Instigator / Con

samuel

1484

rating

debates

0.0%

won

Topic

#3968

Should the US allow illegal immigrants to become naturalized citizens?

Status

Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics

Better arguments

Better sources

Better legibility

Better conduct

After 2 votes and with 14 points ahead, the winner is...

AustinL0926

Tags

Politics

Parameters

Publication date: 12.15.2022 10:33PM
Last updated date: 12.25.2022 03:25AM
Type: Standard
Number of rounds: 2
Time for argument: One day
Max argument characters: 10,000
Voting period: One week
Point system: Multiple criterions
Voting system: Open

Contender / Pro

AustinL0926

1636

rating

debates

93.94%

won

Description

No information

Round 1

samuel

12.17.2022 02:14AM

Con

Forfeited

AustinL0926

12.17.2022 03:24AM

Pro

I. Burden of Proof and Framework

As the side advocating a contested and unimplemented policy, I have the burden of proof. Therefore, if I prove that the US should allow illegal immigrants to become naturalized citizens, then I win the debate. My opponent wins if he proves the converse, or refutes all my arguments.

II. Definitions (taken from Oxford and Merriam-Webster)

Should: used to say or suggest that something is the proper, reasonable, or best thing to do

US: United States

Allow: to give an opportunity; permit

Illegal immigrant: a foreign person who is living in a country without having official permission to live there

Naturalize: to confer the rights of a national on

Citizen: a native or naturalized person who owes allegiance to a government and is entitled to protection from it

Note: “Illegal immigrants” and “undocumented immigrants” mean the same thing. I will use them interchangeably in my arguments.

III. Constructive Arguments

I will keep this short and sweet, since my opponent has forfeited the first round. Dumping a huge amount of arguments on him, blocking his own arguments, would be a viable strategy, but rather unsporting.

C1: Allowing undocumented immigrants to become citizens would benefit the US economically and socially.

According to the Center for American Progress, a nonprofit think tank, giving undocumented immigrants citizenship would boost US GDP by $1.7 trillion over the next 10 years, and create 438,000 new jobs in total. [1] Increasing the state of our overall economy, as well as creating new jobs, can only help everyone.

Furthermore, implementing citizenship for undocumented immigrants also brings social benefits.

6.1 million children in the US, all with legal citizenship rights, have an undocumented immigrant as a direct family member. The constant threat (often followed through) of deportation reduces family income and takes a toll on the mental state of the children. [2]

C2: Illegal immigrants play a significant and important role in the US, and deserve protection.

Nearly 3 in 4 undocumented immigrants in the workforce are considered “essential workers” during the pandemic, meaning that they are necessary for critical infrastructure and operations. [3]

Despite facing some of the most serious risks of the pandemic, undocumented immigrants have contributed an incredible amount, and without them, the economic and social damage of the pandemic would have far greater. [2]

Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, undocumented immigrants do pay taxes – moreover, they pay taxes while getting few benefits in return.

Undocumented immigrants pay over $120 billion in taxes each year – despite this, they receive no stimulus checks, no unemployment benefits, no food stamps, and limited healthcare.

With all this in mind, it’s clear that undocumented immigrants greatly benefit our country – in return, they deserve citizenship and protection.

IV. Conclusion

In my opening speech, I have fulfilled my side of the burden of proof. In particular, I have shown:

How citizenship for undocumented immigrants would benefit the US economically
How citizenship for undocumented immigrants would also benefit the US socially
Why illegal immigrants are essential workers
How they have contributed to the US’s pandemic response
How they have contributed taxes while receiving little in return
Why they deserve citizenship in return for their contributions to the US

I look forward to my opponent’s response.

V. Sources

1: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/citizenship-undocumented-immigrants-boost-u-s-economic-growth/

2: https://www.americanprogress.org/article/why-immigration-relief-matters/

3: https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/covid-19-essential-workers-in-the-states.aspx

Round 2

samuel

12.18.2022 03:24AM

Con

Forfeited

AustinL0926

12.18.2022 03:25AM

Pro

My opponent has unfortunately full forfeited. Vote PRO.

AustinL0926

12.19.2022 01:53AM

#10

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@Barney

Would appreciate a vote, CON full forfeited the debate

AustinL0926

12.18.2022 10:39PM

Bump

AustinL0926

12.18.2022 06:22PM

Bump, full forfeit

AustinL0926

12.16.2022 05:37PM

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@AWonderingPhilosopher

"Should we allow illegal immigration?" or smth like that.

Intelligence_06

12.16.2022 07:53AM

That would assume the US never loosen up immigration laws on this topic.

AWonderingPhilosopher

12.16.2022 07:40AM

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@AustinL0926

I'm curious, what was the previous title?

AustinL0926

12.16.2022 01:53AM

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@samuel

No one is going to take a debate over such an indefensible topic. I recommend you change it to something debatable, such as "Should the US allow illegal immigrants to become naturalized citizens?"

samuel

12.16.2022 01:48AM

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@YouFound_Lxam

Thanks for the helpful comment. I changed my topic. This is the first time I am using debateArt.

YouFound_Lxam

12.16.2022 12:05AM

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@samuel

Yes. Could you elaborate. I would be more than happy to accept with more elaboration about the definitions and what the argument is about.

AustinL0926

12.15.2022 11:02PM

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@samuel

What is the debate even about? Your title is a subject, not a resolution.

Barney

12.19.2022 08:07AM

Criterion

Con

Tie

Pro

Points

Better arguments

3 point(s)

Better sources

2 point(s)

Better legibility

1 point(s)

Better conduct

1 point(s)

Reason:

Forfeiture.

tahaishot

12.19.2022 05:36AM

Criterion

Con

Tie

Pro

Points

Better arguments

3 point(s)

Better sources

2 point(s)

Better legibility

1 point(s)

Better conduct

1 point(s)

Reason:

FF by Con, Great Work by Pro too