Immigration has been an enormous demographic occurrence in the United States that resulted in a massive growth in population and changes in culture over an extended period of time in the historical picture of the United States. The social, economic and political dimensions of immigration have resulted to various dissensions about ethnicity, economic growth employment opportunities for non-immigrants, patterns of settlement crime and changes in voting patterns among others (Miller & Schofield, 2008). Political parties have also been in the forefront in airing their views and controversies regarding this long, complicated issue of immigration.
The issue of immigration continues to be framed in both positive and negative ways to a point of labeling the individual immigrants. Various candidates offer their stand concerning illegal immigration during their campaigns .They give different suggestions on how the government should deal with unregistered people who have already established their living in the United States. Republican Party candidates argue that illegal immigration poses many dangers such as social injustices, unemployment and increased crime rates (Wroe, 2008). Tom Tancredo, a Republican congressman, argued that the American tradition of melting pot is broken and is no longer operational. Tom and majority of other Republicans focused on dangers caused by illegal immigration citing security as a primary concern and hitting hard on illegal immigrants already present in the US. Democratic candidates, on the contrary, do not take a firm stand on illegal immigration in the US arguing that immigration is good for the country and has brought traditional innovation to the country. Democrats have already accepted a possible procedure to citizenship or some way of legalizing illegal migrants in the US (Miller & Schofield, 2008).
The issue of immigration is imperative to both the Republican and Democratic parties. A majority of the leaders of the Republican Party believe that the future of this party is linked to the immigration reforms support (Wroe, 2008). Jeb Bush a former Florida Government official identified the issue as the delivery path for voters from Hispania and Asia. According to the recent polls, one fifth of US registered voters say that they will vote in the candidate who has plans of implementing the immigration guideline that they prefer. A higher percentage of Republican as well as the Hispanic and non Hispanic registered voters also state that they will do the same (Miller & Schofield, 2008). Since the majority of voters are for the immigration policies that are advocated for by the Democratic Party, the issue becomes of significant importance to the partys future.
In its argument, the Republican Party cites their 2004 Platform where they said that the proposal by President Bush was unfair for allowing for application of a short-term worker policy that would allow immigrants to be granted citizenship similar to those who were applying but resided outside the country. The Republicans argued that this move would be unfair treatment since it would be a benefit to those who had initially disobeyed the law. The policy would be equalizing illegal immigrants to those who were seeking American citizenship through legal methods and procedures (Miller & Schofield, 2008).
The position of the Republican Party is that laws and reforms concerning immigration should be enacted to look into the issue of National Security. The party holds a firm stance that there is a need to put in place systems that ensure that illegal immigrants do not enjoy the same privileges as the legal citizens (Wroe, 2008). They propose a warm welcome to those who migrate to the country legally as well as dedicating additional resources to stop illegal immigrants. According to the Republican Party, there should be a good record keeping track of the people who leave and enter the country. They also argue that offering an amnesty to those who have already migrated legally will only act as an incentive to encourage future illegal immigrants instead of migrating legally (Wroe, 2008).
The Democratic Party believes that the present days laws on immigration is not in line with the party's values and does not serve the nation's security. According to the Democrats, the solution to immigration is not establishing an enormous new label for second class employees because that contradicts the party's values. Illegal immigrants, who have undergone a thorough background check and who comply with tax regulations of the country should be granted the rights to full participation in Nation building (Wroe, 2008).
The Democratic party proposes to strengthen reunifications in the families for parents with their children and for spouses, provide more civic education and English classes to educate immigrants so as to enable them to acquire equal citizenship rights and responsibilities (Miller & Schofield, 2008). The party also promises to collude with their neighboring countries to tighten national security and improve relations with this country with which they have shared dreams. Although not all the Republicans support these moves, the party, on the other hand, proposes to look for red tape penalties for illegal immigrants and for those who help these immigrants to migrate into the US (Wroe, 2008). It also promises to seek punishment for those who offer fake document to these illegal immigrants since they increase the chances of these immigrants staying longer in the country. The party is also strict on deportation of illegal immigrants without giving them any hearing.
The Republican Party members are facing differences concerning the issue of illegal immigration. There are some Republicans (establishment group) who support migrant employees and are for securing a legal way for them to acquire full citizenship, while others (populists) are supporting the move to secure the Nations borders so as to enhance security as the illegal immigrants get deported to their respective countries (Wroe, 2008).The White House seconded a Senate in 2006; that was led by the Republicans that signed an all-inclusive reform on immigration which allows thousands and thousands of illegal immigrants to acquire full citizenship.
As the Democrats advocate for a support channel to ensure illegal immigrants are granted full citizenship, Republican partisans advocate for heightened checkups at the borders and strong punitive measures for those who are found residing in the United States illegally (Miller & Schofield, 2008). They also support punishments for those who offer employment to these illegal immigrants as well as those who partner with them as they acquire false documents. Contrary to the Republicans, the Democrats are of the view that immigrants are a source of strength to the United States nation. According to the Democratic Party Members, the Republicans are only acting politics with the whole issue of immigration instead of doing the right thing. From President Barrack Obama administrative website the Republican vote is termed as "heartless pointing out that there are a massive number of people who were brought up as Americans and had been living in American since their childhood, something that clearly they do not have control over (Miller & Schofield, 2008).
References
Miller, G., & Schofield, N. (2008). The transformation of the republican and democratic party coalitions in the US. Perspectives on Politics, 6(03), 433-450.
Wroe, A. (2008). The Republican party and immigration politics: from Proposition 187 to George W. Bush. Palgrave Macmillan.
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