Dear Future President,

Undocumented Immigration is a very important issue in the United States. Many people come to the U.S. to have a safe place to live and better work. Some Americans are furious that illegal immigrants are coming to the U.S. because they are “invading” their country, which is hypocritical, because the caucasians invaded the Native Americans land. We as American Citizens should help undocumented immigrants that want to be U.S. citizens, because they have nowhere else to go.

Immigrants that cross the border want better work and when they cross the U.S. border, they apply for a job and are undocumented workers. From 1990- 2007 undocumented workers increased legal workers pay in compatible jobs up to 10 percent, and undocumented workers have supplied up to 10 percent of the $2.7 trillion Social Security Trust fund according to the New York Times article. According to labor economists about 25 million of U.S. adults that are undocumented workers have lower payment without a high school diploma between 0.4 to 7.4 (New York Times).

In 2016, more than 32,000 undocumented immigrant families have been caught trying to cross the U.S. Border and all the families only have one reason why they want to cross the border, to have freedom. The most highest record of undocumented immigrants trying to get to freedom was in 2014 and 2016 was nearly 40 percent higher. Crossing the border can be very dangerous and risky. It's either you take the easy way and get caught trying to cross the border, or take the long dangerous way crossing the border without getting caught, or die. The most deadly route that Mexicans walk to the U.S. is 200 miles west of Douglas and in Mexico it is known as ‘the Devil’s Highway’. The Devil’s highway is very dangerous because the area is populated rattlesnakes, scorpions, and cactuses that tear migrants clothes and skin, walking at night is especially very dangerous. The heat can reach up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade. According to the abc news more than 1,500 migrants have died along the devil's highway from heat exhaustion, thirst,and exposure to elements. (abc News, One Night on a Deadly Border Crossing)

Human smugglers help immigrants cross the U.S. Border and get paid tons of money to help their clients illegally cross the border. Human smugglers would smuggle anyone that wants to go live in the United States and depending what country you live in is the price you have to pay your human smuggler (Human Smuggling Fees). According to Open Borders Mexicans who cross the U.S. border illegally pay the smugglers about $3000-4000 and Asians who cross the border pay about $10,000 and illegal Chinese immigrants is about $75,000. Some human smugglers are known to take your money and just leave you to die or just don't help you at all when they promised to (abc News, One Night on a Deadly Border Crossing).

Legalizing immigrants helps the U.S. with the economy by providing increasing jobs and reducing labor poverty in low- and high-skilled markets (The Economic Benefits of Immigration). Proprietor of the Capitalist Pig blog, Jonathan Hoenig said “The fact that foreigners are eager to pick crops, clean houses, bus tables and produce allows more of us to afford cheaper food and better services, affording us even more wealth to enjoy and invest. It’s not the immigrants, but the taxes, spending and entitlements (most of which immigrants don’t even receive) that have drained the economy dry” (5 Reasons to Grant Amnesty to Illegal Immigrants). Which is true because without them the U.S. would struggle with the workforce and not have a lot of workers. Undocumented immigrants don't break the laws except for crossing the border illegally, but that is because they want a job that pays them the right amount of money.

This topic is very important to me because I know people that struggle to be an American citizen, such as my family. My family were refugees, they went through hardships to come to U.S. to pursue their dreams and to live in a safer environment and never though they aren't the same to immigrants I can still relate the hardships. I want people to be happy, safe, healthy, and earning the right amount of money for themselves and their families, undocumented immigrants want that too, so let's give it to them. It is time that we legalize undocumented immigrants because they went through a lot of pain to come to the U.S. to live a better life and as human beings we should help another person out.

Sincerely, Amy Bo