Illegal Immigration: a Threat to America?
Illegal Immigration: a Threat to America?
One of the most prevalent issues threatening the well being of the United States is illegal immigration. Because illegal immigration is a threat to national security the United States must stop the in-flow of illegal immigrants. The United Sates has tightened its security at airports ever since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Although the increased security at the U.S. borders has been slow to develop. Why increase security at airports and not at the borders? It is much easier to increase security at airports than it is to at the borders. The money and effort involved to secure the borders is largely different. It is a unique problem that requires an innovative solution. It is taking far longer to even begin to handle the security at the borders, although the United States is finally starting to make some headway. According to a report published on June 17, 2008 by a nonpartisan research group. “Criminal prosecutions of immigrants by federal authorities surged to a record high in March, as immigration cases accounted for the majority — 57 percent — of all new federal criminal cases brought nationwide that month. Skip to next paragraphImmigration cases also made up more than half of new federal prosecutions in February, reflecting a major emphasis on immigration by the Bush administration and a policy shift to expand the use of criminal, rather than civil, charges in its efforts to curb illegal immigration.” (Preston 18) Immigration reform is starting to take shape. Although this recent push to criminally convict illegal immigrants is a start, it does not solve the problem. However, “deportations of illegal immigrants rose from 178,657 in fiscal 2005 to 282,548 in fiscal 2007—up 58 percent. At the same time, apprehensions are down sharply along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border—in fiscal 2007, 859,000 illegal immigrants were stopped, compared with 1.07 million in 2006—an indication that fewer people are
One of the most prevalent issues threatening the well being of the United States is illegal immigration. Because illegal immigration is a threat to national security the United States must stop the in-flow of illegal immigrants. The United Sates has tightened its security at airports ever since the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Although the increased security at the U.S. borders has been slow to develop. Why increase security at airports and not at the borders? It is much easier to increase security at airports than it is to at the borders. The money and effort involved to secure the borders is largely different. It is a unique problem that requires an innovative solution. It is taking far longer to even begin to handle the security at the borders, although the United States is finally starting to make some headway. According to a report published on June 17, 2008 by a nonpartisan research group. “Criminal prosecutions of immigrants by federal authorities surged to a record high in March, as immigration cases accounted for the majority — 57 percent — of all new federal criminal cases brought nationwide that month. Skip to next paragraphImmigration cases also made up more than half of new federal prosecutions in February, reflecting a major emphasis on immigration by the Bush administration and a policy shift to expand the use of criminal, rather than civil, charges in its efforts to curb illegal immigration.” (Preston 18) Immigration reform is starting to take shape. Although this recent push to criminally convict illegal immigrants is a start, it does not solve the problem. However, “deportations of illegal immigrants rose from 178,657 in fiscal 2005 to 282,548 in fiscal 2007—up 58 percent. At the same time, apprehensions are down sharply along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border—in fiscal 2007, 859,000 illegal immigrants were stopped, compared with 1.07 million in 2006—an indication that fewer people are
Cited: Gross, Daniel “The New Dream Isn’t American.” Newsweek 26 May. 2008: 30-31. Hall, Mimi. “Despite new technology, Border Patrol overwhelmed.” USA Today 22 Feb. 2005. 26 June 2008 . “Illegal Immigrants Add To States’ Economics” USA Today 23 Apr. 2008. Phillips, Noelle. “S.C. Businesses Face Deadline to Comply With State Law Aimed at Illegal Immigration.” State [Columbia] 07 June 2008. Preston, Julia. “More Illegal Crossings Are Criminal Cases, Group Says.” New York Times 18 June. 2008, natl. ed.: p18.