Three Part Proposal to Alleviate the Problem of Illegal Immigration - Article Example

Three Part Proposal to Alleviate the Problem of Illegal Immigration Illegal immigration is a complex problem with consequences both for the United States and the illegal immigrants themselves. Despite the fact that it is a political hot button, there are some very real issues which need to be addressed in order to alleviate those consequences. Although it is estimated that illegal workers make up only five percent of the total U.S. workforce (Patel 393), illegal immigration is not a small problem; 500,000 Mexicans cross the border annually into the U.S. (Faux 41), and this influx is not the sole source of illegal immigrants. In 2000, some 7 to 8.5 million illegal immigrants were in the United States, and only half of those came from Mexico or other Latin American nations (Orrenius and Zavodny 438). Not all temporary workers are here illegally, and this proposed plan does not include legal or documented workers. It is those who arrive here illegally and continue to live in the United States under undocumented status that are the focus of this three-part plan to end illegal immigration. Briefly, each of the following sections approaches the problem from a slightly different angle. Taken together, the plan eliminates the problem of illegal immigration and strengthens the United States economy, our neighbor’s economies, and the welfare of the individual workers themselves. First, the proposal advocates cracking down on employers which hire undocumented workers and enforcing current and future laws regarding the employment of illegal immigrants. The second section discusses stepping up border enforcement, which is absolutely essential to stem the influx of undocumented workers. The third section acknowledges that the United States can’t just slam the door on illegal immigrants, but has a duty to uphold a founding ideal in lending assistance to the nations from which most of the immigrants come. We can solve the problem and lessen the consequences of illegal immigration without compromising our nation’s moral and ethical codes. Continuing to allow illegal immigration, in fact, is a violation of these moral and ethical codes. These three areas must all be included in any reasonable plan because the problem cannot be “fixed” with a single solution. Ignoring any of these three areas could spell failure for all efforts, resulting in wasted money, time and effort with little to show for it. Illegal immigration is a complex problem which calls for a multi-pronged solution and the proper investment of resources to ensure success for all involved. The Financial Aspect: Cutting Off the Tap In 1994, the Commission on Immigration Reform commented that efforts to reduce illegal immigration would fail if we did not “turn off the jobs magnet that attracts them” (Greenblatt 112). While various legislative proposals have attempted to crack down on employers who hire illegal workers, lax enforcement has taken the teeth out of laws which could be used to turn off the tap drawing illegal immigrants into the U.S. Illegal immigration results in the loss of American jobs to undocumented workers. There is a kind of twisted logic in the thinking that undocumented workers’ wages are not protected in the same way that migrant farm worker wages are protected; undocumented workers fear reprisals and deportation, and some would say that the wages their earn are far higher than they might find at home (Triplett 831). However, the fact that agricultural producers can employ illegal immigrants for pennies on the dollar hurts all employees. There is also the argument that U.S. citizens would take these low-paying, hard-living jobs if the wages were higher and the conditions better (Triplett 832; Greenblatt 104). Depending upon which side of the political fence you happen to be on, the fact that these low-wage jobs are filled by undocumented workers is either stealing jobs from American workers or filling a vital need which American workers refuse to fill. Politics aside, little will change for low-wage workers—legal or illegal—until employers are forced to pay living wages, provide proper working conditions and reasonable hours, and legitimately check the status of every one of their employees. And not allowed to hire undocumented workers without suffering reprisals. Undocumented workers are not always the result of people crossing the border from Mexico to work in agricultural enterprises; visa overstays contribute significantly to the problem (Orrenius and Zavodny 440). Half of all undocumented workers came here under work visas which have since expired. Again, these workers often accept substandard wages and poor working conditions because they fear being deported, and the employers willingly overlook proper documentation in the interest of profit. Punishment for hiring undocumented workers can be severe: employers can lose their business licenses for ten days for a first offense, and forever for a subsequent offense (Greenblatt 103). However, with lax enforcement, forged documentation, and a general tendency to overlook documentation in favor of profit, not every employer is held to these high standards. Employer advocates argue that the systems to check documentation are outmoded or incomplete; thus they can skirt the law. This practice must end. Laws which are currently in place must be enforced. Once we are enforcing the laws and holding employers accountable for their actions, we can begin to formulate new laws which will continue this progress. Border Enforcement: Stop the Flood Over the years from 1993 to 2005, billions of dollars were allocated to border enforcement. Legislation passed in 1996 doubled the size of the Border Patrol and allocated $12 billion for increased patrol measures (Greenblatt 111). These measures variously included building walls and fences, installing electronic sensors, and increasing the number of personnel actually patrolling border areas (Katel 397). Spending equaled more than $3.8 billion. There is a very important question posed in relationship to this increased spending and resource allocation: “Why have illegal border crossings been increasing?” (Katel 398). The answer is related to the issue discussed in the previous section; as long as illegal workers can find jobs, they will continue to enter the United States, hoping to improve their financial future and that of their families back home. It is just as important to guard international airports as it is to patrol the U.S.