Is Immigration Really a Problem in the U.S.?

Now up in the NYT Room for Debate: Is Immigration Really a Problem in the U.S.?

Activist Marco Saavedra kicks off the forum, writing:

I wasn’t a problem when I was in elementary school, nor when I received a full scholarship to attend a prestigious boarding school in New England. I wasn’t a problem when I was accepted to and attended a private liberal arts college in the Midwest. But I became a problem when I joined a group of young undocumented activists five years ago.

Temple immprof Jan Ting next takes the floor, noting that immigration laws exist for the primary purpose of protecting American labor. Ting notes that African Americans, teenagers, and especially African American teenagers are struggling to find work. He argues that reducing immigration may protect U.S. workers.

Prof Karthick Ramakrishnan has a different take. Ramakrishnan praises the pro-immigrant policies being pursued in California, which “benefit not only immigrant residents and their mixed-status families, but also bring important benefits to the state in terms of economic growth, public safety and healthier communities.”

Former school superintendent James Meza, Jr. bring another perspective to the debate. Meza notes that teaching immigrant children can be a significant challenge not just because of language barriers and lagging skills, but because of the trauma they have experienced. Meza recognizes these challenges, and is willing to meet them. But, he argues, federal funding is required.

Prof Anne-Marie Nuñez takes the position that immigrants “bolster academic and civic engagement.” And their success can be a “boon for the economy.”

Finally, Daniel Costa of the EPI writes that immigration, overally, benefits the country in many ways. But, like Ting, Costa argues that “competition with lesser-skilled immigrants can be a problem for low-wage-earning native-born workers.” His solution? Give unauthorized immigrants a path to citizenship so they will demand the union and wage protections that will bring them in line with current U.S. workers.

-KitJ