The Issue of Illegal Immigration

Illegal immigration is a current hot topic in today’s society. One third of our inmates now serving time in federal prisons come from another country. Our nations criminal justice system is the target of serious budget cut backs. We can not afford to be paying for another nations citizens to be comfortably housed in Americas correctional facilities. America needs to do everything in it's power to ensure illegal immigration stops.

There are estimates anywhere from 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States to 30 million. Illegal immigrants create a disproportionate amount of crime in this country. For example, “illegal immigrants make up about seven percent of Arizona’s general population, but they account for fifteen percent of the states prison population”. A good fourteen percent of the illegal inmates housed in prisons are convicted on dangerous charges such as manslaughter, murder, and drug offenses. In Los Angeles, California 95% of outstanding homicide warrants, and two thirds of felony warrants are issued towards illegal immigrants!

The problems with illegal immigration are compounded financially. Within the health care system alone, illegals cost our countries taxpayers $500 million dollars a year. Altogether it is estimated that illegal immigrants costs our nation a billion dollars every year! The “Center for Immigration Studies” reports that "If immigration continues at current levels, the nation's population will increase from 301 million today to 468 million in 2060 (a 56% increase)”. Sheer human population growth of any kind becomes significant to our criminal justice system. Mexico is currently in a state of distress as drug dealings, shootings and murders are becoming a daily occurrence, especially wit...

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...on a counterfeit card is only thirty dollars. In reality, there is no need for these cards, when legal immigrants have access to a U.S. Id card. In general opinion, most informed Americans believe this card should no longer be accepted.

When looking at crime data one must consider ending illegal immigration. Places such as San Diego are now prosperous after erecting a fence and seeing a decline of illegal aliens. We need to end the Matricula Consular card and enact tougher laws against illegal immigration. I believe we also need to regularly enforce our laws that are already in place. I do not see a solution in trying to fix Mexico or providing an open border to any immigrant willing to cross. In these tough economic times our country needs to put its foot down and cut back on all of the costs surrounding illegal immigration.

Works Cited

Challenge of Democracy