Social issue in the US: illegal immigrants Essay Example
Social issue in the US: illegal immigrants Essay Example

Social issue in the US: illegal immigrants Essay Example

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  • Pages: 6 (1418 words)
  • Published: May 13, 2017
  • Type: Case Study
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CNN's Terry Frieden reports that the Immigration and Naturalization Service has observed a significant increase in unauthorized entries into the United States, resulting in an estimated 7 million individuals living illegally in the country. The majority of these individuals are reportedly from Mexico.

According to the Justice Department's spokesperson, Jorge Martinez, the number of unlawful immigrants increased from approximately 5.8 million to around 7 million individuals between October 1996 and January 2000. This resulted in an average annual growth of over 300,000 people with Mexican immigrants representing almost 70% of this group compared to less than 60% prior. The largest number of undocumented residents resides in California, but Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina have experienced significant expansion rates. These latest statistics are considered more accurate due to new methods used for tracking trends in entry and exit of illegal residents.

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immigrants due to their lack of a social security number, despite it not being a legislative concern currently. A revised version of the DREAM Act (S-1291) was introduced by the Senate in 2003, proposing that colleges and universities extend in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens residing within their states while awarding legal permanent status to exceptional students who excel through college, military or community service. In 2002, California implemented legislation which granted undocumented immigrants residing within its borders with in-state resident tuition rates. Additionally, the Student Adjustment Act (HR-1918) proposed in 2001 aimed at enabling high-school students who reside illegally to register for college.

In order to qualify for college financial assistance, including Pell Grants, students must exhibit outstanding moral conduct for a period of five years. Fulfilling this prerequisite also grants them immunity from expulsion and permits them to request permanent residency. Nevertheless, in 1996 Proposition 187 intended to allow educational institutions to reject illegal immigrants from public education. Furthermore, the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 forbade states from providing resident-based tuition fees to undocumented individuals. The United States implemented these policies in 1982.

Despite the fact that undocumented immigrant children are entitled to receive free public education, some legislators may block their access to school due to their parents' actions. However, withholding an education from these children could lead to delinquency and exacerbate existing societal issues because they have not been provided with necessary educational resources by the government.

Despite opposition, it is essential to provide illegal immigrant children with the necessary resources and support to improve their situations and opportunities. It is unjust to blame them for their status and subject

them to negative consequences. While many people and groups are dedicated to addressing this issue, there are those who disagree. One example of disagreement is America's inability to fund education for these children within their state. However, in 1996, California reportedly spent $2 billion annually on educating 380,000 undocumented immigrant minors.

While lawmakers generally support educating immigrants, providing benefits to undocumented individuals is viewed as unjust towards legal American residents and could encourage further immigration. George Bush's initial campaign did not endorse Prop. 187, which aimed to bar illegal immigrant minors from attending school. He maintained that all children should receive an education regardless of their parents' citizenship status.

In 2006, Hispanic advocates appealed to President Bush to support a bill that advances education for undocumented immigrant children. (Source: http://immigration.about.com/od/ussocialeconomicissues/i/EduIllegalIss.ht) The immigration narrative is often depicted as a brave saga in numerous films and books centering on the pursuit of the American Dream and the adversities encountered by those striving to achieve it. Despite these hurdles, uncountable individuals have doggedly persisted in claiming their portion of the American pie.

While the United States is typically viewed as a haven for people pursuing safety, education, and professional opportunities, certain factions are worried about its laxness towards unlawful immigrants. The California Coalition for Immigration Reform has signaled unease regarding a suggested measure that would allow undocumented individuals to pay in-state tuition fees at California's higher education establishments. This proposition has generated anxiety among those who feel that non-California residents who are lawful citizens or permanent residents should not be obligated to pay out-of-state tuition.

The tendency to make hasty judgments about illegal immigrants is often due to ignorance of their personal

stories and identities. However, there are individuals who have taken huge risks in escaping poverty, hunger, and abuse with the hope of becoming doctors in America. Some bureaucratic obstacles may prevent them from obtaining legal status despite having lived in California for two years. The question arises whether it is justifiable to deny these individuals an education or if they should be allowed to stay as long as they can afford it. The article found at http://immigration.about.com/library/weekly/aa071699.htm?terms=california+education+reform examines this issue while also addressing the recent growth in enrollment seen across various school districts throughout the United States.

Observers report that numerous school districts are facing resource strain due to enrollment increases. While some attribute this to the "baby boom echo," or children of baby boomers entering schools, CPS data indicates that immigration policy is responsible for significant growth in enrollment. Although less than one-third of these students are immigrants themselves, their attendance in public schools is directly linked to their parents' entry into the country. The higher percentage of school-age children with immigrant backgrounds can be attributed to a larger proportion of women in their childbearing years being immigrants and immigrants having more children than natives.

According to http://www.cis.org/articles/2002/back1302.html, nearly one-fifth (19.3%) of pre-school children have mothers who are immigrants, indicating that the influence of immigration on public schools is likely to increase. Moreover, despite being a divisive issue nationwide, immigration remains an important matter.

The United States faces a significant obstacle with immigration, as approximately 5 million new immigrants enter the country each year. Post-1970 immigrants and their U.S.-born offspring encounter scarcity, affecting about half of them, and one-third do not have adequate health insurance.

This influx places strain on schools, healthcare systems, and infrastructure. Furthermore, no other nation has ever tried to incorporate more than 33 million newcomers into its population.

Understanding the importance of immigration in America is crucial, irrespective of personal viewpoints. The influence of immigration can be altered by modifying criteria for selection, adjusting the number of legal immigrants permitted into the country, and dedicating resources to decrease illegal immigration. This information intends to enhance comprehension for policy deliberations on future immigration policies. If current policies remain unaltered, approximately 15 million more legal and illegal immigrants are expected to settle in the United States during this decade alone. Hence, it is imperative that existing trends are modified to avert any further increase in the impact of immigration.

The website cis.org suggests addressing the costs of illegal immigration through implementing a Value Added Tax (VAT) or a national/state-based sales tax. Such taxes would apply to all products and services, making it harder for illegal immigrants to avoid responsibility for expenses passed on to others. Although everyone must pay the tax, law-abiding residents could recoup some of these expenses with reduced income tax rates if they file returns and pay their taxes diligently.

Credits could counter taxes for those with low incomes, and upper-income earners could use the taxes to justify decreased income tax rates. Despite my belief that the government mishandles such collected taxes and diverts funds to favored programs, retaining the current situation would lead to bankruptcy for our nation and states. While a VAT or national sales tax may not be a new idea, conservatives often overlook it due to its classification as a tax. However, I

view it as a practical option for tax policy to eliminate the "cash compensation" loophole and ultimately discourage illegal immigration.

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