Rollinger 1 Raymond Rollinger Bergquist English 102 02 May 2014 Enforcing Laws Against Illegal Immigration Illegal aliens

are the source behind many problems in America. Lack of law enforcement allows illegal immigrants to live and work in the U.S. illegally. Over time the problems become larger and put strain on the economy. Individuals who want to find jobs have a hard time because they are competing with illegal immigrants. The country is also crowded with many children of illegal immigrants in hospitals and schools. Immigrants crossing the borders illegally ridicule the law. For example, billions of dollars are spent funding the welfare of illegal immigrants, and they battle for jobs with native-born citizens. It is difficult for native-born citizens to obtain or maintain jobs when illegal immigrants are pursuing the same jobs. Also, children of illegal immigrants cost taxpayers plenty of money when born and while attending school inside the United States. Meanwhile, hospital bills rack up and school costs are covered by taxpayer money because the illegal immigrants are rarely able to cover the checks. As illegal immigrants enter the country, they are also breaking the law. No matter what the reason is for entry, the law must not be compromised. Laws against illegal immigration should be strictly enforced. To begin with, illegal immigrants are seen as more valuable to businesses; thus, preventing native-born citizens from obtaining jobs. Businesses will hire illegal immigrants even if they are low skilled compared to their legal counterparts. Their illegal status allows companies to underpay them without the risk of being sued. This loophole has helped to prevent millions of workers from acquiring any sort of job. If laws were more strictly enforced, many jobs could

Rollinger 2 open up for those who need them more. Illegal immigrants compete with low-skill workers for jobs and create chaos within the labor force. Many illegal immigrants take jobs from native lowskill workers because of their eligibility to receive lower wages (Ruark and Graham 2). Legal low-skill workers find it harder than ever to find and maintain decent paying jobs. In their article Immigration Is Increasing Poverty in the United States Ruark and Graham determine reducing low-skill immigration, especially illegal immigration, would tighten the labor market and force employers to increase wages and improve working conditions (1). If laws against illegal immigration were better enforced along the borders, many deserving citizens could have jobs. The government has consistently failed to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the borders. The exact reason for why the federal government has been so lenient with illegal immigrants is unknown. Many theories are in place but no one knows for sure. Regardless of why, the rest of the country is still suffering from the effects of illegal immigrants. According to Ruark and Graham, immigration policy and enforcement are two of the most important determinants of Americas labor supply (1). Not only is the state and federal government not enforcing laws against illegal immigration, they are also failing to take legal action against the businesses that hire illegal immigrants. Many will argue illegal immigrants are taking jobs that natural born workers are not willing to do anyway. The fact of the matter is immigrants and natives compete in the exact same industries. By mid 2010, nearly 7.1 million native workers with a high school diploma or less were unemployed (1). Low-skilled illegal immigrants are more than likely to undersell their labor to employers preventing the opportunity for legal citizens to snag a job. The employers would make the most economically sound decision to employ illegal immigrants as opposed to natural born citizens. The real problem caused by illegal immigration is hiring the illegal immigrants. Businesses are making the decision to better

Rollinger 3 the financial status of the company, but at the expense of American citizens. This is why laws against illegal immigration should be strictly enforced and adhered. The second reason surrounding the desire to enforce immigration laws pertains to children. Illegal immigrants attempt to give naturalization to their children by giving birth illegally in the U.S. As these children grow, life can be rough as the parents may struggle to maintain their own presence in the country. Given that the government is correctly enforcing the law, children will be separated from their parents. When separation from family occurs, children of these illegal immigrants are sent to foster homes (Valbrun 4). In most cases, children are put up for adoption after the parental rights are removed from the parents. In the article Children of Illegal Immigrants Struggle When Parents Are Deported Valbrun mentions, children lose the opportunity to ever see their parents again when a juvenile dependency court terminates parental right (4). These children are a hindrance on the flow of the economy and the lives of U.S. citizens. The cost to find support for children of illegal immigrants is rising with each illegal family. When these children are detained in foster care, there is a strain put on the country. The children should be reunited with their illegal parents rather than putting them up for adoption (4). It is bad enough that illegal immigrants are making it difficult for native-born citizens to find jobs. The biggest issue with giving children back to their illegal parents is that there is no way to communicate. Their illegal status makes it difficult to get in touch while the children are in foster homes and while the parents are jailed. Valbrun also discusses jailed or deported parents are prevented from reuniting with their children, and parents are held in immigration detention centersunable to attend hearings in family court (4). This type of issue plagues many illegal immigrants. They should have stayed in their home country for their own familys sake. Illegal immigrants cross our borders for more opportunity, but are often held back by other laws. If laws

