The Pros and Cons of Illegal Immigration into the United States Essay e

The Pros and Cons of Illegal Immigration into the United States Illegal immigration has been an important and serious issue for decades; which affects everyone, both Americans and immigrants themselves. Illegal Immigration has three main purposes: first to find a better life in the ?promise land?, second: free healthcare, and third: for criminal activity. Most illegal immigrants come to America with the best intentions for themselves and/or their families, but many others have alternative motives. The thing that must be remembered is that illegal immigration is illegal. It?s all in the name. ?Over 6 million illegal immigrants live in the US- some estimate even more.? (Illegal Immigration) This is astonishing. Six million people could make up a whole suburb such as Mesa or Chandler. Immigrants arrive in America in different ways. One is crossing the border illegally by land. Another way get into the US are by false identities or by stolen, or falsified passports. Another way is by illegal smuggling boats. ?Others enter with legal documentation and then violate the terms on which they have been admitted by taking jobs that are not authorized or overstaying the authorized period of stay in the country? (Illegal Immigration) A bad side to having such a large amount of illegal immigrants in the nation is the crime rate and prison population caused by certain ?illegals?. ?Illegal immigration is a major cause in the overcrowding of our schools and our prisons.? (Bender, David) Michael Huffington, a former member of the US House of Reps. For California says that, ?Many illegal immigrants come for two purposes that are both destructive and expensive: to commit crimes or to receive government benefits.... ...ed by those individuals will hopefully decrease. And perhaps by instituting other policies which help the people who want a better life; and are willing to take the steps to becoming a citizen, will make America not so much of a hide out, but the land of opportunity that is once was less than a century and a half ago. Works Cited Bender, David, Bruno Leone, Charles P. Cozic. Illegal Immigration, Opposing Viewpoints. California: San Diego, 1997. Huffington, Michael. Illegal Aliens, The Immigration Experience. Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, 1997. ?Illegal Immigration is a Crime.? Issue Brief. http/:www.fairus.org/html/04113604.htm. 6 April 2001. Izumi, Lance T. ?Illegal Immigration and Crime.? Capital Ideas: Intellectual Capital from the Political Capitol. 2 September 1997. http/:www.padificresearch.org/capital/97-9-02.html. 7 April 2001.