What is the cause of the influx of immigrants in the US?

Answer 1

Our government has done nothing to address the issue for decades. Their inaction gives an implicit approval since there is little if any significant action they will take. Additionally courts have ruled that communities must provide public education to the children. Hospitals provide medical care and many states and cities are providing other benefits and recognition as well including drivers licenses. Massachusetts recently (5/2010) defeated a proposal to require proof of citizenship when obtaining public assisstance.

This lack of enforcement combined with benefits makes it very tempting to enter the country illegally. It could be compared to setting up a beautiful picnic dinner next to a dump and complaining when the flies show up! This situation might be compared to a legal concept called "adverse possession" in which if someone uses another persons property openly for a certain period of time they can make a legal claim and take possession of the property. There is some logic to argue that our government has in fact created the situation and the "illegals" now have an expectation of some rights.

The majority of the illegals are coming here to find work and are hard workers. Their status makes them less likely to want to stand out or do something which might cost them their job. They are typically hard working (more on that later) and willing to work for less pay. This helps in a small way to keep wages down. Many people who employ them in construction, child rearing and landscaping as well as other typically lower paying jobs are able to get superior work for less cost. I have myself witnessed native born Americans being lazy and bad mannered when employed in some of these same positions.

The children of immigrants are usual absorbed into American culture within a generation. They grow up to be typical Americans and consider this to be their homeland. They often are looking to improve themselves economically and work or go to college. Presently our nation is aging and we need younger people to work and pay taxes as the baby boomers are quickly aging and will be putting unprecedented strain on our health care system and social security. In the coming years the segment of the population 65 and over will double, growing from 1 in 10 to 1 in 5. Typically children of the new arrivals will also enter the military where they will be greatly needed in the coming years. International tension could easily rise as the rest of the world becomes developed and competes with the US. Civil unrest may also be expected to rise as the decline of American economic dominance continues to trend downward.

Just as our nation is finding it more difficult to deal with increased competition in a global economy, so to will the the white majority of America face a continual erosion as our country becomes more and more diverse with the rise minority populations. These changes are never easy or peaceful as power and influence evolve in a changing world.

I am particularly dismayed by many Americans who seem to disdain hard work and unwilling to put in the required effort to succeed. Many in our culture seem to appear "entitled" and do not have the drive or ambition inherent in the people who built this great nation. Perhaps an infusion of "fresh blood" from people who still have that desire to work hard to improve their lives will help us regain some of that lost work ethic.

One other item I would like to touch on is that much of the money which these people earn is sent back to their families who remain in their home countries. In Mexico this accounts for 10 percent of the economy and I am sure it is similar in other nations as well. This can be viewed as a form of "foreign aid" which is not coming from taxpayers. There is no doubt in my mind that it has had a significant impact on helping to maintain stability in the Western Hemisphere for many years now. I believe this has been a significant benefit to us as well. It has also made these nations dependant on us in some ways as well so that they did not want to upset the apple cart. As our economy continues to adjust to a new reality, I fear we may see more unrest here and around the world as the American economic engine upon which so much of the worlds economy depended gradually loses ground to the rising Chinese and Asian powers who will be challenging us in the years ahead. Perhaps the world has shrunk to where future generations will see a combined North American state evolve out of the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The situatiion has been allowed, I believe, because it has been mutually beneficial on some levels. But to have legal open borders would be an invitation to the world and we would quickly be flooded with vast nombers of people looking to escape their situations and come to America. With regards to hispanic Immigration, we are approaching a critical mass which has the potential to become a significant political force which may influence our nations direction.

Another answer:

Seek for a better life.

Answer 2

The primary reason for immigration is jobs.

Answer 3

In 1849 the gold rush was a big factor and also right after the revolutionary war people wanted to come to a new and free country.