Blog 2

Immigration Reform Dilemma

            In the nation today, not a day goes by that you do not hear something about immigration. People on one side of the issue believes that we should close off our border with Mexico, and not allow any illegal aliens into the United States. The other side believes that illegal immigrants from Mexico are sorely needed in order for the country’s economy to remain stable. The remaining people are either undecided or uncaring based on the fact that the dilemma does not affect their daily life, so they think.

            The segment of U.S. Citizens who wish for the border with Mexico to be closed call for this for many reasons; however one of the main reasons is that Americans are losing jobs to illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are “doing work that Americans won’t” and for wages that are far less than Americans are willing to work for (Wagner). Another reason is that illegal alien street gangs and criminals come across the border to set up shop in the United States. These criminals commit violent, heinous crimes, and when caught are only deported back to their home country.

            The opposition to closing the border and deporting all illegal immigrants are citizens that believe the illegal immigrants are needed to keep the country’s economy stable. The belief is that if there were no illegal immigrants to work in the fields, farms and factories, the cost for food and most everything else purchased would go through the roof. According to Chris Isidore in a CNN article in 2006, "Without the immigrants, we would have a decline in labor force of 3 to 4 percent," he said. "We couldn't have grown nearly as much as we did in the '90s if we didn't have immigrants.”

            I can only comment from a law enforcement view. People ask “why don’t the police just round up all the illegal immigrants and deport them back to their own country?” The answer is that unless the person has committed a crime, City, County and State law enforcement officers cannot even ask the person if they are illegal aliens or have a green card. The immigration laws are federal laws and only federal law enforcement officers can enforce them. Local law enforcement has no power to investigate or enforce any of the immigration laws. When referring the violent crimes committed by street gangs and violent criminals, again law enforcement’s hands are sometimes tied. If an illegal immigrant is accused of a violent crime, a large number of times the individual is deported, or flees back to his home country prior to any court proceedings. Law enforcement is just as frustrated as everyone else on the issue of violence committed by illegal immigrants. The legislature needs make up its mind and take a stand one way or another. The majority of illegal immigrants are decent, hard working people who just want to make a living. If we look back just one generation or two, we would more than likely see immigrants in our own family tree. I know there are in mine.

Works Cited

Isidore, Chris. “Illegal Workers: Good for the US Economy.” N.p. May 1, 2006. Web. March 27,      2011. http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/01/news/economy/immigration-economy/index.htm.

Wagner, P. “The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration.” N.p. N.d. Web. March 27, 2011. http://www.us.illegalaliens.com/impacts_of_illegal_immigration_jobs.html.