The US Immigration Politics - Report Example

Un ized Immigration Different researchers have made interesting observations regarding immigration issues. Un ized immigration has shaped the contemporary political landscape of the US. Immigration is the movement of persons into a nation to which they are not citizens so as to stay there, particularly as permanent inhabitants or future nationals. On the other hand, unauthorized immigration refers to the movement of nationals across state borders in a way that is divergent to the immigration laws of the destination state. Clark, et al. reiterates that unauthorized immigrants enter and stay in a state without a legal visa or permit from that state, or overstay the period of a visa that has been approved, or have their visa cancelled (365). This paper examines the pros and cons of unauthorized immigration, highlighting whether the anti-immigration laws imposed by the US Government are effective and how the unauthorized immigration affect the society and how the immigration laws should operate. Background- US Immigration Facts The population of the unauthorized immigrants in the United States has steadied in modern days subsequent to decades of rapid escalation (Passel and Roberto, 47). However, there have been changes in the states where unauthorized settlers live and the nations where they are born. The number of unauthorized settlers reached 12.2 million in 2007, making 4% of the total population. Passel and Cohn illustrated that there existed 11.2 million unlawful immigrants in the U.S. in 2012 presently making up 3.5% of the country’s population (25). Opening approximations demonstrate that the population was 11.3 million in 2013. Mexicans are half of the entire unlawful immigrant community (52%), although their numbers have been plummeting in modern times (Cornelius and Salehyan, 140). Six states only make up 60% of unauthorized settlers that include Texas, Illinois, California, Florida, New Jersey and New York. Unauthorized immigrants form 5.1% of the U.S. workforce where there existed 8.1 million unauthorized immigrants employed or seeking employment in 2012. Along with the states, New Jersey (8%), Texas (9%), California (9%), Nevada (10%), and had the uppermost percentages of unauthorized immigrants in their workforce (Hoefer, Michael, Nancy, and Bryan, 65). Nearly 7% of K-12 students had at least one unlawful immigrant close relative in 2012 and 79% of the students were born in the US. In Nevada, approximately 18% have no less than one unauthorized immigrant parent, the leading percentage in the country. Other leading states include Texas (13%), California (13%) and Arizona (11%). The US Government, Unauthorized Immigration, and the Public Immigrants in the US have faced challenges and uncertainties with people dispensing conflicting actions and recommendations on how to handle them (Sidlow and Beth, 216). The government of the US lead by President Obama is determined to ascertain the human rights of the immigrants. There has been a debate on how to accommodate Central American Children in the country with no official documentation. However, the public’s main concern for U.S. immigration guidelines have shifted, with more citizens advocating for a focus on improved border security plus tougher implementation of immigration laws (Reyes, Hans, John and Richard, 98). The national survey conducted in August 2014 by Pew Research Center, revealed that among 1,501 grown-ups, 33% say the main concern ought to be the enhancement of border security and stricter implementation of immigration laws, whilst 23% prioritize generating a means for unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. to become citizens if they meet definite provisions. Approximately 41% say both actions ought to be given equivalent weight. Unauthorized Central American Children The number of lone minors from Central America illegally traversing the U.S-Mexico boundary has rapidly escalated in 2014. 53% of people favored hastening the lawful dispensation of children from Central America even if those who are qualified for asylum are expatriated; 39% favored pursuing the existing guidelines, although the process might be longer (Meyer, et al., 172). The US government is criticized for how it is dealing with the unaccompanied children from Central America. President Obama scores, poorly when rated for his management of the issue. Delahunty, and John stated that just 28% of the public endorse the way he is managing the surge of kids from Central America, whereas 56% of the people criticize his handling (25). That qualifies as one of the worst performance of the president regarding any issue since assuming office. Nevertheless, Obama’s general job rating is practically unmoved from April 2014 where 44% support his job performance while 49% criticize. Political Parties and Immigration Americans uniformly differ on whether illegal immigrants who complete high school in their state ought to be qualified for in-state college education: 48% articulate that they should be entitled to the in-state education rate, whereas 46% echo that they shouldn’t. Nevertheless, there also are dissections in both parties’ coalitions (Democrats and Republicans) over the overall precedence for the United States immigration policy and whether illegitimate immigrants are supposed to qualify for in-state education (Hollifield, Philip, and Pia, 75). There is a considerable age gap over immigration guidelines in views among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. A preponderance (57%) of Republicans with GOP leaners 65 and older declare border security and tougher enforcement alone should be the precedence for immigration guidelines whereas 24% favor a twofold approach that would incorporate a course to citizenship. There also are disparities among Democrats and independents who are Democratic. For instance approximately out of half of the Hispanic Democrats and leaners, (52%) argue the priority should be the awarding of illegal immigrants in the U.S. full citizenship if they comply with certain requirements while only approximately 27% of non-Hispanic whites, 27% and 24% African Americans of a quarter agree (Hollifield, Philip, and Pia, 75). Extensive endorsement of the latest Arizona Immigration Law The public generally approves a new Arizona law intended to deal with unauthorized immigration and the law’s stipulations giving police augmented powers to prevent and detain people who are alleged of being in the US unlawfully (Su, 6). Thus, entirely 73% say they support requirements that entail people to producing documents authenticating their legal status when the police demand. 