Illegal Immigration Issue Analysis

All across our nation we have been burdened as American citizens by what feels like a moral dilemma. The issue of births from unauthorized immigrant parents has become more prevalent in the past decade. In 2007, 9% of all babies were born to immigrant parents in the United States (Passel and Cohn). More recently, in 2013, 295,000 babies were born to illegal aliens (“Overall number of unauthorized immigration hold steady since 2009”). Thus presenting an obvious problem that needs to be evaluated rather than ignored. Though one must consider the detrimental effect, this could have on a child. Is it wrong to separate a mother from their child once they have been born in the U.S.? Children of illegal immigrants face consequences for their parents being undocumented citizens.
Some children are denied their basic rights as U.S.
citizens because of their parent’s illegal status (Haugen and Musser). These children are often eligible for public benefits but often don’t get them. 30% of children of illegal immigrants are considered “mixed status” because of their parents. In addition, 75% of these children came from low-income families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (The Children of Undocumented Immigrants). This, in turn, has a big impact on these children. However, there are some situations where the parents get taken away by authorities due to the fact that they are not born in the United States. A common conflict with this action is simply that it becomes traumatic towards their children. Thus placing them in foster care and being taken away from their parents. Studies show that at least 5,100 children in 22 states are currently in foster care (“U.S. Immigration made easy”). It makes these children wonder why one or both parents are missing or absent. It’s also an issue because it is so difficult for these parents to be reunited with their children
again. It is commonly thought that the due process of having a child in the United States allows the parent the legal right of immigration status, unfortunately this is not the case. It is only until a child reaches the age of twenty-one, that they even have a voice in the matter (Siegler, Karen, and Camarota). Many parents unlawfully live in the United States, waiting for their children to turn twenty-one. Not only are the parents and children obligated to wait so long, but there are conditions to the Child’s financial standing (Siegler, Karen, and Camarota “Three-fourths are legal immigrants and their children”). The children must have a high enough income, in order to financially support their parents and any other family members when they are older. If these parents are inadmissible based on the time of their unlawful presence in the United States, they will have to remain outside of the country for at least ten years in order to apply for a green card (Bray). Which makes it more difficult for them to ever to see their families again. After all that’s considered, we still are faced with the issue in itself. While we feel the need to filtrate our population due to the federal law, it also is bothersome to our moral compass as people. We need to reevaluate the way in which we handle these problems as a nation. We must conjure up new solutions not only for the sake of these children, but the well-being of their families.