Introduction
Immigration into the country is on the rise. Rising number of both legal and illegal immigrants are moving into the country at an alarming rate. Illegal immigrants are significantly on the increase. In the year 2009, illegal immigration was on a record high of 11.9 million people. 6.5 million Of these illegal immigrants were from Mexico while 5.4 million were from other parts of the world (Popkin 282). Lack of efficient and strict immigration policies is behind the successful entrance of the illegal immigrants into US. The current provision of immigration policy allows only visa card holders to move into the country. There are several corrections that should be made into this policy. The following discussion aims at evaluating potential ways that illegal immigration is to be contained.
- Should the U. S. spend millions of dollars on tighter border control?
Tightening of security at the border points aims at reducing possible instance of illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants use the border points to gain their entrance into the country. This is due to the inefficient security personnel at the border points (Zoysa 275). Another possible reason is a shortage of manpower that guard the border points areas of the country. Strategic planning on how to curb this menace should be put in place. Strategies such as; erection of border points fence, application of new technology at the border points areas e.g. use of CCTV cameras and employing more manpower to increase the number of working employees guarding the border points. This will work to aid significant reduction of illegal immigrants gaining entrance into the country.
- Should the U.S. implement a guest worker program for labor migrants?
Immigrants that move into the country are in search of labor and education. A significant number of them search for employment to improve their livelihoods and living habits. This is due to the US employee friendly policies and the compensation benefits are high. This only attracts a wider manpower from across the world to immigrate into the country. The federal government can create and implement a guest worker program for the immigrants (Milkman 368). This allows the immigrants to be involved in the payment of taxes hence raising the revenue income to the national treasury. The terms and conditions for such a program shouldn’t be binding as this will lead to job resignation by the immigrants. This program should strictly be for the immigrants.
- Should the U.S. provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants already living in the United States?
Immigration policy should be too strict in such a manner that, in case the immigrants are undocumented then they ought to be deployed back to countries of origin. Granting citizenship to undocumented citizens promotes illegal immigration into the country. This type of immigrants enjoys free use of the state services provided to the citizens. Services like; free healthcare and ample security are misused by immigrants (De Haas 825). This causes great concern to economic status of the country. Any undocumented citizen found within the country ought to be reprimanded and deployed to their country of origin. In addition, banning these illegal immigrants from moving into the country should be established.
- Should Electronic Verification be adopted?
National survey of all the working population should be done. The use of social security number will help at establishing non-citizens working in the country. Any illegal immigrants found through the system should be deployed with immediate effect.
Conclusion
An immigration policy that aims at guarding the welfare of the citizens should be adopted and implemented. This will boost the state of the economy.
Works Cited;
De Haas, Hein. "Turning the Tide? Why Development Will Not Stop Migration." Development & Change 38.5 (2007): 819-841.
Milkman, Ruth. "Immigrant Workers, Precarious Work, and the US Labor Movement." Globalizations 8.3 (2011): 361-372.
Popkin, Eric. "Guatemalan Mayan Migration to Los Angeles: Constructing Transnational Linkages In The Context Of The Settlement Process." Ethnic & Racial Studies 22.2 (1999): 267-289.
Zoysa, Richard De. "Immigration: Europe and the USA—Common Cause or American Exceptionalism?" Contemporary Politics 12.3/4 (2006): 261-285.
