Running Head: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Illegal Immigration: The effects, current solutions, and changes made in response. Clara I. Martinez University of Texas at El Paso

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Congressional Budget Office, Krikorian, M., Vaughan, J.M., Edwards, J.R., Friedman, A., & Gonzales, R.G. (2012). Are current policies regarding illegal immigrants working?. In N. Merino (Ed.), Illegal immigration (pp. 96-129). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. (Chapter of book) The evolution of immigration policies are being changed as years go by. But currently it offers you two distinct ways for you to enter the US lawfully: permanent and or temporary admission. Even then it hasnt stopped people from coming here to the US illegal. Instead they use the Attrition Strategy. The attrition strategy is a state and local enforcement or effort to deny jobs to illegals. Another popular effort is the 287(g) program, where local law enforcement is given the training to know them as immigration agents. But their priority must be to keep up the enforcement. Since they see that the state and local immigration enforcement is working it should then be expanded. Sometimes the state and local enforcement decide to abuse the little power or just power given to them. Not only that but, the current policies regarding illegal immigrant children are not sufficient. To try to fix all of those children teenagers they proposed the DREAM Act but nothing actually ever happened with it so again like many other undocumented people they are left in a trap. We see this all the time where law enforcement stereotype a person not knowing anything about them showing how they abuse the power given to them if they have no business investigating a person then why do they, instead they should be after the people that are actually committing crimes. I have friends who are in this situation how will they become successful if the doors are closed.

Correa-Cabrera, G., & Rojas-Arenaza, M. (2012). The mathematics of MexicoUS migration and US immigration policy. Policy Studies, 33(4), 297-312. doi:10.1080/01442872.2012.694187 (Academic Article from an Online Periodical with DOI Assigned) Immigration is one of the most talked about matters in the US. Recent debates have really shown that the framework of immigration (particularly from Mexico) needs to be replaced for one that works. The US immigration policy has been affected by the use of numbers and media spectacles, which are often released by anti-immigrants groups. Since this sometimes tends to push the immigration agenda, the government should dissect all of the sides, taking into account how some of this could be manipulated. Many attempts have been taking into consideration for example the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 but like this one, none have become laws. Even after this, the debate always seems to come back to: economic effects of immigration; employment prospects of native-born Americans; effects of immigration on crime rates, among others. Illegal immigrants cost the US around $10 billion more than they contribute. In addition, the growing presence of them increase unemployment and reduce wages for native-born

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION Americans. Supposedly, illegal immigrants also lead to higher crime rates but there is no comprehensive way of proving this. Despite all of the anti-immigrants other sources argue that this will be a positive thing for America. They actually help pay more in taxes than they actual cost in social services. Plus, immigrants do jobs that the Americans wouldnt want to do. Indeed, they say that with them we have higher crime rated but these effects have not been verified by official numbers or sources. The US has tried to keep the Mexican states along the border out from the violence they suffer by massive expansion of border enforcement. This not only where wasted billions of dollars but it still hasnt stopped illegal immigrants like Mexicans to cross to the US. The current debate for a reform includes emotional biased arguments as well as beliefs of this issue. In conclusion this issue(s) with the immigrants have to be seen using appropriate use of numbers and quantitative analyses needed. This is true everybody inputs their ideas and beliefs which sometimes arent even close to the target. Since we really dont see where is this information being gathered, then they should be using reliable numbers to get to the bottom of this, this isnt a lie it exists and we clearly see it.

Grant, D. (2013). Immigration reform bill clears Senate, but faces roadblock in House. Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG. Retrieved from http://0web.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/search/advanced?sid=016c76b6-08d6-4496-8c587f5a60f32a2a%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=108 (News Article from database) Finally since 2006, immigration reform was able to pass the Senate. The house doesnt seem to be happy with what the Senate accomplished. Some conservatives dont like the idea of how the illegal aliens will be allowed to legalize before the bills many security measures are in place. Republican Charles Grassley of Iowa says that he doesnt want to make the same mistake again like what happened in 1986. For now the immigration reform is just up in the air until something is done by the House. I know that the House of Representatives and the Senate dont really agree with what the Senate accomplished. This should serve as an incentive to get together if possible and work something out.

