Components of housing and building construction
DO NOT USE THE PROXIMITY OF MEXICO , CENTRAL AMERICA AND SOUTH AMERICA AS PART OF YOUR ARGUMENTS NOR USE THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF LATINOS These ideas do play a role but they are far too simplistic. You need to think and develop more complete discussions.
Let me state once again. Do not use the issue of illegal or illegal as part of your discussion at all. The first settlers to American were ILLEGAL. ( That means the settlers at Jamestown and Plymouth Rock) Ask the Native Americans. The European settlers ( primarily British at the beginning) were not invited nor did they try to assimilate to the tribes in which they found themselves. They did not obey the Native American “laws” either. I want you to reach beyond this every simple argument to other ideas. It simply does not adequately explain the passion or focus of many.
Let me also dispel some other “common sense myths”. Latino immigrants do pay taxes and they pay in far greater amounts (value) then other people (non immigrants) of similar income levels pay. . They receive social services (health, welfare) fairly equal in value or less than other groups in their income categories.. They have added enormous value to and even provided the foundation for the continued low pricing of agricultural products and also housing and business construction. Without this labor pool, it is fairly unanimously agreed that the prices of these goods and other services would be very high. (2-3 times higher). One of the major reasons that immigrants have increased in North America recently is due to NAFTA ( a Free trade agreement) which had destructive impact on Mexico and in some ways benefited United States more than any other participant.
It is true that the Heritage Foundation ( a very conservative think tank) and Lou Dobbs ( a likable but not seriously SCHOLARLY qualified TV commentator) would support these “myths” but the overwhelming body of research and studies conducted by very reputable research organizations does not support these “myths”. They are just that- myths. So reach beyond those ideas also when discussing this issue.
Make sure if you cite sources they are not sources with an agenda or noted bias ( the Internet has many such sources which distort information). Make sure all your sources include links, authors, date of publication, title of work. In short a good citation means I can use that citation to EASILY find the source.