Introduction
Over the last two decades, the number of undocumented or illegal immigrants in America has increased significantly despite the stern laws and regulations, on ligula immigration and advanced border patrol. For example, as at 2016, the number of unauthored immigrants in the united states was estimated to be 10.7 million which is approximately 3.3% of the American population but this is an estimate as the illegal immigrants usually avoid being counted (Krogstad, et al.). Among the illegal immigrants, the percentage of the Mexican illegal immigrants amounted to 53% which shows that Mexicans account for a larger percentage of the illegal immigrants in the united states and this can be attributed to the porous maxi can American border and cross border deals between the Mexicans and Americans. However, after entering the United States, the plight of the illegal immigrants in America is dependent on how connected the illegal immigrants were due to constant profiling and harassment by the police. Most illegal immigrants find ready jobs while some have families and friends in the united states who can help them settle in the United States. By examining the plight of illegal immigrants in America, the author argues that illegal immigrants who are already in America should contribute in economic development because there are a lot of talents that go to waste if they are unemployed.
The Plight of Illegal Immigrants in the United States
Difficulty Getting Citizenships or Jobs
Most of the illegal immigrants find it difficult to acquire citizenships even after staying in American form more than 20 years. By nature, people should acquire citizenships after staying in America for more than 3 years (Tang 44). Citizenship can also be acquired through marriages but the undocumented workers cannot acquire citizenships because even after marrying an American citizen because they do not have the necessary papers need to registers and get the identification documents. Most citizens rarely get jobs in America. Most of the corrasions have an employment policy against the employment of undocumented workers. It is increasingly getting difficult for illegal immigrants to be legitimately employed. Therefore, most undocumented workers and illegal immigrants must be employed by some companies that engage in tax avoidance in exchange for low payment. With the minimum wage increasing by the day, most profit-oriented companies employ illegal immigrants who are willing to accept meager pay even if they are qualified to get the jobs. The fact that they do not have proper delineation and citizenship status makes them a risk to the company that might be indicted for employing undocumented workers. Therefore, they should be assisted to get into gainful employment.
Inability to Access Healthcare and Health Insurance
Lack of necessary documentation is a major risk that most illegal immigrants take without considering the risk of death in the event of sickness. Most illegal immigrant areas escaping from the homeland security officers and immigration authorities in America. Therefore, they cannot have legitimate health insurance or seek medical care from government institutions because they fear their undocumented status can be discovered (XIAO). An illegal immigrant in America is therefore likely to suffer injuries and die of sicknesses without seeking proper medical care because they either fear deportation or cannot afford the high cost of hospitalization. Illegal immigrants should be empowered to take care of themselves financially and emotionally.
Racism
Illegal immigrants have been the targets of cruelty in America. Most racists attacks on migrants are reported and proper legal actions were taken but the illegal immigrants can not report such racist attacks because they do not have the legitimate right to protest and testify in courts. Illegal immigrants are being attacked for taking jobs that should have been done by the American citizens. most jobless American attribute their joblessness to illegal immigrants whole the employed attribute their low wage to the illegal immigrants who are the ready replacement for fewer wages (Kochavi 224). The immigrants also argue that they are wrongly targeted by the American because they feel that the immigrants worsen their life. The financial burden caused by the illegal immigrants on this United State at the federal, state and local levels is too high this means that American resources are overstretched to cover all the citizens in America. Americans feel threatened by illegal immigrants in terms of employment, wage, social amenities, and social services. Therefore, illegal immigrants should not be left at the mercy of legal citizens.
Starvation Doctrine
The starvation doctrine is one of the strategies used by some states to control illegal immigration. The illegal immigrants are named to undergo difficulties with the hope for forcing them to leave America. For example, the immigrants are made to undergo starvation, joblessness, lack of money and other important necessities. Illegal immigrants are starved by denying them access to important items such as medical benefits, state identity, and jobs. This way, they can not travel far and must seek medical help from public facilities and risk being caught without these necessary items, the illegal immigrants and their relatives or people who associate with them are singingly affected (Dick 34). Never the less, some of the well-connected illegal immigrants manage to survive for far too long in America before they are apprehended. Only the law enforcement officers apprehend a few people. Instead of starving the people who are using the country's resources, immigrants should be made responsible for their expenses.
Lack of Housing
Over the past two decades, the number of homeless people has increased in the street. Most homeless peoples are illegal immigrants who do not have jobs and cannot get employed. The illegal immigrants do not have the necessary American education to be employed by the legitimate state firms (Burroughs, and O'Reilly 75). Additionally, these people cannot own property or be allowed in section 8. For example, the Trump administration has actively opposed to illegal immigrants. The newly proposed rules prevent illegal immigrants from accessing public housing finance assistance. Only Americans will be given priority when reviewing the housing subsidies. If this proposal from the department of housing and urban development (HUD) are implemented, the illegal immigrants will be the affected and their number will increase in the street (Xiao, 2019). Therefore, illegal immigrants should be very afraid.
Conclusion
In conclusion, illegal immigrants are in American illegally. However, they come to America because of several reasons. There are those who are running away from the law enforcement officer in their country. there are those who are escaping persecution and there are those who have a genuine reason for coming to American just with the American dream of making their life better. Instead of subjecting the illegal immigrants to difficulties in America just because they do not have the necessary papers to be in America legally, the focus should be on how the illegal immigrants can contribute to the economy. Instead of leaving the immigrants to suffer even the most educated and talented, an immigration sanctuary can be developed for illegal immigrants as they undergo training to make them fit to contribute to the economy. The American immigration policy should be evaluated and thoughtful legislation be put in place to ensure that no one is left behind once they reach America and no talent is left to go to waste while there are a lot of ways that the immigrant's talents can be put to use for economic development.
Works Cited
Burroughs, Elaine, and Zoe O'Reilly. "Discursive Representations Of Asylum Seekers And Illegal Immigrants In Ireland". Ars & Humanitas, vol 7, no. 2, 2013, pp. 59-70. The University Of Ljubljana, doi:10.4312/ah.7.2.59-70.
Dick, Hilary Parsons. "Making Immigrants Illegal In Small-Town USA". Journal Of Linguistic Anthropology, vol 21, 2011, pp. E35-E55. Wiley, doi:10.1111/j.1548-1395.2011.01096.x.
Kochavi, Arieh. "British Response To The Involvement Of The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee In Illegal Jewish Immigration To Palestine". Immigrants & Minorities, vol 8, no. 3, 1989, pp. 223-234. Informa UK Limited, doi:10.1080/02619288.1989.9974717.
Krogstad, Jens Manuel et al. "5 Facts About Illegal Immigration In The U.S.". Pew Research Center, 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/11/28/5-facts-about-illegal-immigration-in-the-u-s/. Accessed 3 May 2019.
Tang, Huiyun. "Conservative Immigration Reform And Illegal Immigrants". Sociology Study, vol 5, no. 12, 2015. David Publishing Company, doi:10.17265/2159-5526/2015.12.002.
Xiao, Bowen. "Trump Admin Cracks Down On Public Housing Aid For Illegal Immigrants". Www.Theepochtimes.Com, 2019, https://www.theepochtimes.com/trump-admin-cracks-down-on-public-housing-aid-for-illegal-immigrants_2886942.html. Accessed 3 May 2019.
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Research Paper on Illegal Immigration in America: 3.3% of Population and Rising. (2023, Jan 10). Retrieved from https://proessays.net/essays/research-paper-on-illegal-immigration-in-america-3-3-of-population-and-rising
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