Illegal Alien Crime Wave in Texas, Essay Example

The topic of illegal immigration spurns an emotive discourse in which within the United States has infiltrated the political topics that are present in this election season. Currently there are over 40 million undocumented illegal immigrants live within the United States. The immigration policy within the United States has changed constantly over the course of history that reflects the needs and attitudes of society and the political atmosphere. The debate over immigration has fostered a continuous debated that is mired by questions on the future, personal opinions, social and economic factors, and political propaganda. The position that this paper takes is seeing the realistic implications of creating a viable wall that would effectively secure the borders, as only immigrants that are documented should be able to allow into the country. In doing so, this paper explores the necessary and recent economic and government action that is appropriate in addressing the growing concern over the influx of illegal immigrants in the past couple of years that has highlighted the growing disparities in public opinion.

President Barack Obama announced his new immigration policy on November 20, 2014, to much ruckus from both sides of the political spectrum. The latest Executive Order on immigration will allow over 4 million illegal immigrants to remain in the United States for a temporary time. In addition, the illegal immigrants will be eligible to apply for relief for work permits and from deportation in two years. This plan has expanded legal immigration to skills workers, which results in an additional 200,000 new workers moving to the United States. While this policy does not grant amnesty, it does provide a temporary reprieve from deportation that allows the application to improve their immigration status. According to American Progress (2013), “Immigration has been a constant source of economic vitality and demographic dynamism throughout our nation’s history. Immigrants are taxpayers, entrepreneurs, job creators, and consumers.” For this reason, this has divided opponents and advocates alike, and many have seen this policy as an open invitation to illegal immigrants outside of the US borders. In examining the problem further, even with recent political action to quell the growing concern over the astronomical influx of illegal immigrants crossing the US borders. From war-torn, gang riddled, and poverty stricken countries in Latin America, the immigration system within the United States is broken, and in dire need of a new perspective at controlling immigration, and effectively securing the border.

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, “A 2013 Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans support various elements that would comprise comprehensive immigration reform, including creating a path to citizens for undocumented immigrants (88 percent), requiring employers to check immigration status of workers (84 percent), tightening border security (83 percent), and expanding short-term visas for skilled workers (76 percent)” (Renwick and Lee, 2015).

The reasons for these recent responses is due to the overwhelming fear of undocumented immigration fostering the ideal of having a social and financial burden on the United States. Becerra, Androff, Ayon, and Castillo share that, “The public policy debate surrounding immigration often involves strident rhetoric, and arguments against undocumented immigrants can be especially harsh, revolving around the burden to U.S. taxpayers” (2012, pg. 112). While these has proven to be true, some believe that these harsh perspectives are not unsubstantiated. The increase waves of crimes that have been committed by undocumented immigrants in states with accessible borders such as California, Texas, New Mexico, and Florida, have contributed to the growing opposition. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety in the past year nearly 3,000 homicides have centered around undocumented immigrants, and over thousands other crimes have been committed by undocumented workers. (PJ Media, 2015) These statistics alone contribute to the growing concern that many Americans and political constituents share in securing the border to protect against criminals that might hide within the influx of women and children, and men that cross the border seeking economic and social mobility that cannot be found in their home countries.

In contrast, there are many that believe that the increase in immigration can bring economic opportunities, as they are able pay local taxes, and stimulate job growth, but can also negatively or substantially impact education, healthcare, and law enforcement on both the state and federal levels adversely. However, government action has moved both slowly and swiftly in trying to find solutions that satisfy both sides of the argument. The US government has passed several executive actions in last three years in which has both formally deported millions, and granted reprieve to millions of undocumented workers. (CFR, 2015)  However, in trying to enforce the border and build a more effective wall still seems unlikely, economically, and politically, due to the challenges in passing reforms or bills that will boost high-skilled immigration and toughen security around the border.

While local governments have moved to place more patrol along their borders, they face limitations both financially in funding the on-going security and political opposition from advocates that do not support the extreme methods that some choose to take in stopping individuals from crossing the borders. In seeing that more realistic approach being taken by government officials in securing the border, and only allowing documented immigrant to be permitted into the country, the conclusion of the matter is that it will take much time and bipartisanship. In looking for a more balanced solution, government officials should look to providing opportunities for the illegal immigrants already living in the United States to follow a pathway in which they can earn legal status, while also working with other countries that can filter criminals, and work on all sides to secure the border for the safety of all citizens.

References

Adams, Christian. (2015). Illegal Alien Crime Wave in Texas: 611, 234 Crimes, 2,993 Murders. PJ Media. Retrieved from http://pjmedia.com/jchristianadams/2015/07/22/alien-crime-wave-in-texas-611234-crimes-2993-murders/

Becerra, David, Androff, David, Ayon, Cecilia, Castillo, Jason. (2012). Fear vs. Facts: Examining the Economic Impact of Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare. Vol. 39, No.4. Retrieved from http://www.wmich.edu/hhs/newsletters_journals/jssw_institutional/institutional_subscribers/39.4.Becerra.pdf

Cap Immigration Team. (2014). The Facts on Immigration Today. American Progress. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2014/10/23/59040/the-facts-on-immigration-today-3/

Renwick, Danielle, Lee, Brianna. (2015). The U.S. Immigration Debate. CFR. Retrieved from http://www.cfr.org/immigration/us-immigration-debate/p11149