College of Business Administration

GROUP MEMBERS:

Robert Hammond
Karin Schneider
Merris Gold-Drew
Zack Melvin
Bilal Nuhaily

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Moral dilemma: Mexicans right to better their lives versus our governments right to protect its borders. We have four alternatives for our moral dilemma:

1. Mexican President Fox advocates opening the border with his country.
According to utilitarianism, the greatest good for the greatest number would be to open the borders for the U.S. and Mexican economies to flourish.

2. Work Agreement Between Mexico & the U.S.
The deontological viewpoint is to uphold the immigration laws already in place but with some modifications to make the process easier. The utilitarian viewpoint of the greatest good for the greatest number allows the migrant worker, the businesses, and all U.S. citizens to benefit from a work agreement between both countries. Ethic of care states it is our moral duty to care about our fellow human beings. We as a society need to take a more personal interest in the well being of our neighbors.

3. Increase efforts to stop the flow of illegal immigration.
Deontology supports increasing efforts to stop illegal immigration simply because the activity is against our laws. Halting immigration will decrease crime and decrease the costs associated with illegal immigration this would create the greatest good for the American people which would uphold the utilitarian viewpoint.

4. Take U.S. businesses to Mexico.
Under utilitarianism the pros would be that we would help Mexico's economy by providing jobs and American businesses would prosper. The cons would be that we are taking jobs from American workers. The ethic of care calls on us as caring citizens of the U.S. we would want to help our neighbors by providing a better life for Mexican citizens.
With libertarianism people have a right to choose if they want to purchase products made cheaper because of free trade.

Optimal Resolution:
Maintain current immigration laws and border protection while creating a temporary work program. We would like to start a program that gives an immigrant a three-month working visa. Within the three months, it is the immigrant's responsibility to find work that can legally be documented by an employer. Upon obtaining proof of legitimate employment, the three-month visa will be extended to a one-year conditional working visa. Within that year, the worker must provide immigration with continual proof of work in the U.S. on a quarterly basis. At years end they need to re-apply through immigration to receive another year working permit. The purpose of this agreement is to allow immigrant workers to legally work in the U.S. while trying to become citizens without fear of exploitation by employers or deportation by the INS.

Our optimal resolution encompasses three ethical frameworks: deontology, utilitarianism, and ethic of care. The deontological perspective is to continue to uphold the laws and protect the border. The utilitarian perspective is preserve the higher standard of living that Americans have grown accustomed to, while at the same time raising the standard of living for the Mexican workers. The ethic of care asks us to recognize that there is a humanitarian duty to protect the safety and rights of immigrants coming to this country looking to better their lives.