In the United States, the issue of illegal immigration is of great concern as it is affecting several institutions of the country. The immigration that is taking place on illegal grounds has exerted a negative influence in the economy. The population of illegal immigrants has considerably increased in the United States, which has exerted financial pressure and burden on the country because more resources are required in order to satisfy the needs and wants of the residents (Grandrath, 1996). The rise in population is increasing unemployment, which in turn is reducing the wages of employed individuals. The number of illegal immigrants is higher in Utah, Georgia, Indiana, Alabama, Arizona, and South Carolina. Many controversies are being arising in these states such as violation of the immigration law as imposed by Federal government due to which the local and the state governments are becoming increasingly active in controlling the illegal immigrations (Chavez & Doris, 2009).
The American federalist system that is influenced by the debate of immigration is opening many novel chapters that are emphasizing continuously on redefining the federalism for determining the administrative and legislative power that is residing in the immigration policy. The consequences of the federal immigration policy are borne largely by the local as well as state governments. It is evident from the last decade that the increase in the federalism of immigration has been creating mess of the state, federal and local laws relating to immigration that are not agreed on the means and aims of the country’s immigration policy. All these are paving the way towards intergovernmental conflicts in the area of immigration, such as there is a gap prevailing in the immigration policy because the state, local and the federal policy makers argue over the aims and objectives of the immigration policy (Hero & Preuhs, 2007). So, the state and the local governments have to suffer in the form of a mandate that is unfunded, which is further promoting immigrant federalism created by local governments and the active state that are looking forward to impose the change.
References
Grandrath, Lora l. (1996). Illegal Immigrants and Public Education: Is There a Right to the 3 R's? Symposium on The New Judicial Federalism: A New Generation, 30(2), 749-809
Chavez, Jorge M., and Doris, Marie Provine. (2009). Race and the Response of State Legislatures to Unauthorized Immigrants. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science,623 (1), 78-92.
Hero, Rodney and Preuhs, Robert R. (2007). Immigration and the Evolving American Welfare State: Examining Policies in the U.S. States, American Journal of Political Science, 51(3)498-517
