportation of undocumented farm workers would bring about a “tremendous labor shortage” (Goodman, 2016). This shows the existing struggles faced by many economic sectors if the government were to reign on the illegal immigrant workers in the country. This is a complex issue which cannot be looked into in a pedestrian manner. As such, it is prudent to take account of the socio-economic impact of deporting the illegal immigrant workers. There should be a focus on the way forward in establishing mechanisms of having the undocumented laborers to achieve legality through humane ways. Additionally, there should be a proper account of how the undocumented immigrants strain the social services. This is because there is no sufficient data to uphold this fact. According to The Hill “the fiscal impact of immigration in the United States have concluded that, in aggregate and over long-term, tax revenues of all types generated by all types of immigrants exceed the cost of services they use” (Goodman, 2016). This negates the unfair treatment and perceptions held regarding the undocumented immigrant workers.
References
Goodman, H. A. (2016, February 4). Illegal immigrants benefit the U.S. economy . Retrieved from http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/203984-illegal-immigrants-benefit-the-us-economy
Perez, S. V. (2017, April 25). Undocumented immigrant population in U.S. stays flat for eighth straight year. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/04/25/undocumented-immigrant-population-united-states/100877164/
