by Corey Lamb

Created on: July 16, 2009   Last Updated: July 18, 2009

A Mosaic Melting Pot

Should immigration efforts be thwarted by the United States government, in order to keep any and all foreign peoples from beginning new lives in the land of opportunity? In order to properly answer this question, one must first ask the greater question: What were these United States built upon? The answer, of course, is immigration. North American settlers arrived to the pre-United States soil under European flags and European culture.

It is that very basis that the United States grew upon. Foreign influence is the primary reason why the U.S.A. is as powerful of a nation as it is today. Nearly every aspect of modern American society has been adapted from previous developments and aided by the cause of immigration.

As nationally acclaimed historian Clayton Cramer once said, "immigration is the most sincere form of flattery." This flattery can be seen throughout our nation in a wide variety of examples. In particular, the United States military has long been based upon the concepts of German, Korean and European techniques and formation. Beyond the military, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, commonly known as NASA, has always been in close ties with Russian outer space exploration efforts.

Further beyond the nation's iconic symbols, the very food in the United States generally derives from popular Italian, Hispanic, Asian, and countless other influential derivatives. If our nation was without the influence of immigration, it would not house some of the most popular restaurants in modern society, such as Casa Ole, Johnny Carino's, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Tokyo, Alcapulco, Outback Steakhouse, and countless other popular names.

More specifically, one of the most popular American cuisines, known by millions as the hot dog, owes its very creation to Charles Feltman, a nineteenth century illegal German immigrant. The vast majority of North American culture and tradition holds its roots with the influence of immigration.

Besides the mere influence of immigration, illegal immigration into the United States is actually quite beneficial to the economy. For instance, in Los Angeles alone, an estimated 400,000 illegal workers in the area spend around $5.7 billion annually on food, rent, transportation and other necessities. The very sales tax paid towards their consumer purchases greatly aides state treasury.

Further, the immense numbers of illegal workers who use false papers to obtain their occupational positions are contributing

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