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Opinion

Immigration not a problem for the U.S. 

Florian Martin
Opinion Columnist

Late last year, the United States population reached 300 million. This gave opponents of immigration fresh fuel to rant about the growing number of illegal immigrants from Latin America, particularly Mexico. Many argue that the United States can't fit any more people, especially if they are here illegally. Others claim illegal immigrants take Americans' jobs, increase the crime rate and exploit the social system.

This country is far from being overpopulated. With 31 people per square kilometer it is the 172nd densest territory in the world. China occupies about the same amount of land yet has approximately 1.3 billion inhabitants -- more than four times as many as the United States. India is three times smaller than the United States but has about 1.1 billion people. And these, unlike the United States, have little or no immigration.

Let's not forget that this country was founded by immigrants, beginning 400 years ago with the arrival of immigrants from Europe. They established a land that would give refuge to people from all over the world, allowing them to start a life they could not have had in their native countries. Since then, millions of immigrants have helped make the United States what it is today -- one of the most liberated, wealthy and diverse countries. It is the world's only remaining superpower. 

Apart from American Indians, all Americans are the descendants of immigrants, and according to the Bering Strait theory, even American Indians once migrated to America from Asia. This country's incredible success has to be accredited to immigrants. Many different opinions helped make the right decisions and many different hands joined to build a new country.

Over time, immigration laws have become stricter, especially after 9/11, and for many people there is no way of immigrating legally. Like many generations before them, today's immigrants come to America to pursue a dream -- the dream to live in a free country with unlimited opportunities. 

Higher fences, stricter background checks and laws prohibiting illegal immigrants from renting apartments will not stop people from coming here; it will only make life harder for those already here. This will only result in more illegal immigrant poverty and consequently more crime by that group. 

Illegal aliens can be seen as a blessing for the U.S. economy, as they provide the country with inexpensive labor. This is also why the government is relatively lax in fighting undocumented immigration. However, increased pressure from parts of the population has resulted in more action against aliens and has made immigration a leading issue in elections and legislative decisions.

No matter the various opinions and ideas raised by this subject, one should always keep in mind the words of Emma Lazarus, written on a plaque inside the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

"The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

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