Illegal Immigration Example Persuasive Essay Example

typical illegal aliens who found the "good life" for free and without the right to even be here. Too many illegal immigrants like Xiomara are causing economic problems in American society by taking away jobs from American-born citizens. By increasing the labor supply and accepting low wages, illegal aliens take away jobs from Americans and force down their wages (Leone, ed., 1995, 8). This is unfair to Americans because they deserve these positions, yet 7.6 percent of the United States population is unemployed (Leone, ed., 1994, 96). A significant portion of this unemployment is caused by immigrants who take away their jobs.

A major factor in this economic issue is the hiring of aliens by American employers. If job opportunities were not available for illegal immigrants, their motivation to come here would decrease. However, due to their limited job skills, they are often selected for employment as they are willing to accept low wages. Greed motivates certain business individuals who may even engage in unlawful actions solely to cut costs. Furthermore, many undocumented immigrants in our nation depend on federal aid and receive financial support without contributing through taxes.

The provided government assistance, such as welfare, Medicaid, education expenses, and other funds, raises concerns about the provision of free money. It specifically addresses the issue where diligent taxpayers bear the burden of funding benefits for immigrants who lack legal rights in the country. The head of the House Ways and Means committee in Texas, Bill Archer, has emphasized that individuals should not anticipate receiving benefits at the expense of American taxpayers if they are ineligible. This implies an unfair scenario where immigrants receive something without contributing their

hard-earned tax dollars while Americans receive nothing in return. Additionally, it is noted that immigrants pay significantly less in taxes compared to the social benefits they obtain.

Immigration's approximate national costs, which include unemployment funds for U.S. workers displaced by immigrants, exceeded tax payments by $42.5 billion in 1992 (Leone 8). Perhaps if we didn't bear the financial burden of these immigrants, our deficit wouldn't be as immense. Once more, the dire problem currently faced by the country stems from illegal immigration. It is merely the cause, and the consequence is shocking.

Wyatt 4 Another concern about immigrants in the United States is their influence on education. Undocumented immigrants depend on publicly-funded schools to educate their children solely because they were born here. Although I recognize that the constitution guarantees free public education for American citizens, a restriction should be implemented. These children should not have been born in the United States since their parents were not intended to be here originally. It is physically unfeasible to give birth to a child in Mexico while simultaneously being present in the United States.

Consequently, illegal immigrants are compelled to unlawfully enter the country. The offspring of these individuals, who lack proper documentation, attend schools funded by taxes (without their parents contributing) and openly demonstrate against their children being educated in a non-native language. It is important to mention that English is the officially recognized language in this nation, and those desiring to reside here must attain fluency in English or depart. Additionally, educating the children of undocumented immigrants incurs exorbitant costs.

According to Wilson (26), California devotes around $1.7 billion towards educating undocumented immigrants. If we were to repurpose this

funding, every student across the country could be provided with a brand new computer (Wilson 26). This would truly be an extraordinary accomplishment, wouldn't you agree? Alongside that, illegal aliens worsen problems of crime and overpopulation in the areas where they reside. They are particularly concentrated in regions along the Mexican border like California and Texas, where they not only increase population density but also raise crime rates (James 27).

According to Morganthau (67), approximately 25 percent of the federal prison population consists of immigrants. Recognizing that immigrants have an impact on crime rates and population growth in their communities is not discriminatory or stereotypical, as there is evidence to support this assertion. It is plausible that if immigrants entered the country legally, they might be less likely to engage in criminal activities since they would not have resorted to illegal means for entry. Former U.S. Attorney General William P. stressed these points.

Barr highlights the positive impact of immigration on our nation, but acknowledges that there are individuals who break our laws and sovereignty by entering illegally. He proposes government action to address this problem. The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 was a successful effort to restrict illegal immigration. This legislation introduced background checks for potential employees, imposed penalties like fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment for employers who hire unauthorized immigrants, and included additional smaller provisions. To tackle today's immigration issues, we must establish a law akin to the IRCA but adapted to address contemporary concerns.

We must also take physical measures to keep them out. The army is responsible for safeguarding the American borders. We should recall the soldiers deployed in

foreign countries so that they can be utilized for matters that directly impact us, such as combating illegal immigration. The IRCA proved highly successful upon its initial enactment in 1986.

The reason for its decreased effectiveness is its outdated nature, causing people to forget about and ignore it. Government officials themselves have neglected enforcement of the bill, leading to its forgotten status. Initially after the IRCA became a federal law, there was a significant decline in the number of people apprehended at the U.S.-Mexican border, which is a hotspot for illegal immigration, from 1986 to 1989 (Griffin 1992). Furthermore, illegal immigration overall decreased by approximately 30%, resulting in significant cost savings for our country (Daniel 28). Considering the strength of America's economy, it can sustain itself without relying on a significant number of immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented. A prime example is Japan.

Their economy has experienced significant growth leading to national wealth, and they have minimal immigration with no instances of illegal immigration (Morganthau, May 8,1995, 68). Additionally, the deportation of all illegal immigrants in America would not negatively impact the job market. The 7.6% of unemployed Americans would eagerly take up the vacant positions, compelling employers to offer fair wages that would entice Americans to work for them (Leone, ed., 1994, 96).

Wyatt 7 argues that there is nothing wrong with compelling people to be generous. Multiple authorities share this view and believe that updating and passing new laws would significantly alleviate issues related to illegal immigration. The General Accounting Office officials stated that industries previously employing a high number of unauthorized workers might be compelled to increase wages to attract unemployed individuals, known

as the reservation level (Stein, 1990, 185). Likewise, Kathleen Lee, an author focusing on economic dilemmas in our country, asserts that the IRCA was the most extensive attempt to reform immigration in two decades, resulting in a decrease in the influx of illegal immigrants.

If enforcement is conducted, the rates could considerably decrease once again (Lee, 1996, 70). Additionally, numerous politicians have integrated promises to enforce laws that restrict immigration in their campaign platforms. This includes Pat Buchanan, a Republican presidential candidate this year (Buchanan, 1995, 32). It is now clear that illegal immigration significantly impacts the United States. To prevent the situation from worsening and without intervention, the problem will only become more difficult to manage. The implementation of legislation to reduce or eliminate illegal immigration can provide a solution to the current economic dilemma we face.

The United States is facing a pressing issue of illegal immigration that requires prompt attention. This problem can be solved by either enforcing current laws or implementing new ones. By doing so, the nation can effectively tackle illegal immigration and avoid its adverse consequences. Presently, unauthorized individuals entering the country illegally pose a considerable challenge for the United States, making it imperative to take immediate action in order to protect our society from potential harm.