Date: Friday, October 9th 2015
Participants (from 12 countries)

Host: Rick
Moderator: Rick

Teams
Panel PRO: Peter Anas, Rebecca, Ahmed, Ohnie, Usaid
Panel CON: Johny, Rojahno, Ayisha, Marwa, Seif, Rashid, Usaid, Amine
Audience: JA, Masato, Markov, Tibi.

Panel PRO:

A refugee is not an illegal immigrant.
If the rules of the country say that they should not be allowed to work, then they should not be allowed. Unless they submit the appropriate application requesting to be allowed.
It wouldn’t be fair for the honest ones that go through a lot of work and follow the law/process to submit their papers and often wait for years in order to legally immigrate, only to have these illegal immigrants cheat and circumvent the legal system.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to work and provide for their families, but illegal immigrants should not have the same benefits that legal immigrants have. Countries are based on the principle of law and order.
People that actually go through the hideous processes feel cheated by the government when illegal immigrants can obtain the same employment benefits without having gone through the legal process. They will feel let down by the government which is suppose to protect citizens and legal residents.
A society that does not do what they can to provide employment opportunities for its citizens and residents is not a stable society.
A government/society can have compassion while maintaining law and order.
Often in a society that does not enforce labor laws to prevent illegal immigrants from being employed, wages will be depressed as employers will be driven to maximize their profits by using lower paid illegal immigrants. While this can have an effect on prices for some commodities where the illegal immigrants provide a significant portion of the labor force, a society needs to make a decision on what is the most important principle, paying more for some goods, or creating an environment where illegal immigrants may be taking the jobs of some residents or citizens, and/or creating abusive labor practices for those immigrants whom may feel they do not have any rights do their immigration status.

Panel CON:

As long as the person is qualified and capable to work, he or she should be given the opportunity to work.
Illegal immigrants will spend a lot of time and energy to perform their job at the highest standard, as they have the most to lose given their employment status vulnerability..
The social or employment situation may be so adverse in their home country, that they may believe they have no choice for survival or to care for their family.
There are illegal immigrants whom are very intelligent, capable and with a lot of great ideas. and by having them in our country, they can provide a significant benefit to our society. These people may have a difficult time finding a stable job or a prosperous future due to challenges in their native country. They should be given the chance to be prosperous.
Desperate, homeless, hungry, poor, jobless are looking for a better life; they are putting their life at risk through human smuggling criminal rings, just because they have the motivation to improve their life circumstances. They have to be treated as human beings first, before illegal immigrants, and be allowed to follow their dreams.
If we don’t allow them, they will find a way and may turn to criminal activities to survive.
The more obstacles we put to them, the more desperate they become. We are human beings first, with the right for dignity and equal opportunity. A government should work for the people, not against them.
They are also making efforts and sacrifices in their daily lives.
People want to succeed; they want to have a shining career and countries with free education can help these people. We should be supporting them, not repressing them.
Wouldn’t you give them a chance to accomplish their dreams? Don't they deserve to make their life better, to look for a better future? Yes they do, everyone deserves to live the life they have always wanted.
When someone seeks a better future in a different country, it is because they really need it.
Some immigrants leave their family, wives and children in order to find a better future. They put in risk their own lives every day. They should deserve some consideration.
USA Declaration of Independence: In the Declaration it states that everyone is created equal and born with inalienable rights.
Most countries are so diverse simply because of the fact that it was a "melting pot" for all sorts of different people looking for a good life. Sure, we're a bit overcrowded nowadays, but immigrants should not be excluded.
We were all born in the same planet and under the same sky. Why should we discriminate a person for being from a different place immigrating illegally looking for a better life?

Audience summary:

J.A. remained undecided.
Lala voted for team A
Tibi voted for team B

This ended up as a tie due to both panels presented very good arguments. There was a bonus chat after the Debate and the topic was: “If you had a time machine, would you go to the past or to the future, and why?". This is within the audio file below.

Thanks everyone for participating. To listen to this debate, click on the links below:

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Illegal immigrants should not be allowed to work | October 9th 2015 | Recording file

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