Illegal Immigration And Its Effect On America

Illegal Immigration and Its Effect On America

Thesis: Learning as much as possible about Illegal Immigration so that we may understand and try and find a reasonable solution.

I. What Is Illegal Immigration?

A. Illegal Immigration

B. When did it begin?

II. Toll of Illegal Immigration On America

A. Hidden Cost Of Illegal Immigration

B. Crime

C. The Loss America Suffers For Illegal Immigration

D. How Things Have Changed

III. America Speaks Up

A. Why Americans Are Prejudiced Against Illegal Immigrants

B. Illegal Immigrants Tell Their Side of the Story

IV. What Can We do?

A. Playing Your Part

B. The Future

Leah Willoughby

Mr. and Mrs. William Davis

Sophomore Research Project

16 January 2007

Illegal Immigration and Its Effect on America

Illegal Immigration is a very important problem today in the United States. It affects everyone, from the homeless to the wealthy. Illegal Immigration is when a foreigner crosses a national boundary in a way that violates the immigration laws of the country being left and the country being entered. Today, there are more than 20 million living in the US and an estimated 500,000 more arrive yearly. Many believe Illegal Immigration to be a relatively new problem but, in fact, it has been going on for hundreds of years. It wasn't until 1924 when the US really began enforcing immigration laws.

One of the most controversial political issues of today is that of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Illegal immigration into the United States is a problem that should be stopped, as it is unfair to both Americans and to the people of the country from which they left. It is thought that the majority of illegal aliens residing in the U.S. are Mexicans. Roy Beck clarifies the situation by stating, "The national consensus is that the United States should be a post-mass immigration country has included most leaders of business, religion, labor, academia, and social work." Illegal immigration from Mexico must be stopped by means of different policies and other methods of prevention, because the effects on both Mexico and the United States are predominately unfavorable.

One of the reasons Americans resent Immigrants is because of the toll it takes on our country. Let's consider the cost of illegal immigration. As of 2006, 500 billion dollars has been lost just because of identity theft. Illegal Immigrants have to have some way of getting jobs so they steal social security numbers and create their own identity. When this happens all earnings by the real person are not matched with the social security number so they don't get it and neither does the government. It is put into a file called the Earnings Suspense File and is never used. Also, Illegal Immigrants run up taxes like crazy. For example, when an Illegal Immigrant goes to the hospital it is automatically paid for and they don't have to pay a dime. Lets see, free food (food stamps), free healthcare, free drivers license.....can you blame them for coming? By giving them all of this we aren't exactly saying "Go Home!" With that kind of treatment even more immigrants will be calling America "home."

Crime is another important issue. Any country in the world has crime issues but crime in the US has gone up dramatically since mass numbers of illegal immigrants began coming in. First, crime started increasing along the US/ Mexico border so, naturally, we beefed up the border patrol (Pacific Research Institute, Illegal Immigration and Crime). Ranchers on the U.S. side of the border began arming themselves because drug traffickers on mountain bikes carrying 100 pound marijuana loads were pouring over the border and riding through their property. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) also acknowledges that Mexican traffickers are sending tons of cocaine and heroin across the border. And, according to the New York Times Magazine, these Mexican traffickers are "often exploiting illegal aliens to carry the drugs." The Times Magazine quotes a local police chief who says, "They're hauling drugs just down from my house. I even carry a .38 to mow my lawn, but those guys are carrying assault rifles." (Pacific Research Institute, Illegal Immigration and Crime) Unfortunately, the crime isn't limited to the border area. The 18th Street gang in Southern California is one of the nation's most violent street gangs with a staggering 20,000 members. More appalling is the fact that 60 percent of the 18th Street gang's membership consists of illegal aliens. The gang's crimes range from armed robbery to arson and murder. Since 1990, the gang has been responsible for 100 homicides. The Los Angeles Times notes that, "Wherever [the 18th Street gang] surfaces, the quality of life inevitably suffers." Law enforcement admits that it is losing the battle against the gang. One state official says, "They're worse than a cancer. A cancer you can kill. These guys keep growing." These are just some examples of the crime illegal immigration has brought about.

Sadly, America has changed since all of this began and not for the better. Taxes have gone up tremendously, taking quite a toll on millions of taxpayers. Jobs have been forfeit and given to immigrants who will work for less money. Schools have been crowded and the curriculum changed to better accommodate the immigrants. In one small town in Pennsylvania, the cost of the English curriculum went up to 25,000 dollars from a mere 200. That town was so overwhelmed by immigrants they had no choice but to ignore the immigrants. They were not allowed to house them, rent to them, or provide them with jobs. This had to be done because the town was being destroyed! The hospital went bankrupt because of all the immigrants who had no money because they had to provide them with free care. Also, Immigrants always come first now, even before paying citizens. If there were two people in an emergency room, a Mexican and an American, the Mexican would be