Illegal Immigration Issue Analysis

All across our nation we have been burdened as American citizens by what feels like a moral dilemma. The issue of births from unauthorized immigrant parents has become more prevalent in the past decade. In 2007, 9% of all babies were born to immigrant parents in the United States (Passel and Cohn). More recently, in 2013, 295,000 babies were born to illegal aliens (“Overall number of unauthorized immigration hold steady since 2009”). Thus presenting an obvious problem that needs to be evaluated rather than ignored. Though one must consider the detrimental effect, this could have on a child. Is it wrong to separate a mother from their child once they have been born in the U.S.? Children of illegal immigrants face consequences for their parents being undocumented citizens.
citizens because of their parent’s illegal status (Haugen and Musser). These children are often eligible for public benefits but often don’t get them. 30% of children of illegal immigrants are considered “mixed status” because of their parents. In addition, 75% of these children came from low-income families at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (The Children of Undocumented Immigrants). This, in turn, has a big impact on these children. However, there are some situations where the parents get taken away by authorities due to the fact that they are not born in the United States. A common conflict with this action is simply that it becomes traumatic towards their children. Thus placing them in foster care and being taken away from their parents. Studies show that at least 5,100 children in 22 states are currently in foster care (“U.S. Immigration made easy”). It makes these children wonder why one or both parents are missing or absent. It’s also an issue because it is so difficult for these parents to be reunited with their children