20 March 2012
Illegal Immigration; A controversial topic. So many things have been said about the American dream; so many people have struggle against themselves to prove that it does not only exist but can also be achieved. So many people worked hard and devoted their lives to this dream. To many people across the world immigrating to the United States is the American dream in itself. The United States has had immigration policy in effect that dates as far back as its birth. Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants, settlement pattern, impact on upward social mobility, crime, and voting behavior. The controversy of illegal and legal immigrants is seen and disputed in our everyday life; it has become part of political campaigns every 4 years with new laws and old laws being revised. Although the idea of extending open arms to those searching for a better life is heartwarming, the negative effects of such rampant illegal immigration are detrimental to the United States, legal immigrants and its natural-born citizens.
The United States has been relaying on immigrants for the growth of population since its birth, however, the effects of rampant illegal immigration are detrimental to the citizens and permanent residents. There are currently 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States, with an average of 500, 000 new entrants arriving over the last decade. As many as two –thirds of unauthorized immigrants enter the country by crossing the US-Mexico border, with the remaining 30-40 percent arriving on temporary visas and then staying on after their visa expires. (Hanson 6). Some of the many impacts of illegal immigration can be easily identified by examining the current health
Cited: “The DREAM Act illegal Alien Amnesty: A bad idea at the worst possible time” “The Truth about the DREAM Act”; 20 March, 2010 22 January, 2008 27 March, 2009 Bracey, Gerald W.; “Phi Delta Kappa January”; (2004); 207-08 Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Foxnews.com; Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) Chairman of the house judicial committee Gallup.com; 5 august, 2009 Richard Wolf; USAtoday.com; “Rising health care costs put focus on illegal immigrants” Tampa Bay Times; “Immigration enforcement made sensible”; 24 August, 2011 The Arizona Republic; Daniel Gonzalez; “U.S. not cracking down on immigrants with expired visas”; 10 May, 2010 USAtoday.com; “Immigration grows, reading record numbers”; 12 December, 2005 Yahoo News; “Illegal immigrants with long expired visas remain tough to track decade after 9/11”; 6 March, 2012; Alicia A. Caldwell;