67% commend the allowing police to arrest anyone who is unable to substantiate their legal position while 62% endorse the empowerment of police to inquire people they suspect are in the US illegally. Subsequent to being asked about the law’s stipulations, 59% say that, bearing in mind anything, they agree with Arizona’s new illegal immigration laws while 32% condemn. America’s Immigration Predicament Americans are ever more apprehensive about immigration. A rising number of Americans consider that immigrants are a trouble to the nation, contributing to unemployment and housing and generating damages on the health care system (Graham, 59). Americans also agonize about the cultural impact of the increasing population of newcomers in the country. The public is divided over scores of the policy suggestions intended to deal with the estimated 11.5 million illegal immigrants in the nation. Generally, 53% of Americans say people who are in the country unlawfully ought to be deported, and 40% say they should be granted some authorized status that enables them to stay. But virtually half of those who think illegal immigrants must be deported, however, say that immigrants can stay under an impermanent job program (Graham, 59). In general, the public divides about uniformly among three main methods of dealing with people who are in the US unlawfully: 32% believe it must be possible for them to settle permanently; 32% think some should be permitted to settle under an impermanent worker program under the condition that they depart ultimately; and 27% think that all illegal immigrants must be deported. Advantages and disadvantages of Unauthorized Immigrants The prevalent benefit that the country gains is acquiring motivated employees offering cheap labor. Portes and Ruben demonstrated that the immigrants also channel their income to their families back home contributing to the growth of the global economy (33). One of the downsides of immigration is that it can dilute the cultural identity of the country. Additionally, unauthorized immigrants evade tax leading to the tax loss. Terrorism is also a result of not being able to regulate cross-border activities where terrorists may find their way in unlawfully. Crime is also a disadvantage as unauthorized migrants may import foreign criminal behavior. Effects of Unauthorized Immigrant on the American Society The Economy is mainly affected by unauthorized immigration where with the growing population of unlawful immigrants, they will require communal programs such as government institutions and hospitals (Chavez, 109). The immigrants also require socialized housing plans if obligatory. With the US having $16 trillion nationalized debts, it would cost the extra government funds from the tax paid by citizens to support the immigrants. . Another effect of the unauthorized immigration is on job security. Many employers offering blue collar jobs are hiring skilled migrants while lowering wages for the unskilled American. So principally, jobs now for instance in the maintenance, construction, janitorial, waste management, and low jobs are offered to the unauthorized immigrants in the US. Undocumented immigrants in the country perpetuate crime where the youth are used by illegal factions to carry out illegal activities such as drug dealings and prostitution. Healthcare services are also affected as the immigrants also seek healthcare programs thereby congesting public hospitals. The Native American, therefore, struggles to get the healthcare service where he/she could not be struggling were it not for the unauthorized immigrant. Unauthorized immigrants cause national insecurity as evidenced by September 11 attacks (Tirman, 4). National security is one of the foremost provisions that are highlighted by the anticipated Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. This bill has an excellent rationale as it ought to significantly lessen the number of unlawful migrants that cross borders whereas it is also intended to secure the nation’s security and public safety. Still, even with the execution of the bill, this may not completely impede illegal migration as the red tapes in the US administration can facilitate unauthorized immigration. Immigration departments in the government also lack diligence and integrity. Conclusion Unauthorized immigration is a prevalent issue in the Obama Administration. To curb The public has on numerous occasions suggested that the illegal immigrants in the US should be required to leave while other sections of the society have reiterated their support for a plan of gaining citizenship on merit. The opinions from various stakeholders including the political parties in the country are based on the effect of unauthorized immigration in the country. One of the predominant areas unlawful immigration impacts the country is national security. Illegal Immigration also contributes to loss of employment, dilution of social services and crime. To sum up, the Obama administration should execute an immigration policy that balances between toughening the immigration laws and enhanced border security. This will be aimed at minimizing criticisms of the public as well as catering for the rights of immigrants such as the children from Central America. Recommendation for Further Studies This research concentrated on the public outlook of the immigration laws in the US in consideration of the Government of the US. Further studies should be carried incorporating other countries such as Mexico and Central American countries who have their countries contribute to significant out flux of immigrants. Works Cited Chavez, Leo. Shadowed lives: Undocumented immigrants in American society. Cengage Learning, 2012. Print. Clark, Ximena, Timothy J. Hatton, and Jeffrey G. Williamson. "Explaining US immigration, 1971-1998." The Review of Economics and Statistics 89.2 (2007): 359-373. Print. Cornelius, Wayne A., and Idean Salehyan. "Does border enforcement deter unauthorized immigration? The case of Mexican migration to the United States of America." Regulation & Governance 1.2 (2007): 139-153. Print. Delahunty, Robert J., and John C. Yoo. "Dream On: The Obama Administrations Nonenforcement of Immigration Laws, the DREAM Act, and the Take Care Clause." Tex. L. Rev. 91 (2012): 781. Print. Graham, Otis L. Unguarded Gates: a history of Americas immigration crisis. Rowman & Littlefield, 2004. Print. Hoefer, Michael, Nancy Rytina, and Bryan C. Baker. "Estimates of the unauthorized immigrant population residing in the United States: January 2010."Population Estimates, Office of Immigration Statistics, Department of Homeland Security (2011): 4. Online source. Hollifield, James, Philip Martin, and Pia Orrenius, eds. Controlling immigration: A global perspective. Stanford University Press, 2014. Print. Meyer, Peter J., et al. "UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN FROM CENTRAL AMERICA: FOREIGN POLICY CONSIDERATIONS*." Current Politics and Economics of South and Central America 7.3 (2014): 463. Online source. Passel, Jeffrey S., and DVera Cohn. US unauthorized immigration flows are down sharply since mid-decade. PewResearchCenter, 2010. 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