Immigration Reform Legal Or Illegal - 1520 Words

Immigration Reform: Legal or Illegal Vigorous debates about immigration policy have been part of U.S. history since the first settlers began arriving from Europe (Novas, 1994; Kessler, 2001; Reichman, 2006). Those who favor more stringent restrictions on entry to the country, and greater penalties for violating those restrictions, argue that it is necessary for the safety and economic security of our nation and to preserve jobs for U.S. born workers (Camarota, 2011). Those who favor more leniency, and even amnesty for those in the U.S. without legal documentation, argue that the U.S. should maintain its standing as a nation of immigrants where everyone is welcome and where differences add value to the economy and our quality of life (National Council of La Raza, 2008). In today s heated debates, immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America are most often at the center of the controversy (Camarota, 2011; National Council of La Raza, 2008) as sixty-two percent (62%) of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. ar e originally from Mexico, and another twelve percent (12%) from other Spanish-speaking countries of South and Central America (Hoeffer, Rytina, Baker, 2010). Immigration flows from Mexico surged in the late 1990s. Since then the flow has decreased and grown again. In the report, â€Å"Mexican Immigrants: How many come? How many leave?†(Passel and Cohn, 2009). Mexico is the leading country of origin for U.S. immigrants, accounting for thirty-two percent of allShow MoreRelatedThe Policy, Illegal Immigration Reform And Immigrant Responsibility Act Of 19961486 Words   |  6 PagesDescription The policy, Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, Division C of Pub.L. 104–208, 110 Stat. 3009-546, shortened to IIRAIRA or IIRIRA, was enacted September 30, 1996 (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996). The IIRAIRA is a federal law designed to reduce illegal immigration and to apprehend undocumented aliens (Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996). It vastly changed the immigration laws within the U.SRead MoreImmigration And The United States Essay1368 Words   |  6 Pagescentury, immigration is one of the most controversial and hotly debated topics. Thus, we have an extremely complex immigration process accompanied with extremely complex immigration laws. Consequently, reform to the United States immigration policy is absolutely necessary to continue to help build America into the most diverse nation on the planet. To reform immigration, three topics must be addressed: what to do with illegal immigrants already in the United States, how to stop future illegal immigrationRead MoreImmigration Reform : Illegal Immigration1697 Words   |  7 Pages Back in 2007 there were several concerns over immigration as a whole and exploding proportions of illegal i mmigrants crossing the border in the Arizona area. Arizona attempted to resolve the influx of people across the border by imposing heavy fines on employers hiring illegal immigrants. At that time in Arizona there was a democratic governor Janet Napolitano that continually vetoed the Arizona’s legislature attempt to reduce illegal immigration. In 2009 the state replaced the Democratic governorRead MoreThe Immigration Of Illegal Immigrants1643 Words   |  7 Pagesfreedom which ultimately form the famous â€Å"American dream,† in which so many individuals desire. While this country’s reputation and culture was built on the basis of immigration, the ideals and viewpoints of this topic have strayed far from welcoming over the years. Both the Democratic and Republican parties find faults in the overflow of illegal immigrants coming into America, but differ in their strategies of devising a solution to this issue. In short, Democrats believe in giving immigrants t he opportunityRead MoreLooking for a Fresh New Start Essay1339 Words   |  6 PagesIllegal immigration has been an ongoing issue in the political arena for the past decade with immigration laws still being discussed. To immigrate means to come into a country of which one is not a native for permanent residence. 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Illegal immigrants are at fault for such things as smugglingRead MoreThe U.S. Flawed Immigration System Must be Reformed Essay567 Words   |  3 PagesMichael McCaul SUBJECT: Immigration Reform The issue of illegal immigration has daunted this nation for many years. Currently, there are 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States. Immigration reform is necessary, but amnesty is not. Last year, the United States Senate passed the ‘Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act’ by a vote of 68-32. If this bill becomes law, America will still not have fixed it’s illegal immigration issue. There are many flawsRead MoreIllegal Immigration And The United States1388 Words   |  6 PagesIllegal immigration has plagued the United States since immigration laws were created, and has worsened in recent history. Since Ronald Reagan’s Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 provided amnesty for 3 million illegal aliens in exchange for increased border security, millions of people have entered the country illegally. Over the past 30 years, the illegal immigrant population of the country has more than doubled from 5 m illion in 1986 to over 11.5 million in 2015. It has become one of theRead MoreIllegal Immigration Issues1082 Words   |  5 PagesIllegal immigration is quickly becoming a big issue in this country. With the country divided on whether to call for improved border security and reform for illegal citizens to be naturalized, there is something that needs to be done. Illegal immigration in the United States is something the government needs to begin focusing on and reaching a decision to help improve the wellbeing of this country. There are too many people in which are affected by this issue for it not to be at the top of CongressesRead MoreThe Issue Of Illegal Immigration1420 Words   |  6 Pagesof the most controversial issues in politics today is that of illegal immigration. â€Å"Immigration has been a constant source of economic vitality and demographic dynamism throughout our nation’s history.† (CAP Immigration Team, 2014) There are thousands of immigrants that a rrive in the United States each year. Over the years, illegal immigration has been growing despite policies made to prevent this growth. In my opinion, immigration will continue to be a social issue that is fiercely debated during