ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS STATISTICS
Illegal immigrants statistics is an important topic in American culture and politics. Whether it’s an important topic in a presidential candidate’s platform or a source of debate in schools or during dinner conversations across the country, the topic is one that all Americans should stay knowledgeable about. Everyone should consider how illegal immigrants statistics affect American culture, politics, crime, economics, education and health, and how in turn these issues will affect the policies and laws that are put into effect at local, state, and national levels.
Current Illegal Immigrants Statistics
So who are illegal immigrants? Illegal immigrants are people who are in the country without governmental permission or who have remained in the country beyond the expiration date of their visa. In recent reports, the Department of Homeland Security estimates that the number of unauthorized immigrants in the United States is between eleven and twelve million. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for providing immigration related services and enforcing federal immigration laws. The DHS estimates that 59% of illegal immigrants are from Mexico with El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and China rounding out the top five countries in that order.
Hot Topics for Illegal Immigrants Statistics
The most newsworthy topic regarding illegal immigrant statistics is the current case before the U.S. Supreme Court, Arizona v. United States. The justices will determine the constitutionality of Arizona’s most recent immigration laws. For the past few decades, states have gone in different directions on how to handle their unauthorized immigrant populations. Arizona’s recent laws are some of the most stringent in the country. The Arizona laws include laws expanding the ability of police to check immigration status during roadside stops. The new laws also bar illegal immigrants from receiving in-state college tuition. Other states require K-12 administrators to check the residency status of their school’s students. In contrast, some states like Rhode Island allow illegal immigrants to accept in-state tuition.
Most commentators say that President Obama’s administration has handled immigration issues with a mixed hand. The administration has set records with high deportation numbers, but most of those deported are illegal immigrants who have been convicted of a crime.
A big portion of the debate centers on children born in the United States whose parents are not authorized immigrants. Some people support the idea that these children should be able to remain in the United States even if their parents only came to the United States for the purpose of securing their child’s citizenship. The Supreme Court has ruled in earlier cases that the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution guarantees citizenship for nearly all people born in the country, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Some people argue that these children should be able to sponsor their relatives later, while others believe that only the children of these immigrants should be considered citizens. People on the polar end of the spectrum want to deport even those born here if their parents were here illegally when the child was born.
Both Sides of the Coin
People on both side of the debate want to make sure that all of the laws are applied fairly and without discriminating against any one class. Many disagree about which laws will support these goals and which intentionally or unintentionally cause discrimination against certain groups. Some people argue that illegal immigrants take jobs from citizens, increase the cost of medical care, and increase crime. Other people argue that illegal immigrants take jobs that most Americans will not do, add to our economy through their purchasing of goods and services, and add to the rich diverse culture of America. Most citizens know that a compromise must be reached that will encourage people to legally remain in the country and go through the legal process to gain citizenship.
