Crossing the border is easy for some, but a life risk for others. Immigrants come to the United States to provide a better life for themselves and their family. With the judgement and prejudice towards them it is hard to maintain a welcoming outlook on Americans.

In Texas, one of the top states with the largest immigration and economic growth,“[illegal immigrants] more than paid for the $1.2 billion in state services they used by generating $1.6 billion in new state revenues,” states Walter Ewing of the Immigration Policy Center.

Many Americans believe that immigrants take jobs away from the struggling unemployed, but instead they provide the low-skilled, labor intensive jobs that others are not attracted to. Immigrant workers actually help to provide more opportunities and larger incomes for Americans.

Already there are about 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States, even though taxpayers pay billions of dollars to secure the borders, such as the U.S.- Mexico border. Allowing immigrants to come into the United States would save that money. Although some illegal immigrants do not pay federal taxes because they are undocumented and not indebted to the government, they do pay taxes on goods and services.

Children born in the United States from illegal parents are declared citizens of the country, but with the current administration thousands of those children’s parents are deported. Those children are then a burden on the state, costing more money for foster care and other needs. Although this is a step in the right direction by making children legal, it separates families and lives that may never be whole again.

Instead of being quick to criticize immigrants, imagine the positive effects that legalizing them as citizens would have on the country. Remember, we were all immigrants once looking for a better life in a new country.  Showing compassion for today’s immigrants and their struggles will serve better than the harsh, black and white policies in effect today.