Essay

An illegal immigrant is a foreigner who enters the U.S. without an entry or immigrant visa, or who overstays the period of time as a visitor or tourist. Illegal Immigration is a widely debated topic, and even controversial to talk about. This is due to how split the discussion is. Illegal immigration has become a huge problem in the United States. People have been decisively split about this controversial topic. This is because the topic of illegal immigration and their solutions have provided many controversy, especially with the current president and his agenda of giving America back to the American Citizens. Arguments about illegal immigration have surfaced, these argument have been summarized to whether or not illegal immigration is either beneficial or detrimental to the United States. Illegal immigration has been proved to have even more drastic and negative effects on the country as a whole. This is seen through their mere presence in the country alone. Illegal immigrants have lasting effects that affect not only the government, but also through society and the types of solutions that have been accepted to be implemented.

America has been seen as the land of the free, the land of opportunity and the land of diversity. The United States, within the last half century has been open for immigrants and their families, this openness to "Immigration has led to a diverse U.S. population. “People and cultures from around the world can be found in many places in the United States" (Textbook 345). With this idea in mind, America has been seen as a boiling pot of people, as everyone now has been accepted and welcomed into the country. Immigrants chose to come for various reasons, such as to live in freedom, to practice their religion freely, to escape poverty or oppression, and to make better lives for themselves and their children. Some people already have members of their family residing in this country, and desire reunification. Through family-sponsored immigration, a U.S. citizen can sponsor his or her foreign-born spouse, parent, minor, and adult married and unmarried children, and brothers and sisters. Some immigrants come to the U.S. because of employment opportunities. Through employment-based immigration, a U.S. employer can sponsor an individual for a specific position where there is a demonstrated absence of U.S. workers. All of these are reasons for immigration of America, but this is also the reason for people to immigrate here illegally.

The rise of illegal immigration can affect the country greatly. Illegal immigration has become a controversial topic here in America, with a near even split between the topic of Pro or Anti-Illegal Immigration. As stated before, United States is known to have one of the most accepting cultures, they are especially accepting for those who originate from immigration, in the world. The diverse culture that America has developed has been the main contributing factor to the country's population growth as well as change in society’s norms and public accepted beliefs toward immigrants. This public policy of accepting immigrants in the country, regardless of legal status, has given a gate and allowed for many illegal immigrants to come to the United States. This is all seen through to the Department of Homeland security who had stated that the illegal population had “increased by 2.2 million, or 7 percent, ...counts for the populations of ...unauthorized immigrants” (Baker 3). What this statistic shows is that there has been a definite rise in illegal immigration. This will later have drastic effects on the United States government and its people. With the coming of illegal immigrants comes forth the rise of social problems. This is due to the great controversy surrounding the illegal immigration debate.This controversy is due to the opposing sides and their differing opinions on how to solve this problem. This comes from the fact that "One of the most difficult immigration problems in recent years has involved keeping people from entering the United States illegally" (Textbook 344). This is the main problem in the society that America has, the fact that the people, nor governmental positions know what to do as there are two main points and suggestion on how to deal with the illegal immigration proble. One side suggests that all people who have come here illegally should be deported out of the country, sending a message to future illegal immigrants that coming to the country illegally will not be welcomed. This side of the argument is seen as racist or xenophobic as it might suggest that the country is not welcoming any immigrants whether they come from China or Mexico. However, on the other side of the argument, people believe that illegal immigrants who are already made a life for themselves should be given legal residence. This argument when enacted will lead to a greater illegal immigration problem due to the eventual and definite exponential rise of illegal immigration.

