Heated debates about problems plaguing the four corners of the world occur regularly, and to this day these issues are addressed in in-depth discussions. However, a hot topic that comes up more often and still needs to be resolved in a timely manner is that of illegal immigration, especially visa-free border crossing. Regarding the immigration crisis in the United States, which has led to tensions not only between political parties divided on this issue, but also between the United States and Mexico during the term of the Trump administration, which sought to “build the wall” and Mexico, at first, financed this project itself, and now the GOP rhetoric has shifted towards forcing the Mexican government to reimburse them after its completion. While some see the United States as morally obligated to allow illegal residents to remain in the United States, a movement rooted in xenophobia and hostility toward foreigners has garnered far more support from others citing constitutional precedence and immigration policy in the remove these offenders from the country. since they represent a threat to “internal tranquility” in the words of the Constitution. While no single political philosophy has taken hold, and infighting for influence to protect or deport these border crossings is only intensifying in the wake of the government shutdown of the United States, an ethical system that could be useful in resolving this problem and perhaps the result is a bipartisan meeting on this issue is that of Kantian ethics. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Kant's most notable contribution to the field of ethics is the categorical imperative, his focus when studying ethics. Described as a supreme moral commandment from which a subset of moral laws descends, the categorical imperative is more commonly stated as "to act so as to treat humanity, whether in one's own person or in the person of others, always as an end, and never as only a means”. (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica) In short, it proposes the idea that people should treat themselves and others as "ends in themselves", that is, as rational actors, and not as "means to an end". ", i.e. pawns in their endgame. It is from this concept that Kantian ethics flows freely from this deontological position, the idea that morality should be centered on duty rather than emotions or, as mentioned above, endgames . Kant uses a series of thought experiments to demonstrate that his ethical system is based on the fulfillment of these moral duties, which he believes validate his ideas. He uses traditionally religious commands such as do not kill or do not steal and goes further by saying that these commands they are universal, even in circumstances that would require them to be suspended for the safety or benefit of people who might be harmed in the process. There has been criticism of this extremism of the categorical imperative, however the idea that people should be treated as equals in moral terms and not classified as users and used in the grand scheme of things is relevant where these illegal immigrants should be treated as human beings seeking to maximize their happiness by committing nonviolent crimes, or their crimes should define their actions and deserve to be kicked out of the country they have called home for many years. The government of the United States, under the Government of the Republican Party as a majority in both houses of Congress, hasconsistently promoted their agenda for tighter immigration and stronger patrolling of the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent this uncontrolled and illegal flow of Mexicans. Since Donald Trump's presidential election in 2016, now more than ever the GOP agenda is energized and gaining momentum. Down the aisle, the liberal values of the Democratic Party are more in line with the ethical precepts of Kant and oppose the GOP in its attempt to eradicate entire families and communities in their political endeavors and attempt in every way to divert them from putting these into law morally questionable beliefs. Today's unpredictable political climate is largely due to Trump's attacks on his own Justice Department, the media, and private citizens exercising their First Amendment rights. According to an article in the New York Times, ICE, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, posed a serious threat to immigrant rights: “Ravi's arrest is the latest in a series that makes It is clear that ICE is singling out immigrant activists and leaders for detention and deportation.” (Gottlieb) The Trump White House is so out of touch with the reality of the lives of these individuals and families and how their positions on this issue and legislation affect a significant minority of the population. This disconnect is a reflection on the social hierarchy of the United States, in which the 1% of Anglo-Saxon Protestants, often white, wield enormous power which they then use to influence the lower ends of the socioeconomic spectrum in the direction they choose. Contrary to Kantianism, Trump and his officials have used their positions of power in such a way as to pit those at the bottom of the proverbial barrel against each other, as a means of safeguarding their power from the majority. . It is the hope that perhaps the categorical imperative could be the final blow to Trump's politicism. Immanuel Kant, son of the European Enlightenment and champion of liberal ideals, would no doubt disapprove of Trump's manipulation of republican values, as well as society and its problems, for his personal gain as it conflicts with his stated belief in dealing all people as agents of themselves rather than puppets. Kant's formulations of the categorical imperative all frame the same basic idea in logical steps. His first formulation was to act according to a maxim that could become a universal law. In other words, it is a moral obligation that must have the absolute necessity of being proposed. Is there not a moral obligation to act in accordance with the golden rule, that is, to treat others as we ourselves want to be treated, as well as an absolute necessity to adapt this idea to the ongoing migration crisis? Kant would argue that these illegal immigrants are people, just like us, and are rational actors. Forcibly moving and relocating them would deprive them of their status as ends in themselves capable of acting alone and would be seen as a means to achieve the desired goal of imposing racially oriented immigration controls that would discriminate against those of Mexican origin. heritage from the rest of the population. Likewise, “Kant also argued that general obedience to the categorical imperative would lead to the universal mutual promotion of individual ends because the imperative forbids refusing to help others” (Linden). Therefore, we, the human species, have a moral duty to help someone. another in times of need or crisis, and this immigration issue qualifies as such. It could be argued that any private resident of a country has a moral obligation to obey the law, and that they commit immigration.
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