Immigration and Terrorism - Essay Example

Illegal immigration to the USA generally occurs through the illegal crossing of the border, immigration on false visas from other countries, overstaying after the expiry of Visa or Border Crossing Card, drug smuggling and identity theft. The USA has been critical about its immigration policy since the beginning, however, the efforts became quite strong and serious with the World Trade Centre attack by Alkhaida on 11th September 2001. In 1990 the US Congress appointed the Commission on Immigration Reform for reviewing its national policies and laws and to suggest necessary changes.

In 2001, the USA modified its immigration law for enhancing the ability of federal authorities to prevent foreign terrorists from entering the USA and to detain foreign terrorist suspects (Charles Doyle, 2001). This led to a conflict of personal freedom and dignity enjoyed by the immigrants in the USA. The person’s freedom may be severely affected by over interference of the Police as in the case of Lawrence v Texas (2003). However, the social security of the nation is highly important and law on immigration has to be very transparent and efficient for controlling the element of terrorism and hence affirmative action on controlling terrorism is highly essential in the USA but at the same time all possible efforts must be taken to protect the civil rights, promote racial harmony and avoid the undue interference in personal freedom of foreign nationals living inside the nation.