David Cole’s essay “Five Myths about Immigration” was originally published in The Nation on October 17, 1994, it covers the myths that “America is being overrun with immigrants, immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens, immigrants are a drain on society’s resources, aliens refuse to assimilate, and are depriving us of our cultural and political unity, and noncitizen immigrants are not entitled to constitutional rights” (Cole 690).
Cole begins his essay on immigration by explaining that nearly all Americans are, in fact, immigrants aside from the real Native Americans. He uses statistics to show that just as Americans blamed problems on immigrants before they do the same now. Cole explains that each new wave of immigrant’s is blamed for the problems in society however and his essay argues to disprove each problem immigrant’s are blamed for. He uses examples like “dirt-poor Irish Catholics” (Cole 689) and studies done by companies such as A.C.L.U., Urban Institute, and The Council of Economic Advisers to further support his findings
The first myth that David Cole covers is that “America is being overrun with immigrants” (Cole 690). Cole shows that although this is true, America really has been overrun by immigrants since Christopher Columbus discovered North America. However, he explains that even though most Americans are immigrants only a small percentage of foreign-born people make up the population. David Cole also disproves this myth by explaining that most of the aliens that society believes are here illegally, in point of fact, enter the country legally then stay after their visas expire. This shows that efforts to keep immigrants out will not solve the problem because most of them start off being here legally.
Next David Cole covers the myths that “immigrants are a drain on society’s resources and that immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens” (Cole 690). Cole explains that most immigration myths are results of anti-immigrant advocates citing studies that show findings contrary to the sources that he uses. The anti-immigrant advocates are further disproved as Cole explains that the studies they “generally focus only on taxes and services at the local or state level” (Cole 691). Cole also shows that when the same studies the anti-immigrant advocates use are applied to U.S. Citizens there is still a net loss.
Then, Cole uses an Immigrants Rights Project report to disprove this myth, which shows that immigrants, in fact create more jobs than they fill. Cole also cites a study to show that Mexican immigration was responsible for 78,000 new jobs between 1970 and 1980 in Los Angeles County. David Cole shows that there is, in fact no evidence to support that immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens. Research has found that in spite of the fact that many believe immigrants are taking jobs, they do not see the jobs that they create by opening businesses. These same jobs employ both immigrants and citizens and the state taxes that these companies pay surpass the amount of benefits that the state provides to the illegal citizens.
Fourth, the myth that “aliens refuse to assimilate, and are depriving us of our cultural and political unity” (Cole 691) is covered. David Cole explains that most U.S. citizens argue that a majority of immigration should be limited because they found that most immigrants are not willing to conform to the blended society of today’s the United States. Cole discusses that they, U.S. citizens, believe they are rightfully just in limiting immigration for cultures that are known to be unwilling to conform to the blended society that America has now.
David Cole disproves this myth by explaining that the United States is basically a mix of numerous different cultures brought in by immigrants who left their countries to get away from the oppression and to keep from forced to conform to the laws and restrictions that their governments forced upon them. His opinion is that these cultures immigrating are willing to conform to the United States blended way of living, but they would also like to hold onto some of their core values of their culture, e.g., religion, dress, and way of life.
Finally, David Cole covers the myth that “Noncitizen immigrants are not entitled to constitutional rights” (Cole 691). Cole believes that noncitizen immigrants should be the same constitutional rights as legal citizens. He feels as though it is not the government’s right to prevent anyone in this from possessing the same rights as others. David Cole believes that we are all humans and we should all be should all be entitled to the same constitutional rights that this country was founded on.
Our forefathers created the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as the guidelines for how any human being in this country is entitled to. The forefathers did not discriminate on who was a citizen or noncitizen because at the time of the creation of both documents, everyone was an immigrant, but still was considered a citizen. Cole is saying that it is wrong and unjust for the Supreme Court to refuse these rights to noncitizen immigrants.
Throughout his essay, David Cole covers five myths about immigration and to disprove each myth he uses numerous studies and reports to collaborate with his beliefs and opinions on each topic. Mr. Cole uses mostly factual information to convey his points throughout the essay and as a result of the information being supported by sources rather than being emotional or opinionated, readers can more easily believe and agree with the information that they are being given.
