Illegal immigration is one of the social issues that is consistently being debated in the United States. The public is often polarized on the issue, some do not consider illegal immigration a genuine concern and others believe it is a danger and threat to the United States and it must be banned and proactively prevented in the future. A great deal of research has been conducted on the topic of illegal immigration and its impact to the United States. There are millions of illegal immigrants residing in the United States and that number does not appear to be reducing. After reviewing the research it becomes abundantly clear that illegal immigration into the United States must be banned and enforced because clearly burdens the economy of the country, it allows for criminal elements and even terrorist threats to illegal access the nation and, finally, it threatens American culture in a number of ways.
It is true that America is a land built by immigrants. Just about anyone living in the United States today is the descendent of someone who originated from another nation at some point in the country’s history (Becerra, Androff, Ayon and Castillo 111-112). In order to understand illegal immigration it is necessary to distinguished between what constitutes normal flow of legal immigration and the kind of illegal immigration issues modern America is facing today. No one favors a complete shutdown of the American border to the many immigrants that move to this country legally and become legal citizens. That is an entirely differently situation that occurs with illegal immigration, which is why illegal immigration should be banned.
Many people have many reasons that encourage them to believe that American should ban illegal immigration and enact much stronger punishments and stricter border control to states most effected by illegal immigration, like the western United States (Tallmeister 1). However, there are three specific reasons that seem to be at the top of the list regarding the need for illegal immigration reforms and a desired ban on such illegal acts.
Burden on the Economy: One of the most common arguments made against illegal immigration regards how the American economy is effected and how it harms individual American taxpayers. Undocumented immigrants do not exist on paper in the United States so the monies they earn are not taxed, while American citizens must claim their incomes and file taxes. They, also, take the jobs that Americans need, which places a burden on American citizens (Anti-Defamation League 1). America has standards and requirements regarding American employment. Americans are entitled to minimum wage and safe working conditions. Undocumented immigrants will work for less money and less healthful working conditions. Many Americans argue that undocumented immigrants are able to access state and federal aid for housing, food and medical care that is less costly than what is expected from American citizens. This means that American taxpayers are “footing the bill,” so to speak. they may receive state and federal aid under false pretenses, receiving aid they are not legally entitled to. When undocumented immigrants commit crimes, other than just their illegal status, many ends up serving their time in an American prison, which again falls of the American taxpayers to absorb that economic loss (Becerra, Androff, Ayon and Castillo 111-112)
Crime and Terrorism: Ever since 9/11 there has been a greater focus on American security and how to keep the American people safe from national crime and international terrorism that cross into America’s borders. Both the perspectives exist at a community level, as well as the federal. That being said the lack of enforcement in regard to illegal immigration is, in the eyes of many Americans, is allowing criminals and terrorists an easier means to cross the border (Anti-Defamation League 1). This does not mean that every immigrant who cross the border illegally is a criminal or has the intention of committing any criminal acts. But, however, the small the percentage of criminal immigrants may be, it is still placing Americans in danger by allowing criminals to exists in the United States illegally. For many Americans there is a lack of logic and common sense about allowing anyone who does not enter the country legally should be allowed to stay. When they do commit crimes in the United States there is little means to identify them, find them and actually hold them accountable for their crime. There is huge drug cartel activity in Mexico and the lacks control of American borders is allowing for the trafficking of drugs, weapons and even human beings in some cases. Again, since, 9/11 American safety and security has been paramount. There have continued to be both terrorist attacks by people affiliated with extremist terrorist organizations, like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, on American soil. These terrorist from across the ocean see how easily it is to enter the United States via the western states bordering Mexico, where much of the illegal immigration stems from (Tallmeister 1). So it is not criminals from Mexico sneaking across the border that is the only problem, it is the terrorists operatives who take advantage of the opportunity, which speaks to the need to ban illegal immigration and make America safer over all.
