Problems With Illegal Immigration In the U.S.

Question

First off, I just want to clarify I have no problem with immigrants themselves. I completely understand their position, and their motivation in coming to the U.S. legally or otherwise. I would do the same if I were in their shoes. But what I'm interested in is explaining to my friend the negative effects of large numbers of illegal immigrants in this country. And why it is important that the U.S. government takes responsibility for stopping illegals. The issue is touchy because my friends father came to this country illegally. Also, I would like to know why so many immigrants find the need to come here illegally, rather than go through the established immigration routine, if any of you would like to answer that for me. If someone could help provide me with references and answers to what I have asked, I would be very grateful.

I would also like to state that everything I have asked here, I ask with complete sincerity. There is no sarcasm, no innuendo, or insult intended. I ask these things in the interest of discussion and learning. I welcome all reasonable and supportable viewpoints. If all you want to do is call names and make assumptions about me, please do not waste your energy. I am a peaceful person, with friends of all races, religions, and nationalities. If you feel I am wrong in some way, do not just resort to childish namecalling and insulting. Explain to me how I am wrong. I, in all honesty, welcome your opinions on this.

Answer 1

Some come over illegally because the visa process takes too long, and the US only allows a certain number of immigrants to enter the US legally every year. Most Mexican immigrants that cross are living in poverty, so they become deseprate to come over and make money doing any kind of work they can get. To many times, this deperation ends up in tragedy as they cross the dangerous deserts in the middle of summer. Even illegal immigration is good for this country. They work for lower wages, helping businesses make big profits, and because they make big profits, they can keep the prices of their products low. They are consumer....they buy houses, cars, food, cloths, electronics etc.. When they make those purchases and get a pay check, they pay taxes. The taxes they pay help social security and medicare stay afloat because they don't claim taxes at the end of the year like everybody else, so the money all stays in the system.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articl...

Illegal immigrants pay taxes, too

"If anything we need more immigrants coming into the country, not less, especially with the baby boomers retiring," he said.

http://www.totalimmigrationlaw.com/artic...

The Economy Benefits from Illegal Immigrants

Anti-immigration activists seem to overlook some of the obvious ways that American people benefit from illegal immigrants who work in the United States. Some of the most obvious ways in which illegal immigrants help the U.S. economy are:

Illegal immigrants living in the U.S. are also consumers in the U.S. and therefore boost the economy.

Many illegal immigrants who work in the U.S. do not file tax returns because they fear deportation and therefore do not collect tax refund payments that they are entitled to receive.

Social Security payments are not made to illegal immigrants. Therefore the money that is paid into the Social Security system by illegal immigrants supports payments to American baby boomers who are now reaching retirement age.

Illegal immigrants may be a large factor in keeping the Social Security system afloat.

About Criminal Activity and immigrants:

MigraMatters.com

It's a widely held belief, reinforced by those who advocate for stricter immigration controls, that increased immigration brings with it increased crime. It's by no means a new notion. All immigrant groups at one time or another have faced accusations of inherent criminality. Whether it's Italian mafiosos or Chinese opium dens, stereotypes and myths about immigrant criminality have permeated American culture and political discourse since the nation's inception.

So it is not surprising that many Americans today believe that the newest wave of immigrants bring with them a disrespect for the law and a proclivity for criminal behavior.

A new study, released last Monday, looked at immigrant criminality and found that not only are new immigrants less likely than their native-born counterparts to commit crimes or be incarcerated in state or federal prisons, they actually contributed to a decrease in the overall crime rate nationally.

Answer 2

Illegal immigrants bring crime, disease, and poverty to the USA, as well as, sucking tens of billions of dollars of services from the state, local, and federal govts. They fraudulently obtain benefits for themselves, and they get benefits legally for their children who were born in the USA.

The Costs of Illegal Aliens: http://immigrationcounters.com/

The cost to local taxpayers of illegal aliens: http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pa...

Illegal Alien Fact Sheets: http://mohaveminutemen.com/illegalaliens...

http://www.texasbordervolunteers.org/Ill...

http://therealitycheck.org/StaffWriter/I...

http://www.firecoalition.com/30minuteedu...

The Dark Side of Illegal Aliens: http://www.usillegalaliens.com/

Immigrations Human Cost:  http://www.immigrationshumancost.org/

One million s*x crimes by illegal aliens: http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTI...

12 Americans murdered daily by illegals: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/articl...

Answer 3

Explain to them that now that they have attained a legal status a huge and illegal immigration will only serve to lower their wages, standard of living with a more than likely, related increase in crime rates as our economy is in a state of decline and many who do not return will seek this avenue of income, without insulting them as they are very likely decent and hardworking Americans. Beyond that many Mexican Americans who have been here longer than I have are beginning to understand the realities of our situation at least as well as the rest of us can.

