US immigration policy more complex than white and blue

Let me begin by saying that there are two, distinct classes of jobs in the United State (or broadly, the West): “blue collar” labor jobs and “white collar” professional jobs. It is a common fallacy in argument for advocates on both sides to assume the term “job” is merely one type of work.

Obama’s administration is working towards legalizing the status of currently-unauthorized immigrants in the United States. I cannot stress enough that these immigrants are not white-collar workers; they are a majority blue-collar workers. This means the jobs they presently work are low-skill and low-paying. The Republican argument that illegal immigrants are taking away from American jobs in light of the current economic conditions, is a weak one. Americans losing their jobs today are primarily semi or full professionals - including venture capitalists booted from Wall Street. Due to the obvious gap in job qualifications, it is no wonder unemployed Americans are not taking to the streets protesting the shifts of illegal immigrants working as janitors, restaurant bussers, construction workers and the like.  We would much rather take state unemployment benefits and keep searching for a position that best matches our qualifications than to resort to blue-collar work.

It is also very important to understand the infrastructure of the American economy, the lifestyle habits of the West and how the two affect each other. Western nations, including the United States, tend to have smaller family sizes due to work schedules and other socio-economic restraints. This may seem like a menial fact, but in fact makes a great impact on our economy. The sheer size of the American economy demands for a large workforce. Given that American families do not produce enough children to off-set the demand of their economy, the United States needs immigrants to support the economic infrastructure.

There is also the questionable history of the US foreign policy that has resulted in instability and difficult living conditions in other countries. This includes unfair trading practices such as protectionism that is resulting in poverty abroad and American demand for drugs such as cocaine that continue to fuel drug wars in countries such as Colombia and Mexico. A majority of illegal immigrants are simply attempting to escape these conditions and better the lives of their families. Wouldn’t anyone? I am not, however, condoning illegal immigration into any state. We should respect the sovereignty of other states, inclusive of their laws of governance. If we are to live within a state, we must abide by its laws alongside its citizenry. But given the complexity of the issue of immigration and America’s dependence on it to sustain her own socio-economic identity, simply expelling illegal immigrants will not only negatively impact our own economy but our crucial ties with the international community.

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Credit: Maha Kamal graduated with her B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She is currently preparing for her post-graduate studies in international law, business and diplomacy. Maha also enjoys learning new languages, painting and web design in her free time. You may reach her at maha.kamal@colorado.edu.