-Mexican border (Samers 138). In addition to enforcing documents and determining whether or not those documents are forged, stronger enforcement at airports works as another way to reduce the influx of illegal drugs. Thus, border enforcement and airport enforcement work together on multiple fronts to reduce two problems. The one-third to half of all documented workers who do not come from Latin America must be dealt with, and airports are the primary points through which these people enter the U.S. illegally. Once illegal immigrants are in the United States, what can be done? Fear of deportation keeps undocumented workers quiet, and employers collude to keep the whole situation under the radar. Thus it is difficult for the INS to enforce current laws. The Congressional Quarterly comments that human-rights advocates would solve the problem of illegal immigration by granting legal status to all under yet another amnesty program (Triplett 829); that is exactly the wrong approach. The best way to protect documented migrant workers is to eliminate the competition and strengthen the laws protecting them. Orrenius and Zavodny (437) go so far as to firmly say that amnesty makes no difference to future illegal immigrants, and little difference to those who are granted amnesty. Orrenius and Zavodny (439) report that the amnesty program also earmarked money for stronger border enforcement, which they conclude helped stem the tide of illegal workers, at least for a short time. Better border enforcement would make a significant difference in the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States; it would not solve the problem entirely, since about two-thirds of undocumented immigrants enter the U.S. across the Mexican border, but it would certainly be very helpful. Amnesty programs also contribute to further illegal immigration as the family members of legalized immigrants seek asylum as well (Samers 137). Fortunately, at least for now, amnesty programs are off the legislative table (Greenblatt 115). Border enforcement will only go so far. As long as employers hire illegal workers and do not suffer the consequences, those workers will continue to risk entering the U.S. illegally to seek work, in an attempt to improve their conditions (though as will be seen in a moment, the improvements are little to none, and illegal workers often suffer slave-like conditions). Thus it can be seen that building 670 miles of walls (Karaim 745) and hiring more guns to patrol the border is a rather ineffectual measure if taken on its own; other changes must be made in order to impact the whole system that encourages illegal immigration. Using the resources already in place through the billions of dollars already spent, we can tighten the borders if other changes take place at the same time. Humanitarian Investment: Lending the Appropriate Assistance Once they are here, illegal workers often live under conditions which make slavery seem like a good thing. Illegal immigrants are not as easily protected by environmental and humanitarian laws as their documented counterparts. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigates agricultural producers, but employers and employees collude with one another to avoid all kinds of consequences. Farm workers are exposed to harsh chemicals, work from dawn to dusk, and are housed in extremely poor conditions with bad food and water (Faux 41; Triplett 832). These conditions are tantamount to slavery of the worst sort. Yet, even knowing this, hundreds of thousands of people are willing to risk everything to get to the United States, and risk everything to continue living here. The reasons for this seem simple on the surface, but are a complex mix of politics, economics, and the basic desire of all humans to better their conditions. Mexico and other Latin American economies are attempting to move from an agrarian to a manufacturing economic base; this makes good sense for developing nations because a manufacturing economy is more stable and produces more profits (and more taxes). However, manufacturing tends to be centralized in larger population centers, which leaves a large number of people out of work (Triplett 831). Coupled with the fact that for some years it was cheaper for Mexico to import corn than to grow it at home, and the combination created a recipe for disaster for the Mexican farm worker. It is easy to say that Mexico must improve its working conditions for all workers so they do not choose to leave and seek work elsewhere (Faux 100). The model created by the European Union could serve as an excellent source for inspiration in the United States to work together with poorer nations to ensure better economic opportunities for workers at home (Faux 42). Economically stable nations which eventually joined the EU invested resources in less stable nations to ensure that job growth and economic opportunities could exist fairly in each home country. This was not a political takeover; the resources were financial and knowledge-based, thus allowing each nation in the EU to maintain its separate identity. Although the European definition of illegal status differs somewhat from the U.S. definition, and national boundaries are more easily blurred in the EU, these changes in priorities during the formation of the EU have made a significant difference in the status of illegal immigrants (Samers 134). Concluding Remarks The problem of illegal immigration has been on our nation’s mind for some time, but it especially important to take steps to end illegal immigration now. With our economy in such a dire situation, we can no longer afford to support undocumented workers; we must use our limited resources to support legal immigrants and United States citizens. Though we must solve the problems caused by illegal immigration for the health of our own economy and population, we cannot compromise on the ideals that make the United States a desirable place to live and which have led to our great success as a nation. Our Founding Fathers believed that the U.S. could be a refuge for anyone seeking asylum from any type of oppression, and we cannot close our doors to those who legitimately seek legal immigration. We have also taken on a helping role in world politics, and that is another thing that cannot be compromised. We feel it is our duty as a nation to lend assistance as appropriate to help our neighbors and forge friendships which are good for all involved. By cracking down on employers who skirt current law, taking a firm stance on illegal immigration at our borders, and extending knowledge and resources to the countries from which most of these immigrants originate, we can alleviate our own financial ills and improve conditions for our neighbors. This plan creates a win-win situation for everyone involved. Works Cited Faux, Jeff. ""What to really do about immigration: half a million Mexicans will cross the border annually for the next 15 years. Heres a plan to enable them to stay home." The American Prospect Jan. 2008. Expanded Academic ASAP. Gale. Baker College, Flint, MI. 13 June 2009 . Greenblatt, Alan. "Immigration Debate." CQ Researcher 18.5 (2008): 97-120. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Baker College, Flint, MI. 13 June 2009. Karaim, Reed. "Americas Border Fence." CQ Researcher 18.32 (2008): 745-768. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Baker College, Flint, MI. 13 June 2009. Katel, Peter. "Illegal Immigration." CQ Researcher 15.17 (2005): 393-420. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Baker College, Flint, MI. 13 June 2009. Orrenius, Pia M., and Madeline Zavodny. "Do Amnesty Programs Reduce Undocumented Immigration?" Demography Aug. 2003: 437-50. Webfeat. ECO. Baker College, Flint, MI. 13 June 2009 . Samers, Michael. ""Here to Work": Undocumented Immigration in the United States and Europe." SAIS Review 2001: 131-45. Webfeat. ECO. Baker College, Flint, MI. 13 June 2009 . Triplett, William. "Migrant Farm workers." CQ Researcher 14.35 (2004): 829-852. 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