I Illegal immigration has been a serious problem for the United States for many years. Nowadays, there are approximately ten to twelve million immigrants who reside in the country illegally (Nowrasteh & Bier, 2019). There are two main strategies to solve the problem of illegal immigration. The first one is enforcing the measures preventing it, and the second one is changing immigration policy in order to make legalization easier.
Illegal immigration is a serious problem due to a number of factors. First of all, it is harmful to the budget of the country. Second, it negatively affects the wages of U.S. legal workers. Third, immigrants have fewer opportunities to live a full life in the country. Fourth, many immigrants do not assimilate successfully and do not share the country’s values.
The first solution is to enforce the punishment for illegal immigration. Physical measures like building a wall across the border can also be a radical solution. Fines and sanctions for illegal immigration and immediate deportation can also make the immigrants think first before crossing the border.
The second solution is changing the immigration policy, which can include increasing the efficiency of immigration courts, expanding the number of ICE officers, and pushing back on sanctuary sites.
Thus, there are two different paths that can decrease the number of illegal immigrants in the country. The first one is strict and seems to be difficult to implement on a full scale. Harsh measures can lead to an increase in bribery and nepotism. The legal solution seems to be more democratic and humane, as long as it gives people more opportunities. Thus, the second solution would be more reasonable since it corresponds to the U.S. values of freedom and pursuit of happiness.
Reference
Nowrasteh A., Bier D.J. (2019). Three new ways for congress to legalize illegal immigrants. Immigration Research and Policy Brief, 12. Web.