Illegal Immigration Policy Analysis

The United States of America has faced the issue of illegal immigration for a very long time now. The Mexican border and the Pacific Ocean have been important culprits in illegal immigration, along with many other ways. Although some have taken the right path with entering the country legally with a visit visa, records show a majority have arrived and have stayed here illegally. ”Proponents of overhauling the U.S. immigration system increasingly point to the fact that about 40% of the 11 million undocumented workers in the country aren't low-wage workers who sneaked over the southern border illegally, but rather foreigners who arrived legally and simply never left.”(Murray 2013) It is really just a double edged sword, in one aspect the illegals
can provide the local economy with benefits because they do not get paid as much while some say they do more productive work. In the other aspect, these immigrants do not pay taxes and nor do their employers. How much of a role towards illegal immigration do these employers pay? Should they be held just as accountable? The United States hosts a population of around twelve million illegals whom help themselves to whatever they feel necessary. This includes jobs, education, welfare, and they can even collect unemployment! Employers with low business morals and standards take advantage of this because they can pay the workers under the table without tax and other factors.

This 2012 chart shows the overall percentages of undocumented workers spread out throughout the different occupations. These workers still remain concentrated in lower skilled jobs while U.S. born workers are pickier when it comes to deciding in what jobs they want to obtain. “One in eight undocumented immigrants in the U.S. now has a white-collar job.”(Wile 2015) There have been acts that have been put in place to enforce hiring of illegal immigrants, whether the employer’s choice to follow these implementations is up to them.
The Immigration Reform and Control act was formed in 1986. “The Immigration and Naturalization Service is responsible for implementing this law. IRCA prohibits employers from knowingly hiring, recruiting, or referring for a fee any alien who is unauthorized to work. The public policy behind this law reflects the concern that the problem of illegal immigration and employment requires greater control and stronger enforcement mechanisms by the federal government. As a result of this law, all employers are required to verify both the identity and employment eligibility of all regular, temporary employees, temporary agency personnel, and student employees hired after November 6, 1986, and complete and retain a one-page form (INS Form I-9) documenting this verification. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in both civil and criminal liability with the imposition of substantial fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per hire, as well as possible imprisonment for a pattern or practice of noncompliance. Most importantly, failure to verify a new employee’s identity and employment eligibility will result in the termination of employment for that employee.”(bu.edu) I am for the incorporation of reforms like these. Illegal employment is definitely draining the American economy and we need to make better efforts
to change it. When illegal immigrants enter our country, there is a high risk of them bringing thousands of diseases, which can spread and further more hurt the country.
These people have no past record of authorization or medical documentation. The state where these people are living can cause more problems relating to education costs. They have children here and that makes them more willing to stay, while their children are soaking up the state funded education and other social benefits. There could be a considerate downside of implementing strict immigration laws, but this is considering that the immigrants come legally. The illegal immigrants are filling in some of the holes in the labor market, but if we were to bring in people to work in agriculture or service we would bring them through a regularized process. This would include bringing citizens from South Asia and Africa. This is mainly a cultural, language, and religion
issue.