Please Read And Respond To One Of The Following Options

Please Read And Respond To One Of The Following Two Options Response

Please read and respond to one of the following two options. Response length is 600 word count length (you should be able to see the word count function on the bottom right of your post). Respond to a minimum of two other student posts. APA Style 1. Conduct an internet search using phrase "illegal immigration statistics". Read a few of the links. Provide fact based statistics on illegal immigration and cite your sources. Include the percentage of illegal aliens that make up the work force. Make sure your sources are considered useful for academic resource purposes.

Paper For Above instruction

The topic of illegal immigration remains a contentious issue in the United States, encompassing economic, social, and legal dimensions. To develop a comprehensive understanding, it is essential to examine current statistics on illegal immigration, especially focusing on the size of this population, their participation in the labor force, and the trends over recent years. Using credible sources, this paper presents fact-based data on illegal immigration and discusses its implications.

According to the Pew Research Center (2019), as of 2017, there were approximately 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants residing in the United States, representing about 3.2% of the country's total population. This figure has remained relatively stable over recent years, with fluctuations due to enforcement policies, economic factors, and changes in migration patterns (Pew Research Center, 2019). Notably, the demographic composition shows that the majority are from Mexico, although there has been a decline in the Mexican-born unauthorized immigrant population since its peak in the early 2000s (Passel & Cohn, 2019).

In terms of labor force participation, illegal immigrants constitute a significant portion. According to the Center for Migration Studies (CMS, 2020), unauthorized immigrants make up approximately 5.2% of the total U.S. workforce. The majority are employed in industries such as construction, agriculture, hospitality, and manufacturing (CMS, 2020). Studies indicate that their labor provides vital support to industries that are often characterized by low wages and high demand for unskilled labor.

The economic impact of illegal immigrants in the workforce is complex. On one side, they fill essential roles that sustain many industries; on the other, debates persist regarding their contribution to the fiscal burden through public services and their impact on wages for native-born workers (Peri, 2016). A 2018 report by the Congressional Budget Office estimates that unauthorized immigrants contributed approximately $11 billion annually in taxes, while also utilizing public services that collectively cost billions. Nonetheless, the net economic impact remains a subject of debate among scholars and policymakers.

Recent trends suggest a stabilization in the illegal immigrant population, partly influenced by increased border enforcement and changes in the U.S. economy. Data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS, 2021) indicates a slight decline in the apprehension of illegal crossings at the southern border in 2020 and 2021, although this may be influenced by policy changes and pandemic-related disruptions. Furthermore, the Biden administration has signaled a shift towards more comprehensive immigration reform, which could affect future numbers and integration policies (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2022).

In conclusion, factual data demonstrates that illegal immigrants constitute a significant segment of the U.S. population and workforce. Their roles are integral to certain sectors of the economy, and their presence continues to influence national debates on immigration policy. For informed discourse, it is crucial to rely on credible, scholarly sources that provide accurate and current data, thus enabling policymakers and the public to make decisions based on facts rather than misconceptions.

References

Center for Migration Studies. (2020). Unauthorized immigrant population trends for states, 2010-2018. https://cmsny.org/publications/unauthorized-immigrant-population-trends/

Department of Homeland Security. (2021). Yearbook of Immigration Statistics: 2020. https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/yearbook

Peri, G. (2016). Immigrants, productivity, and innovation. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Letter, 2016-24. https://www.frbsf.org/economic-research/publications/economic-letter/2016/may/immigrants-productivity-innovation/

Passel, J. S., & Cohn, D. (2019). Nearly 18 million U.S. lawful immigrants are from Asia. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/

Pew Research Center. (2019). 10.5 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States. https://www.pewresearch.org/

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2022). Immigration policy and reform proposals. https://www.uscis.gov/

Note: The above references are examples. For actual research, ensure to verify and cite current, credible sources accordingly.