The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, put into effect by the Obama Administration in June of 2012, has recently been brought to the forefront of discussion. The legislation essentially protects 800,000 young illegal immigrants from deportation, assists them in getting jobs, and helps them enroll in school. President Trump formally overturned this legislation in early September of this year, which follows his promise to put America first.

To many this is a moral issue, however, the economic standpoint is rather paramount. Taxpayers spend about $135 billion on illegal immigrants each year, protecting them through programs like DACA. States like California welcome them by the thousands, although their local government can’t sustain the influx of these immigrants. Some illegal immigrants that enter the United States under DACA immediately require government assistance such as food stamps and welfare on a need basis. Part of this program is to assist these immigrants in getting a job if they aren’t already employed. One issue with DACA is the unfair job competition. Illegals get working permits and receive things like valid Social Security numbers and IDs, enabling them to become employed in higher paying jobs. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit pays employers a federal tax credit of up to $9,600 for hiring employees who have been on welfare. 51% of immigrant households, legal and illegal, have been and are currently registered in a welfare program, compared to 30% of native households. Depending on the business or company, an illegal immigrant, in most cases with little education and poor English, can get hired over an American citizen.

The question that remains in the mind of millions is why an illegal immigrant should be instantly provided and cared for before our veterans and legal American citizens. We can hardly take care of our own veterans but we’re supposed to put illegals first? If we don’t help illegal immigrants we are considered racist, cold hearted, and non American. That’s evident within the “DREAMer’s” protests. By rescinding DACA, President Trump is essentially upholding the constitution. America is about equal opportunity, and DACA does not give American citizens that.

It’s also a disadvantage to immigrants who abide by the rules.

“When you want to enter this country, you have to demonstrate competence, people wait 5-7 years to get into this country. If we have a rule of law, we need to enforce it so that it’s fair for everyone. Illegals are disregarding the process put in place and the will of the American people”, said Mr. Kennedy.

The burden of cost continues. Illegal immigrant families cost approximately $8,075 per family member. The average Social Security retirement benefit is $14,772, which means that an illegal immigrant receives $2,841 more than a working American for illegally crossing our borders and violating American principles and laws. Statistics also show the cost for welfare benefits to households of immigrants, legal and illegal, as $103 billion. We can’t possibly decrease our national debt by spending billions every year on illegal immigrants, who are also receiving thousands in welfare programs. Negative economic impacts are seen by Mr. Kennedy.

“Where is the money going to come from to fund the school systems in question? It’s going to increase the burden of proponent taxpayers, which is already a complaint. Somebody has to pay for it bottom line,” he said

DACA is not a simple piece of legislation, nor is immigration a simple topic. Junior Shane Bakely favors stricter immigration laws, but he also sees exceptions for DACA.

“DACA is different because it protects the children of these illegal immigrants. This legislation is tricky because technically it is illegal. Bottom line is if you’re here illegally, you’re supposed to leave. We should have sympathy for these children who can’t control their parents’ actions,” he said.

Dozens of issues, like social impact of immigration, factor into this discussion.

“It’s something seen through history when there’s large numbers of immigrants, there’s concern of the degree that they can assimilate and embrace the language, culture, and heritage of our nation. The concern that some have is that the assimilation of these illegal immigrants.

“One wonders about the stability of the nation and the economy if it’s going to be moving into a new, multilingual, and multicultural era”, said Mr. Kennedy. “The issue of illegal immigration has been around for thirty years. The first time it was ever a political matter was in the 1970’s and has been a matter that both Democrat and Republican administrations have both contended with and sadly, everyone keeps kicking the ball down the road.”

When it comes to immigration, all Americans, Republican and Democrat, are sympathetic. However, fair play and rules factor heavily in the discussion of immigration, as they should. “It’s remarkable that [Sen. Chuck] Schumer keeps talking about putting people in jail for five years for trespassing on landmarks. He wants to make that a federal offense, but yet in Schumer’s world and in the Democratic world, when you trespass in America, you’ve earned a path to citizenship,” stated Michael Cutler on “Unfiltered”.