Illegal immigration in the United States is a controversial issue that has divided Americans into two categories; one group agrees that illegal immigration has enhanced economic growth (Piyapromdee 1). The opponents argue that illegal immigrants pose a social and economic burden to law-abiding, tax-paying citizens. The benefits of illegal immigration include improved money flow, increased tax income, and expansion of a low-cost labor pool (Piyapromdee 1).
This category ascertains that unlawful immigrants have added value to the American dream by ensuring motivation consistency and taking jobs the Americans cannot perform. The opponents argue that illegal immigrants break the law by entering the country without proper documentations. as a result, the government should not guarantee their citizenship and authorization to social services (Ospina 187). Therefore, they should be deported back to their origins, and those overstaying their visas should be subjected to laws and regulations about their act.
The path to citizenship, also called amnesty, requires illegal immigrants to become US citizens through a process that takes extra waiting time, additional costs for background checks, and paying taxes (Atkinson et al. 162). As a result, they would have access to social security, unemployment insurance, and vote. These people would not be subject to deportation whenever they are involved in crimes and would be authorized to work with the ability to move in and out of the United States (Atkinson et al. 165).
However, the part to citizenship could pose disadvantages to the United States, including increased population pressure on social infrastructures, over-population leading to increased housing costs, minimized real wages for low-skilled natives, and impact the real GDP (Ospina 189). The act could also increase crimes and reduce the chances for other people who would like to live in the US. Therefore, illegal immigration affects the US positively and negatively, and incorporating the best strategies to solve the issue could improve the country’s economy and diversity.
Work cited
Atkinson, Jeanne M., and Tom K. Wong. “The Case for a National Legalization Program without Legislation or Executive Action: Results from Screening for Immigration Legal Options.” Journal on Migration and Human Security 6.2 (2018): 161-166.
Ospina, Gloria Inés. “The Illegal Migration Flows to The United States of America.” UNISCI Journal, vol 17, no. 50, 2019, pp. 169-189.
Piyapromdee, Suphanit. “The Impact of Immigration on Wages, Internal Migration, And Welfare.” The Review of Economic Studies, vol 88, no. 1, 2020, pp. 406-453.