• Immigration is a polarizing issue."we are all immigrants" sign image by Christopher Martin from Fotolia.com
  
  Immigration in the United States is a heated debate. In a nutshell, the controversy revolves around whether immigration policy should be reformed. On one side, those who take a pro-immigration stance, exponents argue that the immigration process should be made easier and America should increase avenues for legal immigration. On the other hand, those who take an anti-immigration stance believe that illegal immigrants should be punished and avenues for legal immigration should not be increased.
  
  

Workforce

• One major advantage of immigration is that immigrants lead to an increased workforce in America. That is, some of the smartest and brightest immigrants from other countries come to America because they are disillusioned with their home countries. Furthermore, many immigrants work at low-paying jobs that natural born citizens often don't want to perform. These jobs, although not glamorous, are essential to the economy.
  
  

Diversity

• America was founded by immigrants. It is a place where people from all cultures have called home. Therefore, an advantage of immigration to the United States is the increase in diversity and culture throughout the country. Although many people argue that this is not a good thing, many others feel that diversity and culture can serve to educate Americans.
  
  

International Image

• Internationally, immigration to the U.S. can better America's overall image. Immigration makes America a more open, understanding and welcoming country. Immigration in the U.S. thus can be a strong advantage in international relations and politics.
  
  

Economy

• Immigrants that provide cheap labor also have an impact on the nation's overall economy. That is, when businesses can't fill low-paying jobs, they have one of two choices. First, a business owner can raise the wage for the job. Second, the business owner can eliminate the position. Either scenario, however, is bad for an individual business. In turn, this can lead to a large-scale problem if many businesses fall into this dilemma. Immigration, then, can impact the economy in a positive way.