Threat to American Culture: There are many American who feel that by allowing so many undocumented immigrants to exist unchecked with the United States borders are having a negative impact on American culture (Ghate 1). Again, it is true that American was founded by immigrants, but that was as era when people wanted to be an “American.’ They wanted to adopt the language and culture of the nation. Undocumented immigrants today do not feel the same. In the eyes of many Americans undocumented immigrants today come to America for the ability to earn money untaxed, to avoid laws and social ideology and simply live as they lived in their country of origin (Becerra, Androff, Ayon and Castillo 111-112). We see this behavior in protestors of the current Presidential campaigns, where undocumented immigrants waving Mexican flags, but burning the American flag. We see undocumented immigrants who are not willing to learn the language of the United States. If something is offensive to them America is expected to compromise their policies, ideologies and cultural norms to accommodate people who are not here under legal means and have no real loyalty to this country where they are currently living. If America continues to accommodate undocumented immigrants, then American culture will cease to be; at least as it has been known for generations (Ghate 1).
In order to be fair, there are many people who do not believe that illegal immigrants pose as much of a threat that is often presented. They argue that much of the statistics and arguments against illegal immigration are based on myths and propaganda to influence the American people and their impression of undocumented immigrants. They claim that the idea of the economically burdensome undocumented immigrants is not accurate. They argue that undocumented immigrants found the economy of American today and most of the jobs they take are jobs that most American citizens are unable or unwilling to do (Anti-Defamation League 1). They argue that crime committed by undocumented immigrants can never be confirmed because the number of criminal elements so much lower than huge number of immigrants that come to the United States to seek nothing more or less than a better life. Arguments regarding the loss of “American Culture,” are tricky, to say the least, because they argue there is no specific definition of American culture. American culture is still a “melting pot” of different influences from all across the world including the nations that most of the illegal immigration stems from. These are interesting perspectives, but they still disregard the simple reality that illegal immigration is illegal and therefore a crime. Granted it is not the type of crime that deems jail time, but simply a prompt return to wherever they are coming from.
America has a legal immigration progress that exists for a reason. People who wish to live and become an American then all they have to do is commit to that legal process. To do otherwise is illegal. America has a right to complain when people from other countries have the freedom to avoid taxes and avoid legal accountability for their actions when American citizen cannot do either of those things, because it is illegal in the United States to avoid taxes and commit crimes (Becerra, Androff, Ayon and Castillo 112-113). America is becoming a direct tunnel for drug traffickers, illegal weapons trade, as well as, other forms of smuggling. It allows criminals who are avoiding legal ramifications in their country of origin and are using the United States as a place to hide and avoid the consequences of whatever crime they committed. American citizens should not have to fear such individuals being free in the United States. America has a right to protect its borders from the possibility of terrorism or terrorists from having access to and harming the people, especially in the present era when America is being targeted by both domestic and international terrorism organizations (Tallmeister 1). Finally, American culture is a mixture of many ethnicities, races and ideologies from all across the globe, but that does not mean that the United States must live “without borders.” Part of being in America is supporting the nation and respecting its flags, language and political and social norms; however, that is not what is happening with many of the undocumented immigrants living in the United States today (Ghate 1).
In the end, America is strong and diverse nation and that would not have happened without the contributions of millions of immigrants who came to this country long ago. Anyone can become an American, but it is not acceptable to bypass legality in order to benefit from living in America, but have no real loyalty to the country they have entered illegally. Countries all across the world have different laws regarding travel and immigration to their nations, there is no reason that America is not entitle to the same rights to protect its borders and people and prevent illegal travel and residency in the United States. Legal immigration can empower the nation and enrich the culture, but illegal immigration weakens it and places the American people at a great disadvantage. Illegal immigration is burdening the American people economically, it is effecting the safety of American people from criminal and terrorist threats and it is allowing for disrespect and diminishment of American culture. Banning illegal immigration is necessary.
WORK CITED
Becerra,David. Androff, David, K., Ayon, Cecilia and Castillo, Jason T. "Fear vs. Facts:
Examining the Economic Impact of Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S." Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare.39.4 (2012): 111-137. Print.
Ghate, Amit. “Does Immigration Actually Threaten American Culture?” Forbes Magazine.
(2012):1. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/11/12/does-immigration-actually-threaten-american-culture/#756c367d5ca5>.
Tallmeister, Julia. “Is Immigration a Threat to Security?” E-International Relations. (2013): 1.
Web. < http://www.e-ir.info/2013/08/24/is-immigration-a-threat-to-security/>.
Anti-Defamation League. “Myths and Facts About Immigrants and Immigration.” Anti-
Defamation League. (2016): 1. Web. < http://www.adl.org/civil-rights/immigration/c/immigration-myths-and-facts.html>.
