Why the “Deportation Bill” Does Not Reflect America’s Feelings

By Jason Hines | January 20, 2015

Legislation made its way through the House of Representatives that seeks to undo President Obama’s immigration policies. The Senate is unlikely to pass the legislation – and the President has already said he would veto it if it crossed his desk – but the implications from the Republican Party seem clear: do not allow undocumented workers to stay in America.

But President Obama’s reforms and executive orders have helped our country in countless numbers of ways, and benefit more people than immigrants. According to an MSNB report:

  • The rate of unemployment for Hispanic workers dropped to 6.5% in 2014
  • The rate of uninsured Hispanic workers dropped to 23% in the first full year of the Affordable Care Act
  • The amount of Hispanic student who have dropped out of school is at an all-time low of 13%
  • “Early data from the two-year-old Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program show that even in its early days, DACA recipients saw significant gains in their income”
  • Trade between Mexico and America has increased exponentially
  • The amount of immigrants coming from Mexico has decreased steadily
  • 69% of Americans want our 11 million undocumented peoples to stay in the country, and 55% of Americans wish to keep the President’s actions on behalf of immigrants in place.

The article speaks overwhelmingly to the Hispanic experience in America, but immigrants from around the world can benefits from the executive orders put into place by the President. According to the Migration Policy Institute, the countries which see the highest numbers of people immigrating to America are:

  • Mexico
  • India
  • Philippines
  • China
  • El Salvador
  • Vietnam
  • Cuba
  • Korea
  • Dominican Republic
  • Guatemala

The President will speak in length, we assume, about his immigration policies during the State of the Union Address on January 20, 2015. The speech will likely touch on a few key elements – namely, that border patrols have the resources they need, and that “felons, not families” are the people who are slated for removal. He will also discuss his measures for helping undocumented workers stay in the country legally, and for streamlining the immigration process for eligible immigrants.

With all of the talk surrounding the harsh measures of the “deportation bill,” it can be easy to lose sight of the good. People all over the country recognize the value and beauty that immigrants bring to America, and support the President in his goal of making this country a better place for immigrants. If you have questions about the immigration laws in Tennessee or throughout the country, please contact LaFevor & Slaughter for assistance.

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