This essay argues that undocumented immigrants in the United States deserve amnesty on the grounds that they are human beings entitled to the same rights and opportunities upon which America was founded. Drawing on two essays — Fred Reed's "Why Blame Mexico?" and John Kavanaugh's "Amnesty?" — the paper presents complementary arguments: Reed demonstrates that American social and economic structures effectively invite undocumented workers, while Kavanaugh appeals to Judeo-Christian morality to assert the humanity and dignity of migrants. Together, both perspectives support the central thesis that all people, including undocumented immigrants, deserve the right to pursue happiness and prosperity.
Immigration in the twenty-first century is one of the most widely debated issues in the United States. Many different states, liberals, and conservatives have taken varying stances on this topic, which seemingly becomes more pressing every day as the number of undocumented workers continues to grow. This phenomenon is discussed at length in a pair of essays by John Kavanaugh and Fred Reed. In Reed's piece, "Why Blame Mexico?", the author argues that the United States does not actually want to stop illegal immigration from occurring. In Kavanaugh's essay, "Amnesty?", the author presents humanitarian and religious reasons for tolerating — and even granting amnesty to — undocumented workers. Both essays inform the central argument of this paper: all humans deserve a fair chance to succeed in life, and because undocumented immigrants are human beings, they should be granted amnesty when they enter the United States.
One of the foundational ideals upon which the United States was built is that it would be the land of the free — a place where opportunity could abound for those who could not find it elsewhere. The country quickly developed a reputation as a place where anyone could achieve success and happiness simply through hard work and determination. This very notion is predicated on an inherent equality among people, regardless of their personal circumstances or fortune. On paper, at least, the laws of the United States reflect the principle that people have equal rights to liberty, life, and the pursuit of happiness.
Therefore, all humans are deserving of this chance for a good life — a notion central to Kavanaugh's essay. His article argues that illegal immigrants are people and should be treated as such when they enter the country. This belief aligns with the principle that all people deserve a fair chance to succeed, and since immigrants are people too, they deserve amnesty upon entering the United States. As the American Dream has long promised, the promise of opportunity should not be reserved for those born within particular borders.
The crux of this argument is that undocumented immigrant workers are people. Because they are people — and not some subclass of humanity simply because they were not born in the United States — they deserve the opportunity to pursue happiness and success like anyone else. One of the most important points to recognize in the broader debate over amnesty for illegal immigrants is that a significant portion of the American public appears to share this view. Reed alludes to this in the following passage:
"The problem of immigration, note, is entirely self-inflicted. The U.S. chose to let them in. It didn't have to. They came to work. If Americans hadn't hired them, they would have gone back" (Reed).
This straightforward observation emphasizes that many people in the United States want undocumented workers — which is why they have hired them and will continue to do so. However, employers are not merely hiring a labor commodity when they give these individuals jobs. They are hiring people who also need housing, healthcare, and food in order to continue contributing to the U.S. economy and performing labor that is largely unwanted by others. These employers are hiring human beings, and since all people deserve to pursue the shared ideals of equal rights and freedom, undocumented immigrants deserve amnesty when they come to this country.
This argument is further supported by several passages in Kavanaugh's article. The author primarily highlights the humanity of migrant laborers by framing that idea within a biblical context. It is clear that Kavanaugh places the value of migrants' humanity above other aspects of their situation — including the fact that they have transgressed both the law and the borders of the United States. The following quotation reinforces this point:
"They have broken the law." This is an interesting standard of ethics, justice or charity for a nation that sees itself as Judeo-Christian and humane… As for making the law our bottom line, do Christians know how many times Jesus was in trouble with the law… (Kavanaugh).
"Biblical morality elevates migrants above legal status"
"U.S. structures enable and invite undocumented labor"
Kavanaugh, John. "Amnesty?" America. 2008. Web.
Reed, Fred. "Why Blame Mexico?" The American Conservative. 2008. Web.
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