The population in Texas has changed drastically in the past 165 years and will continue to change for years to come. African American slaves accounted for more than a fourth of the 210,000 people in Texas in the mid 1850’s. Within fifty years, the state population rose to three million people. According to The U.S. Census Bureau, the population of Texas in 2017 was 28,304,596. (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Texas) The population will continue to grow rapidly. The most population growth will be in metropolitan areas such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. The population of Texas is naturally increasing with the difference between births and deaths.
Due to the vast population increases in large Texas cities such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and Houston, means a variety of ethnic groups and political views. Hispanics are on the way to become the majority ethnic background in Texas by 2030, which can shift the political party in the future. “Texas Democrats say that if they can engage Hispanic voters – including 2.1 million unregistered, eligible Latinos – they could win a statewide race.” (Hopper) The High-Tech Industries have grown rapidly in the major cities of Texas. Companies such as Dell and Texas Instruments have boomed in cities such as Dallas and Austin bringing more jobs, making Texas home to people not Texas born.
I agree with Dan Patrick more than Julian Castro. Dan Patrick stated that “granting citizenship to illegal immigrants would only encourage more illegal immigration.” (Champagne, 36) I believe that illegal immigrants should be sent back to their original country and should only be allowed citizenship after they have proven that they will benefit the United States by having a clean record with no criminal or any drug charges and have a willingness to work. Yes, citizenship will encourage more immigration, however, border patrol will have to be increased to maintain control. There are many jobs that undocumented workers are filling now that can help those who are already U.S. citizens and struggling to find work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Texas is 4%, which accounts for nearly 1.12 million people. (Texas Economy at a Glance) As the economy grows, more jobs will become available, giving jobs to those already in America, leaving jobs for those from other countries coming to the United States, for a better life and live “the American Dream”, legally.
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Although I feel like immigrants should only come to the United States legally, there are pros and cons that come with immigrants coming to the United States illegally. “Immigrants have driven two-thirds of U.S. economic growth since 2011. They founded 30 percent of U.S. firms, including more than 50 percent of startups valued over $1 billion.” (Amadeo) Immigrants are benefitting the U.S. economy, however it is only in businesses that do not require solid communication skills. Undocumented immigrants working in the United States are asking for lower wages, which in turn drives away native-born workers in certain industries. Those minimum wage jobs can be given to the native-born teenagers looking for their first job, the disabled or the retired. When companies hire illegal immigrants, they do not have to pay taxes on the work they accomplish. Businesses who do not pay taxes on their undocumented workers, they can save money and initially lower the cost of goods that are passed to the consumer.
Deportation and amnesty are two ways that the United States and Texas have dealt with undocumented immigrants. Refugee is another way the country can deal with immigrants wanting to come to the United States. Refugees must apply for protection from their home country. Background checks should be performed on those seeking refuge, so they are not a threat to native-born citizens. Out of the 1,954 miles between the United States and Mexico, TXDot claims that “Texas and Mexico share 1,254 miles of common border.” (TXDot) Because Texas shares almost 65% of the boarding with Mexico, Texas is most responsible for immigrants crossing the border into the United States illegally.
