Us Immigration Control

Immigration Control: Effect on the United States.

Immigration has become a problem in the United States in the 21st century because of the fear of overpopulation lurking in the near future. During the past decade annual legal immigration statistics show one million people entering the country legally, and roughly one million illegally. Data on illegal immigration cannot be accurately calculated because of the lack of enforcement and control of the United States borders. The efforts to reduce the number of illegal immigrants are not enough as thousands are still crossing every week. America needs to change their immigration control policy because there are many substantial negative effects hurting the country and its citizens.

The events of September 11th changed the way the United States looked at their national security efforts after terrorist actions killed several thousand people in the world trade center buildings by crashing a plane into them. Americans no longer took their safety for granted as they felt the devastation on United States soil. The terrorists were illegal immigrants that had been staying on fake visas. This is why illegal immigration is one of the biggest problems of national security and the cause of this catastrophe was the lack of border enforcement and strategy. "There's a mood for the first time since 9/11 that we have to take a look a this problem rather than just hardening the borders" (Allen). This shows that there needs to be more done than increase border manpower. In the past United States efforts were not directed at border strategy and because of this there are now an estimated ten million illegal immigrants residing in the United States. Every illegal immigrant broke the law by entering the United States against legal procedure and usually have to break other laws to begin their life in the United States. Better border enforcement needs to be carried out to reduce the negative consequences effecting the citizens and wildlife of the United States.

Legal points of entry on the Untied States border are chosen to benefit the border patrol and protect wildlife. As the number of illegal immigrants entering the country continues to rise every year, the points in which they are entering from are being destroyed. Many parts of the border are illegal entry points to protect wildlife that is trying to be preserved in their natural ecosystem. At Coronado Nation Park, Arizona, human footpaths from illegal immigrants are interfering with the natural ecosystem by destroying the land and leaving their waste throughout the park. This point is considered a heavy traffic crossing of illegal immigrants because border patrol agents are not stationed in National Parks leaving the job up to park employees. The immigrants main goal is to make it into the United States and because of this they do not care about the destruction they are doing to public and private property. The lack of border strategy is effecting the preservation of wildlife and health of the environment.

Millions of dollars are spent each year to catch the act of drug smuggling over the United States border. Efforts to control the drug trafficking are a top priority for the government to keep the drugs off the streets "...in six drug-control areas: drug interdiction, anti-money laundering, drug and immigration enforcement, prosecutions, counter-drug support, and counter-drug cooperation with Mexico" (Drug Trafficking...). Although these types of plans are being implemented drug trafficking is a big problem over the borders because the stretch of 6,000 miles is hard to watch with the resources currently used. Many illegal immigrants are carrying drugs destined to make it to the United States black market. Armed "drug trains" are often used to ensure drugs make it across the border as well as single human "mules" who carry pounds of drugs and travel alone. Most of the drugs are run over illegal crossing points rather than at legal points of entry because this is where a large percentage of the border patrol force is stationed. "Sacks of Colorado potato bags are used to hold pounds of marijuana and other illegal drugs across the border" which are found regularly in Coronado National State Park (Congressional Immigration...). Drug trafficking such as this is a large effect of illegal immigration because the government spends billions of dollars trying to enforce sellers, users and traffickers of these drugs.

Immigration is a large burden on the citizens of the United States as well as on the economy. Today, "the net annual cost to U. S. taxpayers resulting from legal and illegal immigrants is $65 billion in which three-fifths accounts for legal and two-fifths for illegal" (Federation...). The costs of legal immigration include documentation fees, the job loss of American citizens, welfare wages, and retirement pensions. Illegal immigration costs include deportation fees, workforce hours to find illegal aliens, and illegal workforce wages. In a positive outlook $65 billion per year breaks down to $225 per American citizen. This does not seem to be a lot of money but this funding could be put to better use than to make immigrants lives better. Americans are having to spend money for immigrants to experience freedom and have the opportunity for a better life. The amount of money spent per year on immigration is substantial and the problems controlling immigration at the border has a direct reflection on the amount of taxes American citizens have to pay. Reducing the amount of immigrants would cut costs for tax payers and help reduce $65 billion in financial burden from the government.

The opportunities and incentives that immigrants can achieve in America drives many to immigrate by whatever means necessary, whether legally or illegally. One problem is immigrants are almost guaranteed a better way of life if they can cross into American soil because of what opportunities they have. President Bush proposes that "a new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing U. S. employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs. The program would be open to new foreign workers, and to the undocumented men and women currently employed in the U. S." (Fact Sheet...). This plan is a potential incentive for an immigrant who is thinking about illegally entering the country. If they do not get caught they will not get penalized for their crime, receive formal documentation and have the opportunity to obtain a job with the help of the government. Another potential incentive Bush proposed is retirement benefits for immigrants. If an immigrant goes back to their country of residence the United States will work with their country to give them retirement packages paid for by the U. S. government.