Pros And Cons Of Immigration Reform

The article begins with a sort of anecdote about 24 year old Greisa Martinez, and her experience with the immigration and “naturalization” process. She is now an immigration reform activist, and reflects on her excitement of the up and coming attention on the immigration system. She tells article author Patricia Smith, “‘It’s exciting for us to think that people are very serious about it this time’”. Smith then continues to explain that both democrats and republicans agree it is time for some changes, but they cannot seem to agree on what those changes are. Democrats are moving to make these illegal immigrants citizens, while republicans, “remained opposed to granting any kind of permanent status to those here illegally”. Republicans are being swayed because as John McCain said in a TV interview, “We are losing dramatically the Hispanic vote, which we think should be ours”. Yet with that said Smith goes
It seems like a good plan but some lawmakers are questioning its effectiveness, (Texas) Congressman Lamar Smith states, “When you legalize those who are in the country illegally, it costs taxpayers millions of dollars, costs American workers thousand of jobs, and encourages more illegal immigration”. Author Smith then moves on to mention the Dream Act, and how it could have potentially legalized the status of children brought illegally into the U.S. But that was not enough for these young people who now want the same opportunities for their parents and older relatives. Smith then moves to conclude, while bringing up the fact that Florida Senator Marco Rubio’s parents are immigrants. “Rubio says immigration reform is critical to encourage economic growth: ‘We just have to get this thing done for once and