Glynn Nathan Race And American Politics Friday, February 22nd, 2008
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"As surely as the winds and rains of Hurricane Andrew assaulted South Florida in a crisis that forever changed it, there is another storm, illegal immigration, that is battering our shores today." --Lawton Chiles, Governor of Florida, 1994
Blurry Immigration Policy The United States must take action and needs to implement new policy in order to compensate for all of the many financial problems placed on the backs of taxpayers due to the current immigration policy loopholes. I will cover a total of three different situations where the U.S. and its immigration policy are unclear. The Immigration policy of today, is outdated, needs to be reformed. The immigration points I will cover healthcare, education, and crime. Healthcare: In the U.S., we have a struggle of our own to deal with when it comes to the national healthcare scene. Illegal Immigrants enter our hospitals everyday to receive free medical care and federal law prevents us from abstaining entry. Above all, this election season, the federal government and presidential candidates have been in detailed discussions about the implementation of a universal healthcare system. Most of the debate is how this initiative can be funded. In the United States, we already are having struggles allocating funds for universal healthcare. We shouldn't have to account for Illegal Immigrants when in universal healthcare debate. Immigration laws give the family more margins to reunite. "This is
nepotism, they believe, or at best a response to a specific interest of a few Americans, and not to the national interest" (Isbister, 21). Education: Under the current Immigration policy, we have no way of controlling these costs with our educational system. Illegal Immigrants swamp our schools, and federal courts render us powerless to deny them access. Instead we spend huge extra sums on remedial education in English. Here at home in the United States, our k-12 educational system is funded by the State and property taxes. "In Los Angeles County, it is a fact in 1990 that for every 35 students, 1 needs full time language assistance" (CQ Researcher.) This drives up the cost of education 65% upwards per school district. In 1993 it has risen to 1 out of every 20. This is fine, if it can be funded. However, property taxes cannot cover this increase when there are 2-4 families, ranging from 4-12 members living in one household. Fiscally, it just doesn't add up. Crime Alien inmates are an epidemic in the United States. Most alien criminals, once released are repeat offenders. Actually..."forty percent of these inmates will be arrested again" (Huffington, 63). In the state of California, crime rates seem to be almost exponential. "In 1987, 24 percent
of the arrests made in the City of Los Angeles were of illegal immigrants. And yet few felons are deported. This policy costs California taxpayers nearly $420 million each year to keep illegal immigrant convicts in prison" (Huffington, 66). On a fifteen year time scale, crime increased by 200%. "During 2000, 16,495 persons were referred to the U.S. attorneys for a suspected immigration offense as the most serious offense" (U.S. Dept. of Justice). Clarion Clear Immigration Policy In conclusion, the United States must take action and needs to implement new policy in order to compensate for all of the many financial problems placed on the backs of taxpayers due to the current immigration policy loopholes. First give substantial support for the North American Free Trade Agreement; this will enable new jobs to be created within the United States and Mexico. This will allow Mexicans to take advantage of jobs in Mexico, and not cross the economical federal border illegally looking for work. Next, work out a way to stem the tendency of illegal immigrants. The federal government can start by denying welfare benefits to illegal immigration community, deport all illegal immigrants convicted of a crime, and forbid the right of citizenship to illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil.
Works Cited
Huffinton, Jonathan. Illegal Immigration. Ed. Charles P. Cozic. San Diego: Greenhaven P, INC, 1997. 63-67.
Isbister, John. The Immigration Debate. West Hartford: Kumarian P, INC, 1996. 9-23.
Scalla, John, and Marika F. Litras. "Immigration Offenders in the Federal Criminal Justice System, 2000." Federal Justice Statistics Program (2002). U.S. Department of Justice. Winona. 22 Feb. 2008. Keyword: Immigration Crime.