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Cayla Curry

English 112

Argument Essay

21 February 2017

Should Immigration be allowed?

All throughout history, America, is known to be one of the worlds largest and oldest

melting pot. A country in which there are a variety of races, cultures, and individuals assimilated

into a cohesive whole (Melting Pot). The United States is home to about 40.7 million

immigrants (Team) who came from different backgrounds and reasons For some immigrants its

for economic prosperity, a shot for a better education, an escape haven from civil wars and

persecution, to be reunited with friends and family, and for many other reasons. Over the years

immigration has been a very controversial problem. Many U.S citizens believe that these foreign

aliens do nothing but terrorize and harm the country, overpopulate and take away jobs from the

American people. In fact, legal immigrants help positively bring prosperity politically,

economically, and culturally to American and the American people.

Politics in the United States have changed dramatically since the U.S. opened its borders

to immigrants. With opening U.S borders, many political officials and U.S citizens have

emphasized that with allowing legal immigrants to permanently reside in America causes an

increased risk that U.S. citizens will be prone to terrorist attacks, particularly from Muslims.

Significant terrorist attacks like 9/11 attacks of the Twin World Trade towers, Boston Marathon

bombings, Orlando Pulse nightclub shooting, New York and New Jersey explosions, and San
Bernardino attacks have the U.S and the American people traumatized and scarred (Levenson).

According to President Trump in which he states,

I will suspend immigration from areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism

against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we fully understand how to end these

threats.In every terrorist attack listed above was plotted and carried out by a radical individual

who were known to be from a Muslim country of the Middle East. (Valverde)

As a result from the past and recent terrorist attacks carried out by radical Muslims,

President Trump enforced an executive action which suspended and banned immigrants coming

to the United States from a list of countries that were hot spots where most terrorists came from

in order to protect America. Many Americans agree with President Trump that with suspending

and banning immigrants from coming into America is the best option to prevent many more

people from losing their lives due to terrorist attacks but, according to CATO Institute, one

American out of 358 is killed by domestic violence in comparison to one American out of 45,508

is killed by a foreign born terrorist (Alex). American citizens have a lower chance of getting

killed by a foreign terrorist attack but with more access to guns Americans have a higher chance

of getting killed or injured due to domestic violence carried out by fellow Americans. Most cases

of domestic attacks on the American people include the Sandy Hook shooting, Columbine

shooting, Virginia Tech attacks, and the Charleston church shooting in South Carolina are

examples of domestic terrorism carried out by U.S citizens. More innocent lives are taken away

by Americans than it is by immigrants coming to America in hopes of looking for a better life.

Besides facing political opposition immigrants claim to harm the United States economy.

Immigrants who flee to the United States in hope of achieving economic prosperity face

the opposition that they disrupt the economy.


Works Cited

Alex Nowrasteh September 13, 2016, and PDF (568.46 KB) EPUB (217.07 KB) MOBI (759.7

KB). "Terrorism and Immigration: A Risk Analysis." Cato Institute. Cato Institute, 13 Sept. 2016.

Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

"Immigrants Shunning the Idea of Assimilation." Family in Society: Essential Primary Sources.

Ed. K. Lee Lerner, Brenda Wilmoth Lerner, and Adrienne Wilmoth Lerner. Detroit: Gale, 2006.

429-434. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 9 Mar. 2017.

Levenson, Eric. "How Many Fatal Terror Attacks Have Refugees Carried out in the US? None."

CNN. Cable News Network, 29 Jan. 2017. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

"Melting Pot." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, 2017. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Morris, Frank. "Immigration Harms African American Workers." Immigration. Ed. David M.

Haugen, Susan Musser, and Kacy Lovelace. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing

Viewpoints. Rpt. from "American Immigration and African American Interests." Testimony

before Committee on the Judiciary. 1999. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Oakford, Adriana Kugler and Patrick. "Immigration Helps American Workers' Wages and Job

Opportunities." Center for American Progress. Center for American Progress, 29 Aug. 2013.

Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Schuch, Johanna Claire, and Qingfang Wang. "Immigrant Businesses, Place-making, and

Community Development: A Case from an Emerging Immigrant Gateway."Journal of Cultural

Geography 32.2 (2015): 214-41. Web.


Team, The CAP Immigration. "The Facts on Immigration Today." Center for American Progress.

CAP Immigration Team, 23 Oct. 2014. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

"The Effects of Immigration on the United States' Economy." Penn Wharton Budget Model.

University of Pennsylvania, 27 June 2016. Web. 22 Feb. 2017.

Valverde, Miriam. "TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TEMPORARILY BANNING

IMMIGRANTS FROM SEVEN COUNTRIES." Tampa Bay Times [St. Petersburg, FL] 30 Jan.

2017. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 22 FEb. 2017.

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