Illegal Aliens

Illegal immigration has been, and is a national problem in the U.S.A.  Millions and billions of taxpayer’s dollars have been spent as a result of illegal immigration.  For taxpayer’s money to be saved, and for the benefit of many Americans, the crime of illegal immigration needs to be stopped.  It is estimated that illegal immigration in the state of California costs the average household $1,183 a year.  To ensure enough votes to be elected, presidential candidates need to promise the American public that they will address the very important issue of illegal immigration.

There have always been immigrants who lived in America illegally.  In the past twenty to twenty five years, illegal immigration has skyrocketed.  There are estimates from the United States Government Accountability Office that between 400,000 and 700,000 illegal immigrants have been entering the United States each year since 1992 (“Illegal Immigration” par. 3).  Right now, there are probably over eleven million illegal immigrants in the United States.  About 57% of this population comes from Mexico, 24% from Central America and South America, 9% from Asia, 6% from Europe and 4% from other countries (“Illegal Immigration” par. 2).

Immigrants can violate the laws of immigration in three ways.  The U.S. code, “Improper Entry by Alien,” Title 8, Chapter 12, Subchapter II, Part VIII, § 1325 states that “Any alien who enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers or eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers or attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both” (Cornell University Law School par. 1).  This means that if an immigrant enters the U.S. without inspection or authorization, or if he stays beyond his visa expiration date, or if he fakes his documents, he has committed a crime.    

There are two main causes for illegal immigration.  Many employers of manual labor companies or companies in which much manual labor is required, frequently hire illegal immigrants.  The “undocumented workers” come into America looking for whatever job they can get.  Employers, who are looking to save money, hire them because there is no minimal wage that they have to pay them.  These employers will end up paying more in taxes but they do not think about that.  Another cause is the motivation for a better life for themselves and for their children.  According to the Fourteenth Amendment as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court, any child born in the U.S. is a United States Citizen regardless of the citizenship and legal status of the parents (14^th. Amendment to the U.S. Constitution par. 1).  This makes the child eligible for public services such as education.