Answer 4

Simply reserch the costs of applying to do things legally from various countries and figure out the sort of money those people might have left over from making an average wage there.  You are talking many visits to the American embassy, endless forms that each have to be paid to process and America has been notorious for only hand picking the best immigrants since the 60's, what if you don't measure up and you've spent a years wages applying over several years that it takes.  Half of all legal immigrants that do make it (the middle and upper class ones) don't like it anyway and go back home so it is smart to investigate the myth of the 'free country' first even if you can afford it.

Believe me, you don't 'completely understand' other peoples' positions until you've lived them, college and school just enable you to imagine that you do.

Answer 5

If illegal immigrants earn money in this country, they spend money in our stores. They buy our commodities. Everyone wins

When illegal immigrants are kicked out, America looses its cheap labor force, which means jobs get outsourced overseas. If jobs are outsourced overseas, the people who earn the money spend the money in those countries, instead of our stores.

Immigrant workers are a net gain for the US economy. Each year, the same immigrants spend $1.8 trillion in the US and contribute over $600 billion to the GDP.

Is that not enough? You know the iconic picture of American freedom, raising the flag at Iwo Jima? One of the people there was an illegal American immigrant.

Answer 6

Well according to the answer above mine, when life gives you lemons, you break the law. no thanks.

There is no excuse, including money, time, laziness, etc to illegally immigrate and p**s on another nations laws.

Answer 7

Based upon the responses you've received so far it appears you have already received several good links regarding the problems with illegal immigration. I applaud you for wanting to research this issue further and for welcoming discussion on both sides of the issue.

While my first inclination upon reading you post was to also offer you some site links in and statistics, I decided I would rather offer a first-hand account of what I have personally experienced. I live in southern Arizona, not far from the Mexican border, and I have endured a plethora of attacks and complications at the hands of illegals. My home has been broken into; I've been threatened with weapons and fists; I've had to call out Border Patrol agents in the dead of night when illegals tapped on my bedroom window either requesting assistance or making demands.

What I truly want you to understand is that there is a GREAT deal of crimes committed by illegals that goes largely unreported. I have many acquaintenances who work for the Border Patrol who have told me that most of the sexual and physical assaults committed by illegals go unreported, and the agents are "strongly discouraged" from sharing this kind of information with the media. If people knew the truth, the whole truth, then there might be a greater call to action in this country.

Last night one of our local news stations reported that there have been no less than 42 incursions into this country by Mexican government officials. The report was made quickly, almost as if it were mentioned begrudgingly, and there is no sign of it on either the news channel's website nor in subsequent reports. The issue of illegal immigration is being handled with kid gloves for reasons I cannot fully comprehend. It's time for that to stop. It's time for ALL of the relevant information to be made public on a national level, not just local.

I hope there will soon be more people like you... more people searching not just for truth, but for fact, and I hope that our politicians begin to deal with the problem of illegal immigration before some disastrous occurs.  

Answer 8

If you ran over the speed limit you broke the law.

It has nothing to do with illegals breaking the law it all about money

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade

Answer 9

First why should Mexico be consider more in need than the people to the south of it ? Not all illegals are coming here to just work. No matter what anybody says, a lot of their attitudes to life have to do with where they were brought up and taught to believe and lack of an education also plays a big part into how any illegal will make an adjustment here. They do not apply legally because they can slip across the border and enjoy life just the same as someone who applied legally in places like LA,SF,Houston,the don't ask-don't tell policy makes anybody laugh as to why should they start applying legally.What's the point when you have cites across America rolling out the welcoming matt. Also we have no idea who is entering into country. Many do not have any records on file here and they can be from any walk of life..

Answer 10

well first of I'm glad you have a legitimate reasoning behind why you want to learn more about the issue,

in essence what you want to find out is why is it important for the US to fix the illegal immigration issue, and why people come here illegally,

1 why is it important well certainly its good to make sure you know who is in the country, you absolutely want to make sure that the peoples intentions to come here are legitimate (which for most they are) but there's definitely others with different intentions so you want to prevent that no doubt about it. i could list many other reasons but it would be redundant to the point.

2 Why people come illegally? well the immigration system today is a nightmare for anyone that wants to come over, I had the fortune to come over to the country legally and yet i know first hand how humiliating, expensive and bureaucratic the immigration process in the US is. it should be of no surprise that people do this illegally.

I am legal and i do not resent them since i understand what they are going trough is harsh and not really a pleasent experience