Rollinger 4 against illegal immigration were to be strictly enforced, illegal immigrants would not have to deal with separation from their children. The third reason for why action against illegal immigration should be taken is simple. The illegal immigrants who are crossing the borders are breaking the law. Aside from burdening the citizens of the United States, illegal immigrants are primarily breaking immigration laws. Once they are in the country, many illegal immigrants have a tendency to criminalize towns. For example, the Mexican drug cartel for the longest time has troubled the country with murders, human trafficking and drug dealing. Lower level crimes would include, burglary, mugging, or domestic violence. No matter what the degree of the crime is, they should not be occurring in the U.S. Ideas such as amnesty are granted to illegal immigrants. Amnesty allows them to live and work in the U.S. and commit the crimes that we deal with. A comprehensive immigration reform legislation by Barack Obama would allow about 8.3 millions illegal immigrants to hold jobs in the U.S. (Jaarda 6). These are jobs that millions of U.S. citizens do not have. If amnesty is to be given, Christopher Jaarda explains consideration of amnestyconstitutes a failure by Congress to live up to its basic responsibilities to the American people which is stated in his article Illegal Immigrants Should Not Be Allowed Amnesty (6). Illegal aliens breaking the law have caused an overpowering amount of burden on the country. Most do not have the authentication to work in the United States. Referring back to a previously mentioned point, since these illegal immigrants are not documented, they have the luxury of taking jobs away from deserving citizens. The businesses that employ illegal immigrants know whom they are employing and how much they are going to pay for labor. Preventative measures should be taken immediately to reduce the crimes illegal immigrants are committing. If illegal immigrants were to be stopped, American business would stop breaking the law as well. The urge to make more money causes

Rollinger 5 businesses to illegally employ immigrants. This is a significant reason why laws against illegal immigration should be strictly enforced. Opposing views claim illegal immigrants migrate to the United States with positive aspirations. These aspirations would include, a safer place to inhabit, a good paying job, and a cleaner atmosphere. The American dream is to live in a land of opportunity and to be a part of the perks we are entitled to as U.S. citizens. Illegal immigrants want to provide all of the luxurious entities of the U.S. for their family and children. Sending money back to their home country is a common goal for illegal immigrants as well. While these positive intentions some illegal immigrants might have seem acceptable, illegally migrating is not acceptable. It is fine to have dreams and strong desires, but breaking the U.S. law is not the way to acquire American benefits. The process to legally obtain citizenship is difficult and long; however, that is no excuse to illegally migrate and burden the economy of the United States. Foreign individuals must not cross the borders and break U.S. laws. The laws against illegal immigration must be strictly enforced. The problems illegal immigrants have caused in the U.S. have put a massive strain on the economy and citizens of the country. The battle they have begun with native citizens for jobs has nearly become a war. Many citizens struggle to find work and find themselves unemployed. The children of illegal immigrants suffer dissociation from their parents. Not only is it sad for the families who lose touch, but also sad for the taxpayers whose money goes to funding the welfare and schooling for children of illegal immigrants. The simple act of illegally crossing the borders is a crime committed by illegal aliens. This crime is in addition to crimes they may commit once on American soil. Law against illegal immigration should be strictly enforced.