1 Argument Essay Kristi MacDonald ENC1101 Professor McGriff Immigration Is immigration an entitlement or a privilege?

In either case, how does it affect the security of our country? Our country was founded by immigrants and through the years there have been many immigrants from countries all over the world that have come here, legally and illegally, seeking the American dream of freedom and prosperity. Some do not come here for either of those reasons but come here with the intent to harm our citizens and our country. Most of them follow the legal process and consider it a privilege to be called a United States citizen. Others who have come here illegally feel they are entitled to citizenship because they are already here and have been here living their lives like a citizen although they may have to do it discreetly since they are here illegally. Whether the immigrants are here legally or illegally there is always a security risk to our country with immigrants. For example, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were carried out by immigrants that were here legally but had stayed past the expiration date on their Visas without any recourse from our law enforcement. These attacks brought about sweeping changes to our immigration laws and completely overhauled more than 20 federal agencies that handled immigration issues and consolidated them into the U. S. Department of Homeland Security to protect and secure our citizens and our country. The changes made to the immigration laws after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 will not change the fact that immigration will always be part of our country and we have to decide if citizenship will be an entitlement or a privilege and in either case how do we secure and protect

2 our citizens and our country? Immigration to our country is a privilege and not an entitlement, but the issues with immigration are: illegal immigrants consider U. S citizenship an entitlement, legal immigrants consider it a privilege, and the safety and security of our country is always at risk with either one of them. Some illegal immigrants believe they are entitled to become a U. S. Citizen because they have been here for a long time and suffered discrimination and inhumane treatment long enough. Roberto Rodriguez (The Border on our Backs), an immigrant from Mexico who was raised in East Los Angeles, believes that illegal Mexican immigrants have been dehumanized and suffered extreme discrimination at the hands of our politicians and citizens (455). He believes that illegal Mexican immigrants should not allow extremist, politicians or citizens, to speak against them and let their representatives know they will not be divided into legal and illegal human beings and are entitled to citizenship because of the suffering they have already endured (455). On the other hand, Star Parker (Se Habla Entitltment), founder and leader of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education, a non-profit that advocates on issues of race, poverty, education and inner-city neighborhoods and is also a social policy consultant for TV and radio shows, states that freedom is a privilege and a responsibility (460). She states just because you snuck into our country and bypassed our immigration laws and have been living here illegally doesnt entitle you to citizenship (458). You are still required to follow immigration laws and process. Citizenship is not a right or entitlement, it is a privilege. Illegal Immigrants should not be discriminated against or treated inhumanely but they have subjected themselves to much of this treatment by their own hand because they have not complied with immigration

3 laws and some illegal immigrants believe that they are entitled to citizenship in the United States because they have been here a long time. Most immigrants consider it a privilege to be a United States citizen and are here legally and have complied with immigration laws and processes. Parker states that immigrants from Mexico come here illegally and protest for rights in our country and believe they are entitled to citizenship when they have left a democratic country in which they elect their leaders and already have rights and have the ability to make changes in their laws and leaders in that country because they are citizens of Mexico (459). She states they have the ability to make a difference there but decide to come here and expect the United States to give them what they already have in their own country; rights and citizenship (459). If you have rights and citizenship in another democratic country where you have the ability to elect your own leaders and make changes to your laws you should not illegally enter another country and then demand the same rights and citizenship you already have in your own country. Immigrants should always be required to follow immigration laws and processes. Citizenship is not a right or entitlement, it is a privilege. The security of our citizens and our country is our main concern regardless of whether citizenship is an entitlement or privilege. History has shown us that laws must be in place to make safety and security possible. Enforcement of the laws is critical to keep us safe and secure. Lack of enforcement is where things can go wrong. For example the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 made us all aware and understand the importance of immigration laws for safety and security for our citizens and country. Melissa Doak, author of

4 Immigration Laws and Policies since the 1980s, stated these attacks brought about many changes to immigration laws and government agencies (qtd. as Patriot Act of 2001). The terrorists were immigrants who were here legally but their Visas had expired however, they were able to stay in the country because the laws werent enforced. This gave them the ability to carry out their attacks on the United States which shattered the thoughts of safety and security in American citizens. Without immigration laws and enforcement of immigration laws we have neither safety nor security. In conclusion, immigration will always be part of our country. Currently, it is not a right or entitlement to be a citizen of the United States but a privilege enjoyed by many immigrants who have complied with immigration laws. There are still many illegal immigrants in our country who pose a risk to the safety and security of our country and citizens. Immigration laws have been in place for many years and are often changed based on criminal behavior of immigrants whether they are here legally or illegally and the needs of our country. Citizenship should remain a privilege and not an entitlement for the safety and security of our citizens and our country.

Works Cited "Immigration Laws and Policies since the 1980s." Immigration and Illegal Aliens: Burden or Blessing?. Melissa J. Doak. 2011 ed. Detroit: Gale, 2011. Information Plus Reference Series. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 2 Apr. 2014. Rodriguez, Roberto. "The Border on our Backs." Judith Nadell, John Langan, Eliza A. Comodromos. Longman Writer. Glenview : Pearson Education Inc., 2011. 454-456. Print. Parker, Star. "Se Habla Entitlement." Judith Nadell, John Langan, Eliza A. Comodromos. The Longman Writer. Glenview: Pearson Education Inc., 2011. 458-460. Print.