Abstract
This paper is about the control of United States immigration system and offer some solutions that deal with addressing the problem of undocumented immigrant that are already in the country. The United States prides itself on being a country of foreigner, and the country has a long history of effectively retaining immigrants from around the world. The fruitful mix of foreigners and their kids adds to economic growth and changing society culture.
Undocumented Immigrates has been a subject of debate both on the media and congress in the US over the years. However, undocumented immigrates could be referred to as people who cross the US nation border in manner that violated the nation immigration laws or people who over stayed the limit of the legal entry. The US attracts migrants all over the world mainly because of their blooming economy and other social and welfare benefit. Moreover, people leave their country to the US in search of greener pasture. According to recording of US census over 11 millions of undocumented immigrants are in the US. These high number of immigrates has generated concern to the US if they should be deported or grant citizenship, because some people feel it unfair to use US citizens taxes money to care for undocumented immigrates like in health care, food stamp, free housing and welfare. In fact, immigrates comes to the US, take the jobs of the citizens. All these are some of the issues the US government are facing regarding undocumented immigrates. However, to put a lasting solution to these issues the US government should grant asylum to persons’ currently living in US, strengthen border security, strengthen interior enforcement and mandate E-Verification.
Granting asylum to undocumented immigrates persons currently living in US play a major way of addressing immigrates in the US. According to Kneebone, (2009) he referred to asylum as “inviolable territorial border, and to policies which allow them to decide who is allowing to enter territory and to share the benefit (pp, 33). However, asylum is recognized in the international law, that give people privilege to seek permission to live in other nations when their home country is at war or economy crisis. The US has faced with the issues of how to handle the issues of over 11 million undocumented immigrates living in the US. Furthermore, the reason why US government could have to grant asylum is that most of the effected persons came here as baby and there had lived their entire life here. Also, they know here as home, because all their friends and people they grown up with are here. Therefore, they should be given opportunity to contribute their own quarter in building the America dreams.
However, strengthening border security is another way to control undocumented immigrants. The US weak border has let over 11 million undocumented immigrate into the US. According to Ethier (1986), “The majority of unauthorized immigrants from Mexico enter the United States by crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegal” (p. 884). It is clear the US is suffering from porous border, and therefore as resulted to high number of undocumented immigrates in the US. However, the US government should build a wall to prevent free moving of illegal migrant and to safeguard their border. According to Ethier (1986) “Each year, the U.S. Congress appropriates funds to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for enforcement of U.S. borders, which falls under U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and for enforcement of immigration laws in the U.S. interior, which falls under U.S” (p. 909). It understood the fund appropriate is not enough to secure the border. Therefore, congress should increase department of homeland security, so the US border patrol can be more effective. Besides increasing their fund, they should also increase the number of security personnel’s in the border to monitor the entry activities. Also, drones should be use in the border as surveillance to monitor the movement of illegal immigrates trying to enter the country. However, drone will serve as a spy in the border. The profound solution above will help the US government to control undocumented immigrates.
Strengthening interior enforcement will also play a key factor in controlling undocumented immigrates in the US. The US government said there are over 11 million undocumented immigrates residing in the US. However, the high figure of illegal immigrate has shown the interior security enforcement and the US policies are weak in tackling the immigration. According to Ethier (1986) he understood the importance of local enforcement “domestic enforcement policies intended to make it relatively more difficult for illegal immigrates” (p. 62). Firstly, the US need to create a state policy that make it extremely different for illegal immigrate to survive in the US. For example, a bill should pass to strengthen job application, so to make it different for noncitizen to be employ. Secondly, the government should empower a special security squad to search and detent illegal immigrates and sent them back to their home country. Therefore, it will discourage the inflow of illegal immigrates, because immigrates over the world go to country that have high incentive, so they can benefit from it. According to Ethier (1986) “permanent or temporary legal immigration, the rights of immigrants to draw on public assistance, and minimum-wage requirements, affect illegal inflows indirectly through their impact on the expected reward from unauthorized migration” (p. 909). Most immigrate enter the US because of the benefit they stand to again like free medical care, free housing, food stamp and benefit for senior citizen, but if all this assistance are cut off it will discourage illegal inflow.
E-Verification is another way to control undocumented immigrates. Everyone believe US is a land full of opportunities, so people come from all over the world to pursue their dreams. But often time they come through illegal means or over stayed their legal permit and refused to go back. Therefore, these as result to high number of undocumented immigrates in the US. According to Dave (2014), “the government should implement a better system that will effectively track down people who overstay their visas”. It is the duty of any government to protect it national from foreign invader. The agencies who are responsible for immigration should ensure immigrates are properly check and documented at the point entry of before they are allow into the country. Furthermore, they should create a tracking device to monitor those who are visit the country for tourist or vacation. According to Dave (2014), “Another solution is to implement much more strict immigration rules, including interviews, background checks, verification of employment”. Implementing strict immigration law, with harsh punishment attached to violator will impose fear in people heart not to break the law.
In conclusion, undocumented immigrates has been a great challenge to the US government for so many years now. However, government after government comes to power but none of them has been able to profound lasting solution so to put an end to immigration crisis. No doubt to say most people believe US is a land full of opportunities, and for that reason it has attracted people from all over the world to come pursue their dreams. Moreover, the government need to act fast before it gets out of control. Therefore, the US border need to be strengthened, like building wall to prevent illegal entry. Also, interior enforcement needs to be improved as well, the government should empower a special security squad to search and detent illegal immigrates and sent them back to their home country. Finally, policy should be put in place to properly check and documented immigrates at the point entry. This is a great challenge to the world at large, therefore everyone should come together and find a lasting solution to it.
References
- Ethier, W. (1986). Illegal Immigration: The Host-Country Problem. The American Economic Review, 76(1), 56-71. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.neu.edu/stable/1804127
- N., J. (2014). Illegal: Reflections of an Undocumented Immigrant. University of Illinois Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.neu.edu/stable/10.5406/j.ctt5hjjkb
- Daniels, R. (2002). Coming to America : A history of immigration and ethnicity in American life (2nd ed.). New York: Perennial.
- Dave, A. (2014). Solutions to Illegal Immigration in the USA. https://www.listland.com/top-10-solutions-to-illegal-immigration-in-the-usa/
- Kneebone, S., & ProQuest. (2009). Refugees, asylum seekers and the rule of law : Comparative perspectives. Cambridge, UK ; New York: Cambridge University Press
- Michelle, F. International Journal of Refugee Law, Volume 23, Issue 2, 1 July 2011, Pages 431–434,https://doi-org.ezproxy.neu.edu/10.1093/ijrl/eer009
