Illegal Immigration By: Barbara Choe Derek Montgomery

T o L et T hem in, or N ot to L et T hem in, T hat is the Q uestion  Illegal Immigration refers to the immigration across the borders of a country that breaks and is against the immigration laws in any way.  U.S. federal, state, and local governments constantly argue about about the issues related to illegal immigration.  It causes problems between many factions. I’m almost at the border after all this hopping Around!

Political Issues  Illegal immigration causes deadlock between state and local governments so practically NOTHING is able to get done.  Major issues such as the guest worker program that allows immigrant workers to work in the U.S. without a visa providing “amnesty”, education rights, public assistance which includes economic and medical benefits, visitor tracking which records everyone’s fingerprints for security reasons, backlog which is the green card process, and much, much more.

Economy Issues  Some find that they focus on the difference between taxes paid v. government services received.  Others find that they focus on the added production which results in lower costs for consumers everywhere.  So, some believe that a world without immigrants would lead to higher prices for goods and services and a decrease in productivity. Therefore, immigrants are necessary.  However, many others feel as though their own jobs are being deprived from them, the legal citizens.

National Security Issues  Illegal immigration allows the presence of outside people to blend within the melting pot that is America. It gives terrorists the opportunity to target U.S. citizens much easier.  Border control came into order. It is necessary, but currently ineffective.

State v. Local  Costs of Immigration = - CA costs: $10.1 billion per year -TX costs: $ 4.5 Billion per year  Block grants from the federal government  Costs of Immigration = - Los Angeles, CA costs: $1,183 per household - Houston, TX costs: $725 per household  Operational grants from the state government  Second-order devolution from state government

Constitutional or Unconstitutional? In a perfect world, the federal government would come to save the state and local governments from the burdens of finding solutions to the illegal immigration problem. They should come up with a way to prevent illegal immigration or to control it. Realistically, the federal government neither enforce such powers without the state government’s permission nor get rid of illegal immigration that easily, therefore it can do something on a larger scale. The federal government can pass a new law or a bill that may help the state governments. Passing a new national law or bill may not control illegal immigration entirely, but it’s a start. Too bad it’s not a perfect world…

The State Governments  We think that the state governments such as Oklahoma’s is going far with their new laws that includes reduced public benefits for illegal immigrants. The federal government should control the immigration issues to the last detail whereas the state government take care of the problems within their own state. The federal government also has to keep in mind of the state’s sovereignty.  If the certain actions of a state called for a neighboring state to take responsibility, then that neighboring state would have to take control, enact laws, and more to solve the problem. If it was fair, the 1st state would have to take charge but according to the law, the 2nd state is forced to take the lead, extending the problems and affecting the people.

THE END.