Introduction
The United States is a melting pot of cultures, with people from different countries settling in its borders for various reasons. One of the main reasons why people come to the US is to improve their economic opportunities. This has led to an ongoing debate about immigration and the different aspects surrounding it. Legal and illegal immigration are two sides of this debate that are widely discussed.
In this article, we will explore the statistics on legal vs. illegal immigration in the United States. We will look at the current situation, the reasons for immigration, and the impact of legal and illegal immigration on the US. We will also discuss the policies and reforms that have been implemented in recent years to regulate immigration.
Current Situation
According to the Pew Research Center, there were about 45 million immigrants in the US in 2017, and they accounted for 13.7% of the total US population. Out of this number, about 34.4 million were legal immigrants, while 10.5 million were undocumented or illegal immigrants.
The number of illegal immigrants in the US has seen a steady increase since the 1960s. The population increased rapidly in the 1990s and early 2000s but has been declining in recent years. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that there were 12.0 million undocumented immigrants in the US in 2015, down from a peak of 12.2 million in 2007.
Illegal immigration is mainly concentrated in a few states, with California, Texas, and Florida having the highest populations. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants come from Latin America, specifically Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
Reasons for Immigration
People immigrate to the US for many reasons, including economic, political, family, and social reasons.
Economic Reasons: The US is seen as a land of economic opportunities, with better wages, working conditions, and prospects for career growth. Low-skilled and manual workers are particularly attracted to the US for employment opportunities, as they can earn wages that are much higher than what they would earn in their home countries.
Political Reasons: Political instability, civil strife, or war can force people from their homes and countries. The US has accepted refugees from various countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Family Reasons: Many immigrants come to the US to reunite with family members, or because they are married to American citizens. Spouses, children, and parents of US citizens and legal permanent residents can apply for a Green Card or permanent residency.
Social Reasons: People also migrate for social reasons, such as education, cultural exchanges, or to reunite with a community of people with the same background.
Legal vs. Illegal Immigration
The US government has established policies and laws to regulate immigration, creating a distinction between legal and illegal immigrants.
Legal immigration is when foreigners enter the US with authorized documentation, allowing them to reside, work, and study in the US. Legal immigrants are expected to follow immigration laws and regulations and to respect the US Constitution. They may be eligible to obtain permanent residency or citizenship after fulfilling certain requirements.
Illegal or undocumented immigrants, on the other hand, enter or stay in the US without proper documentation or legal status. Many undocumented immigrants enter the US by crossing the southern border, although some overstay their visas, violate immigration laws or are smuggled into the US.
The Impact of Legal and Illegal Immigration
Immigration has a significant impact on the US economy, healthcare, education, and demographics.
Economic Impact: Immigrants add to the US workforce, providing skills and labor that help fuel the economy. Immigrants are entrepreneurs, innovators, and job creators, contributing to small business growth and job creation. They also pay taxes that contribute to government revenue and social welfare programs, such as Social Security and Medicare. According to the National Academy of Sciences, immigrants have a positive impact on the US economy by increasing GDP and productivity, and reducing the age-related pressures of the US workforce.
Healthcare Impact: Immigrants, both legal and illegal, are entitled to receive emergency medical care in US hospitals under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Unfortunately, this places a heavy burden on the hospital system and can contribute to rising healthcare costs.
Education Impact: Immigrant children have the right to free public education in the US under the Plyler v. Doe Supreme Court decision. This places a burden on the US educational system, particularly in states where there are high concentrations of immigrants. However, immigrant children also contribute to diversity in schools, and research shows that they have a positive impact on academic performance.
Demographic Impact: Immigration has a significant impact on the US population, with immigrants contributing to the country’s diversity. Immigrants also impact the labor force participation rates, age distribution, and geographic distribution of the population.
Policies and Reforms
The US government has established various policies and reforms to regulate immigration, and to address the challenges posed by illegal immigration.
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 is one of the most significant immigration laws passed by the US Congress. The law granted amnesty to illegal immigrants who had been living in the US since 1982, and it required employers to verify the immigration status of all employees.
In recent years, there has been heated debate over immigration reforms, particularly those aimed at controlling illegal immigration. President Trump signed an executive order in January 2017 to block the entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries to the US. The policy was challenged in court, and the Supreme Court upheld a revised version of the ban in June 2018.
The Trump administration also implemented a policy that separated children from their parents who were detained at the southern border. This policy was widely criticized by human rights groups, and the administration later rescinded the policy in June 2018.
Conclusion
Immigration is a complex issue that touches on many aspects of society. Legal and illegal immigration, particularly the latter, has been a widely debated issue in the US for many years. While immigrants contribute positively to the US economy and social diversity, illegal immigration has presented challenges to the government, such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement. The US government has implemented various policies and reforms to regulate immigration, but the debate continues. It is important to look at the data and statistics to have an informed opinion on immigration, and to consider the impact of immigration on different aspects of society.
An illegal immigrant will not automatically be deported due to their illegal status, although this usually is taken into account. Most immigrants, illegal or not, are deported due to crimes committed while on United States grounds. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, any immigrant could be deported if their actions fall under what is considered to be a “deportable offense.” These offenses vary from criminal
Few public government statistics are kept on the number of legal immigrants deported, only the number of overall deportations. American immigration statistics tend to vary greatly due to the inconsistencies in available records. Recent studies have shown however, that roughly 1.2 million immigrants were deported in 2008. About two-thirds of those deported were deported due to non-violent crimes, compared to the 20 percent deported for violent crimes.
The only well-known statistics about illegal versus legal deportation revolve around what the United States public thinks about the legal or illegal immigrant. A survey conducted by the Public Agenda, a non-partisan research organization, showed that half of the people surveyed do not agree with giving the government power to detain legal immigrants, even in the case of a possible national security threat.
On the other hand, that same study by the Public Agenda showed that six in ten people feel that illegal immigrants do not deserve the same legal respect or protection as American nationals because they are in the United States without legal permission. In addition, six in ten also feel that any immigrant that is found to be illegal should be immediately deported without the right to appeal a deportation
Overall, the public does not feel that an illegal immigrant should have the same rights as a legal immigrant. Either way, to reemphasize, both illegal and legal immigrants can still be deported.