Hanson, G. H., Vliet, E.L., Martin, J., Confer, B., Anderson, S., & Schumacher-Matos, E. (2012). Does illegal immigration harm US citizens?. In N. Merino (Ed.), Illegal immigration (pp. 64-94). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. (Chapter of Book) In this specific chapter of the book they talk about the costs and gains of illegal immigrants, how they drain health care resources that they lead to higher crime rates and how they take American jobs, and lastly that it is a myth that they lead to higher crime rates. Having illegal immigrants in the US increases the income by allowing the economy to utilize domestic resources. On the other hand, since they pay little in taxes immigration

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

generates burden on taxpayers. Immigration overall in the US looks modest, and really has a small negative impact. Immigrants for example Mexicans come over here for their child to be born a US citizen and go back to live in Mexico and come whenever they need medical care, not only that but they get benefits such as welfare. No one knows if the mothers are legal or illegal legal citizens, taxpayers carry the weight because government doesnt document citizenship before providing medical services. There has been misleading studies on crime because of perception; this is all because they dont use reliable date. Here we are presented with different ideas or facts of how illegal immigrants harm the US. It really all just looks like the government has let this gone to far and cant handle it.

Obama, B. H. (2010). Statement on Immigration Reform Legislation. Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents, 1. Retrieved from http://0web.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/search/advanced?sid=016c76b6-08d6-4496-8c587f5a60f32a2a%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=108 (Article from database) In this government document, they state that something must be done to fix the broken immigration system. Which they mention that this is something were both the Republicans and Democrats agree that it doesnt work. The immigration legislation must have the following components; stronger border security, tougher penalties for employees who hire illegal workers and rules for controlling future immigration must be obvious. The illegal immigrants must get cleared from backgrounds checks and law, pay taxes and penalties, must learn/know English, nevertheless admit that they are here illegally. Here it is presented several ideas that this mush have so if they have them why not have some type of law, act or amnesty that includes all of what they have mentioned. Both of the houses know that the illegal immigration system is broke then, what exactly is the struggle to fix it?

Saad, L., Swartz, Z., DeMint, J., Wilkinson, W., & Stock, M. (2012). How should the government respond to illegal immigration?. In N. Merino (Ed.), Illegal immigration (pp. 131-157). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. (Chapter of book) Illegal immigration is a serious concern. Many people believe that illegal immigrants shouldnt be granted amnesty. The American job market isnt good and some feel that if they are legalized they wont be jobs for the actual citizens. They believe a good solution to end illegal immigration is a border fence. Congress should also end birthright citizenship. To every story there are two sides and in the other story they believe that there is a need for a constitutional amendment. That birthright citizenship should not be ended, and if it is ended the US should have in place should have a national registry of

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION American citizens. Nobody will ever be pleased with what solution they create government should just decide on their own maybe then everybody else wont have anything else to say like in this chapter and other articles it just goes around and around when will it ever stop.

Sherman, R., & Ibarra, H. (2013). Being here, but not here. Phi Delta Kappan, 94(6), 39-41. Retrieved from http://0web.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/ehost/search/advanced?sid=016c76b6-08d6-4496-8c587f5a60f32a2a%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=108 (Article from database) In this article they provide us a story of an undocumented girl whose name is Jacqueline. Who was brought by her parents to the US illegally at age 2 years old and has been here ever since. Thanks to this she is fluent in both English and Spanish. Since little she decided she wanted to better and that required continuing her education past high school. Luckily undocumented students like her can attend college, but after college the immigrations laws wont allow them to work. Jacqueline like many other students are left with just a dream, but who will determine if they will be allowed to continue on with their dream? The Dream Act is something that would help students like Jacqueline but today I havent seen anyone mention it. Is it another story of promises from the government.

Stein, Dan., (2013). For House Democratic Leadership, Amnesty for Illegal Aliens Takes Precedence Over Restoring Government Operations. Retrieved from http://www.fairus.org/ (Web Page) The House says that rewarding people who broke the law sends the wrong message, while in a crisis that threatens the basic functions of the government. They must prioritize on the interests of the Americans. They must produce a budget to keep the government operating for the inconvenience caused by the shutdown. Congress will devote its time to ending the budget crisis, instead of rewarding the illegal immigrants. I find this as an excuse just to push it back as long as they can. Yet in part it is true the government can be shut down like this it does create inconvenience. It makes me believe it is the governments entire fault.