Amnesty is a pardon given by the government to a group or class of people, usually for a political offense. This will give unauthorized immigrants a road and a path to legalization and eventually citizenship. Those who support amnesty believe that amnesty should be enacted upon or given as it may benefit the country through the definite rise in labor force and its benefit to the economy. Those who agree with amnesty would also argue that it would allow control the amount of immigrants coming into the country. Amnesty, for many has become the solution to this ever growing problem. In fact, many have advocated for giving "illegal aliens a one-time amnesty or general pardon that government gives to people who have broken a law" (Textbook 344). This is a problem because giving accommodation to illegal immigration by offering legal status, this will be seen abroad as a message that we condone illegal immigration, and we will forever be faced with the problem but the fact of the matter is that if amnesty is given to illegal immigrants, then the illegal immigration problem will be solved; only it will not be the solution. This will only give incentive for even more illegal immigrants to come into the United States. This would cause an even greater illegal immigration problem. A much, much, larger problem than before, a big of enough problems that it might never be solved. Yet those who still support amnesty, have had argued that that the outcome is unknown what may happen.

In the 1980s the illegal immigration population has reached its peaked. It was the Immigration Reform and Control act which “allowed illegal aliens who could prove they had lived continuously in the United States since before 1982 to apply to stay in the United States as legal residents” (Textbook 344). The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 is a prime example of amnesty. It allowed about 2.7 million illegal immigrants to gain legal status during the time of President Reagan’s time in office. The fact of the matter is, this has already been proved to be true. Amnesty has been given to illegal immigrants before and it only created a bigger illegal immigration problem than before, the type of one that is seen today. This was conclusion was seen through the one reform a previous president had, President Reagan. President Reagan had signed a reform that provided illegal immigrants amnesty and only for those who could prove that they were living in the country before 1986, this “did not solve our immigration problem—in fact, the population of illegal immigrants has nearly quadrupled since that ‘comprehensive’ bill” (Meese). As the quote shows, amnesty did not work. This is because everything else the 1986 bill promised such as border security and law enforcement were never established. This only encouraged even more illegal immigrants to come and enter the country illegally. This is because it gave the message that the United States allows and promotes illegal immigration, which should not have been the message. The mistake of amnesty is letting it happen and there should be more protest against it. Amnesty has created more problems than solving them, history has shown this. Amnesty, due to its previous failures, should not be the first choice for ending illegal immigration. The main reason why this reform did not work is because the reforms such as more border security and better law enforcement did not happen. These reforms were not put into place; the government would say it would “come later. It never did. Only amnesty prevailed, and that encouraged more illegal immigration” (Meese). The ways for preventing more illegal immigration was not implemented. This was the main problem of the reform, documenting illegals and not creating ways to prevent it further, through law enforcement and border control/protection. Border patrol provides border security and the country is unable to have national security without also having border security. It’s not only necessary for preventing illegal immigration; but border security has a key role with both the interdiction of illegal drugs and in defending America against terrorist threats. Having open borders to allow immigrants to have an easy passage into the country also allows for terrorists and smugglers to use said easy entrance to the United States. Border patrol is key importance to protecting the country and from keeping illegal immigrants out but there are people who despise border patrol. In conclusion, border security is one of the most important key aspects of eliminating illegal immigration.

Illegal immigration is seen by many as a way to get out of the slums of Mexico and a way to start a new life somewhere else. This is because many illegal immigrants come to the United States for “various reasons, such as to live in freedom, to practice their religion freely, to escape poverty or oppression, and to make better lives for themselves and their children.” (Arizaga). This is often the argument many people have for immigration, and especially for those who come here illegally from Mexico. Those who support illegal immigrants often have the arguments of immigration being a natural right. This is not true, immigration is a privilege. People who come here legally are given the privilege to come here. Immigrants do not have the right to come here. They have the privilege to stay and be a part of this country. Many people forget that not everyone has the ability to come here and those who do are glad to be here. Often, apologists for illegal immigration try to paint it as a victimless crime. This is far from the truth as illegal immigration is a crime because "Illegal aliens came to the United States without legal immigration papers and by law may not remain here" (Textbook 344). Coming to the United States is not the only crime that illegal immigrants commit. The fact is that illegal immigration causes substantial harm to American citizens and legal immigrants. This is even more prevalent for those who are in more vulnerable or poorer areas, which is where illegal immigrants often take refuge in. This is seen through higher amount of crimes illegal immigrants often make. This is seen through the statistic that over 53 percent of all investigated burglaries reported in some states were perpetrated by illegal aliens. Illegal immigrants often make more crimes than others and for this reason is why there should be more prevention of illegal immigration. As those who come here illegally often commit more crimes as they are often out of the law's reach due to their lack of documentation.

