Illegal Immigration in the United States

What is illegal immigration?

An immigrant is deemed illegal in the United States if they enter without proper authorization, stay beyond their authorized term, or violate the terms of their immigration. There are believed to be 11.2 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. About half a million enter each year. According to a Pew Hispanic Center report, 57% of illegal immigrants are from Mexico, 24% are from other Latin American countries, 9% are from Asia, 6% from Europe and Canada, and 4% from other countries.

How do they arrive?

Methods of illegally immigrating include being transported by people-smugglers, called “coyotes”, overstaying a visa (which is a legal but limited way of immigrating), or breaking the rules of a visa or other immigration term.

Why do illegal immigrants come to the United States?

Illegal immigrants come to America for a variety of reasons. Among these reasons include:

• Higher wages
• More jobs available
• Escape from poverty-stricken countries
• Family previously immigrated into the US

How is the economy hurt by illegal immigration?

Illegal immigrants will often work for less than minimum wage and drive down wages for American workers. Employers often hire them over American workers because they work for less, which increases American unemployment. Many illegal immigrants also do not pay federal or state taxes. Some illegal immigrants can find loopholes to receive government benefits, like social security. These benefits are intended for American citizens and are paid for by taxes.

What other problems are brought on by illegal immigration?

Often, illegal immigrants are uneducated and cannot speak English. These immigrants have a hard time adjusting to society in America. They are less likely to fully integrate into American society and become a part of it or make positive contributions to it.

Also, many illegal immigrants are involved in drug smuggling and violent gangs. They can bring drugs from other countries with them as they cross borders and have networks set up in both countries. Gangs and violence are often an integral part of this sort of drug-trafficking.

How can illegal immigration be prevented?

Measures taken

The United States has the US Customs and Borders Protection to prevent and punish illegal immigration. Some preventative measures already taken include fencing across the borders and Border Patrol who police the borders. Increased regulation of companies has been somewhat effective since companies caught with illegal employees are punished harshly. However, increased policing of illegal immigrants in cities has only caused these immigrants to move to rural areas.

Measures proposed

Illegal immigration is still a very controversial and tricky subject for the United States government. However, it has been proposed that the government decreased the build up of immigration requests by accepting more immigrants each year. Many feel that the legal immigration process should be made easier.