Cole begins his essay on immigration by explaining that nearly all Americans are, in fact, immigrants aside from the real Native Americans. He uses statistics to show that just as Americans blamed problems on immigrants before they do the same now. Cole explains that each new wave of immigrant’s is blamed for the problems in society however and his essay argues to disprove each problem immigrant’s are blamed for. He uses examples like “dirt-poor Irish Catholics” (Cole 689) and studies done by companies such as A.C.L.U., Urban Institute, and The Council of Economic Advisers to further support his findings
The first myth that David Cole covers is that “America is being overrun with immigrants” (Cole 690). Cole shows that although this is true, America really has been overrun by immigrants since Christopher Columbus discovered North America. However, he explains that even though most Americans are immigrants only a small percentage of foreign-born people make up the population. David Cole also disproves this myth by explaining that most of the aliens that society believes are here illegally, in point of fact, enter the country legally then stay after their visas expire. This shows that efforts to keep immigrants out will not solve the problem because most of them start off being here legally.
Next David Cole covers the myths that “immigrants are a drain on society’s resources and that immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens” (Cole 690). Cole explains that most immigration myths are results of anti-immigrant advocates citing studies that show findings contrary to the sources that he uses. The anti-immigrant advocates are further disproved as Cole explains that the studies they “generally focus only on taxes and services at the local or state level” (Cole 691). Cole also shows that when the same studies the anti-immigrant advocates use are applied to U.S. Citizens there is still a net loss.
Then, Cole uses an Immigrants Rights Project report to disprove this myth, which shows that immigrants, in fact create more jobs than they fill. Cole also cites a study to show that Mexican immigration was responsible for 78,000 new jobs between 1970 and 1980 in Los Angeles County. David Cole shows that there is, in fact no evidence to support that immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens. Research has found that in spite of the fact that many believe immigrants are taking jobs, they do not see the jobs that they create by opening businesses. These same jobs employ both immigrants and citizens and the state taxes that these companies pay surpass the amount of benefits that the state provides to the illegal citizens.
Fourth, the myth that “aliens refuse to assimilate, and are depriving us of our cultural and political unity” (Cole 691) is covered. David Cole explains that most U.S. citizens argue that a majority of immigration should be limited because they found that most immigrants are not willing to conform to the blended society of today’s the United States. Cole discusses that they, U.S. citizens, believe they are rightfully just in limiting immigration for cultures that are known to be unwilling to conform to the blended society that America has now.
David Cole disproves this myth by explaining that the United States is basically a mix of numerous different cultures brought in by immigrants who left their countries to get away from the oppression and to keep from forced to conform to the laws and restrictions that their governments forced upon them. His opinion is that these cultures immigrating are willing to conform to the United States blended way of living, but they would also like to hold onto some of their core values of their culture, e.g., religion, dress, and way of life.
Finally, David Cole covers the myth that “Noncitizen immigrants are not entitled to constitutional rights” (Cole 691). Cole believes that noncitizen immigrants should be the same constitutional rights as legal citizens. He feels as though it is not the government’s right to prevent anyone in this from possessing the same rights as others. David Cole believes that we are all humans and we should all be should all be entitled to the same constitutional rights that this country was founded on.
Our forefathers created the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as the guidelines for how any human being in this country is entitled to. The forefathers did not discriminate on who was a citizen or noncitizen because at the time of the creation of both documents, everyone was an immigrant, but still was considered a citizen. Cole is saying that it is wrong and unjust for the Supreme Court to refuse these rights to noncitizen immigrants.
Throughout his essay, David Cole covers five myths about immigration and to disprove each myth he uses numerous studies and reports to collaborate with his beliefs and opinions on each topic. Mr. Cole uses mostly factual information to convey his points throughout the essay and as a result of the information being supported by sources rather than being emotional or opinionated, readers can more easily believe and agree with the information that they are being given.
Works Cited
Cole, David. "Five Myths about Immigration." 1994. Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings. By Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Adam. Bedau. 9th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin's, 2011. 689-92. Print.
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