First, Immigration policy aims to enable the flow of visitors and migrants, while stopping terrorism, contraband and unauthorized people. The United States spends $18 Billion dollars a year on imagination enforcement. However, there are still security gaps resulting in illegal entries, primarily through the U.S. and Mexico boarder. The debate center on which enforcements method is most effective i.e. patrols, aerial …show more content…
Some were brought to the country as children and many have U.S. born children. However, theses 11.5 million people have no legal status creating economic and social complications such as gaps in tax collections and the amount of public services. The big question should there be a path to legal status or citizenship for undocumented immigrants?
Trends indicate that unauthorized migration made up of more and more refugees fleeing violence in Central America and much less of job seekers from Mexico. The rise in asylum seekers has strained an already overwhelmed U.S. immigration system. The debate continues on how to handle the flow of refugees and how to address the additional needs of refuges from the Middle East.
American employees can hire a limited number of foreign workers with advanced education or work experience. These high skilled immigrants make significant contributions to the economy. However, there is disagreement over whether these immigrants are replacing American workers at lower wages. Should higher skilled people be allowed to …show more content…
Presidential candidates debate their plans, however, only Congress can rewrite the nations immigration laws. The president can use executive power to veto bills and set policy on how strict the law is enforced. The president has significant power with the help of congress to shape immigration policy.
In terms of the stages of the policy making process the first step is to identify a problem. Opponents of reform say illegal immigrants are overwhelming jobs, hospitals and schools. Furthermore, security is an issue, protecting the boarder from criminals attempting to commit violent crimes is a matter of national security. Because numerous problems exist solutions are impossible until identified by policy makers.
The second step is policy formulation, this occurs through meetings and public debates. An example of a policy formulation would be allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the U.S. if they have jobs and pay back past income taxes. Additionally fourteen bills were considered in nine states addressing topics such as law enforcement, employment and proof of lawful status to receive public