How U.S. States Can better Fix Immigration problem - Essay Example

The Task Force on US Immigration Policy mentions that there is a continuing failure on devising and implementing a functional immigration policy, which could eventually threaten the country’s economy, diplomacy and national security (Council on Foreign Relations 3). Unfortunately, other factors contribute to the prolonging of the problem, such as issues like “polarized institutions, unfair media coverage, complex public opinion, and difficulties in the administrative implementation of border enforcement and legal justice” (West xiii).

In addition, the fact that most policies are hurriedly implemented just to solve the immigration problem quickly does not give enough merit for saying that the current policies are well enough to serve the nearly 12 million illegal immigrants residing in the country. Currently there are four issues that needed to be addressed in order to create possible solutions to the illegal entry of immigrants into the country, and these are: enhanced border security; identifying and tagging all undocumented migrants; addressing the gaps existing in the current United States immigration process; and developing a vigorous guest worker program (Cong. Rec. 2007, pt. 14780). Among the four issues mentioned, there should be greater focus on amending the current existing guest worker programs both on the employers’ side and the workers’ side, since work and income generation are considered to be the primary reasons why there have been a greater number of migrants entering the country.

Source of the Problem The large numbers of immigrant workers can be traced to the remaking of the American Immigration Policy enacted in 1965, which enabled immigrants to allow their families to live with them since it was believed that an intact family creates productive and educated citizens (West 23). However this law was unable to foresee potential problems and long-term effects, and it came to terms that even non-immediate family members were also included in the immigration processes. Also, other problems became apparent when there were not enough visas to allow other immigrants that could possibly contribute economic and scientific growth such as scientists and business-owners, caused by the influx of extended family members applying for visas (36).

Instead of achieving growth and development of industries, liabilities increased since not all family members that immigrated were able to become productive citizens once they entered the country. The problem also increased when numerous migrants tried crossing borders due to conflicts in their home countries that created security problems and financial instabilities. Other issues arose such as some business and farm-owners in the country opting to hire workers that illegally came to the country since they could save much more money by not paying them the minimum wages and withholding other benefits such as social security and health insurance, while still getting the work done properly (Kankam-Da-Costa 217).

The only possible solution for these problems is to create stringent measures during hiring processes, as well as providing sanctions for employers that would try by-passing current policies in hiring by short-changing both their employers and the government. Proposed Solution to Prevent Increasing Illegal Migrant Workers Currently, U.S has guest worker prog