Illegal Immigration When A Foreigner

illegal Immigrationwhen A Foreig

When a foreign national enters the U.S unlawfully or overstays the time allotted on a visa, he/she is then termed as an illegal immigrant. Unlawful immigration directly or indirectly impacts millions of people living in the United States. Undocumented immigration is a controversial topic involving health care, living standards, border laws, and international relations. In this essay, I will argue that illegal immigration should not be supported and encouraged, as it creates an imbalance in the labor market, overburdens the financial budget of the government, increases criminal activities, and creates a problem for legal migration.

Undocumented immigrants often cross the U.S-Mexico border primarily motivated by the desire to improve their families' lives through better economic opportunities. A survey highlighted that many immigrants choose to risk dangerous border crossings despite threats from border patrol and abandonment by guides, driven by the hope of a better livelihood for their loved ones (DeLuca et al., 2010). However, this perception is often misleading. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing revealed that 90 illegal immigrants experienced high levels of psychological distress due to their immigration status, hunger, and financial constraints, and many required urgent healthcare (Myhrvold & Cvancarova Stømsø, 2017). Additionally, exploited by unscrupulous employers, undocumented immigrants frequently work for lower wages, often in physically demanding jobs.

Illegal immigrants pose significant challenges to the U.S. labor market by disrupting the supply of human capital, especially in blue-collar sectors like agriculture and construction. As of 2012, over 8 million illegal immigrants were employed or seeking employment, contributing to an excess demand for physically intensive jobs. Employer exploitation of undocumented workers results in suppressed wages, which harms low-skilled American workers, particularly marginalized groups such as Blacks and Hispanics, who are hit hardest by wage depression (Borjas, 2003). This drives economic inequality and threatens the livelihoods of vulnerable populations.

The process to obtain legal permanent residency or citizenship in the U.S. is lengthy, complicated, and costly. Legal immigrants face waiting periods of between one to eight years, followed by an additional three to five years for citizenship, totaling up to 15 years under some circumstances (Lundstrom, 2013). Such delays are exacerbated for undocumented immigrants, who often bypass official channels, making it impossible for authorities to verify their backgrounds or criminal records. Consequently, individuals with criminal records from their native countries could enter or remain in the U.S. undetected, escalating safety risks for the population. According to the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), the number of criminal aliens in federal prisons in 2010 numbered around 55,000, with an additional 296,000 in state and local facilities in 2009. The costs associated with incarcerating these individuals ranged from $1.5 to $1.6 billion annually, burdening public coffers (GAO, 2011). This underscores the need for stringent border enforcement and immigration policies that prioritize national security and public safety.

Legalization of illegal immigrants is often viewed as a solution; however, history shows otherwise. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which granted amnesty to 2.6 million undocumented immigrants, did not halt illegal migration—in fact, numbers have steadily increased, reaching approximately 11.5 million by 2012 (Baker & Rytina, 2013). Offering legal status without addressing the root causes of illegal migration encourages further unauthorized crossings, diminishing the integrity of immigration laws. Moreover, granting amnesty could divert resources from processing legal immigrants, delaying lawful admissions and creating backlog issues. It could also reduce the number of visas issued for skilled workers under categories such as H-1B, impairing America's economic growth by limiting access to global talent (Gordon, 2017).

To combat illegal immigration, increasing the number of low-skilled work visas may be more effective than offering pathways to citizenship for undocumented migrants. Such measures would provide legal avenues for employment without encouraging illegal crossings, aligning with the primary motivation of migrants—earning a livelihood (Passel & Cohn, 2015). Conversely, laws like the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) restrict immigration avenues for those with family ties or marriage to U.S. citizens, complicating reunification efforts and often separating families (Lundstrom, 2013). While enforcement is crucial, policy reforms should strike a balance by supporting lawful family reunifications and reducing the incentives for illegal entry.

In conclusion, illegal immigration presents multifaceted challenges—economic, security-related, and social—that cannot be ignored. The risks associated with border crossing, coupled with the financial and safety burdens on the country, necessitate strict immigration enforcement and policy reforms aimed at legal pathways for immigrants. Addressing illegal immigration requires a comprehensive approach that emphasizes border security, fair and efficient legal immigration processes, and targeted visa programs that meet labor market demands. Ensuring the rule of law and protecting American citizens while respecting human rights is essential for sustainable and equitable immigration policies.

References

• Borjas, G. J. (2003). The labor demand curve is downward sloping: Reexamining the impact of immigration on the labor market. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 118(4), 1335–1374.
• Baker, B., & Rytina, N. (2013). Estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population residing in the United States: January 2012. Office of Immigration Statistics. U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
• DeLuca, L., McEwen, M., & Keim, S. (2010). United States–Mexico border crossing: Experiences and risk perceptions of undocumented male immigrants. Journal of Immigrant & Minority Health, 12(1), 117–127.
• Gordon, J. (2017). Regulating the human supply chain. Iowa Law Review, 102(2), 445–473.
• Lundstrom, K. (2013). The unintended effects of the three- and ten-year unlawful presence bars. Law & Contemporary Problems, 76(3/4), 1–31.
• Myhrvold, T., & Cvancarova Stømsø, M. (2017). The mental healthcare needs of undocumented migrants: An exploratory analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 26(5/6), 825–835.
• Passel, J. S., & Cohn, D. (2015). Share of unauthorized immigrant workers in production, construction jobs falls since 2007. Pew Research Center.
• United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). (2011). Criminal alien statistics. GAO-11-90.