Another reason for the huge controversy of deporting illegal immigrants is due to many of illegal immigrants have already developed a life within the United States. “Approximately 11 million undocumented[people in the United States have been here for quite a while. As noted earlier, only 14 percent arrived in the country after January 1,2005 meaning that 86 percent have been in the country for over seven years/ While the law may consider them alien, most of them are people who have deep roots” (Chomsky). This is the center of the illegal immigration debate. Should the government deport those who have created a life for themselves in the United States? This question gets mixed results. While people are struggling to answer this question and find a solution, Illegal immigration continues to happen in the United States and more and more illegal immigrants are coming to the United States. Illegal immigration has lead become a growing problem in the United States. The less the government does the more it will grow. Illegal immigration is a lot like bacteria. Bacteria when not dealt with quickly enough will grow exponentially and continues to grow until stopped, but eventually when someone tries to kill the bacteria it has grown too big to have any immediate effects and will eventually die off but done much much slower.

Illegal immigration, itself is the leading cause of overpopulation. this problems that can be directly involved with the rise of illegal immigration. Illegal immigration often “contributes to the dramatic population growth overwhelming communities across America” (Meinders). Overpopulation is among the most pressing environmental issues, silently aggravating the forces behind global warming, environmental pollution, habitat loss, the sixth mass extinction, intensive farming practices and the consumption of finite natural resources, such as fresh water, arable land and fossil fuels, at speeds faster than their rate of regeneration. This frequently leads to multiple families living in the same apartment or home, garages being rented out as bedrooms. Safety ends up becoming a huge problem as a lack of it could lead to a huge spike in crime committed by illegal immigrants. Overpopulation often drives resources and basic necessities, such as food and water or even money, to become more limited, there will be increased competitiveness for these resources which leads to elevated crime rates due to drug cartels and theft by people in order to survive. Overpopulation is often happens to illegal immigrants due to the fact that they are most often working in low-paying jobs, they tend to pool housing costs by sharing living quarters. Crowding school classrooms, consuming already limited affordable housing, and increasing the strain on precious natural resources like water, energy, and forestland.

There have been laws and acts that discourage immigrants from coming to the United States illegally. One example of this was the 1886 reform act, which was most famous for the amnesty, had done more than give illegal immigration amnesty. The act has created laws to help discourage immigrants from coming to the United State through the act of outlawing " outlawed the practice of hiring illegal aliens, a step designed to decrease the flow of illegal aliens by reducing job opportunities for them" (Textbook 344). This part of the reform is the part that discouraged many immigrants from coming here illegally. This part of the process, was supposed to help in diminishing illegal immigrants from coming here, but the part of the reform that was apart of the spotlight was amnesty. In fact, many reforms, acts, and laws were created to try and discourage illegal immigrants from coming here, like how "California voters approved a law that denied state benefits including public education, medical benefits to illegal aliens and their children" (Textbook 344). The point of this law was to give the message of illegal immigrants are not welcomed, but illegal immigration still continues to grow. Illegal immigrants and their family members will be given benefits. It had discouraged many illegal immigrants from coming here, but the fact the problem still continues to grow is a problem, and the government may not be able to have a final solution to this epidemic.

Illegal Immigration is a widely debated topic with many points of views. This is due to how split the discussion is. Some would say that illegal immigration is good for the country and others would argue that illegal immigration is not beneficial at all. This is seen through how illegal immigration has affected the population and its capability to lower the amount of seats in the government; the lack of documentation for illegals; and how it immigration leads to even more problems through over population.