Domestic Public Policy Challenge

Introduction

Issues pertaining to immigration have been extremely controversial in the recent times. In fact, different individuals have different opinions not only with regard to the impact or effects of illegal immigration, but also on the most appropriate and effective techniques in solving the issue. Underlining the importance of immigration as a policy challenge is the fact that I touches on numerous aspects of the economy. A report released by the economic team in the White House showed that immigrants provide a stable workforce in the agricultural sector. According to the report, the elimination of the immigrants’ workforce would result in the production-related losses of more than $3 billion up from $1.7 billion per year in California alone. On the same, the issue of immigration touches on the security of the United States. Janet Napolitano, the secretary of Department of Homeland Security told the Congress in 2012 that terrorists enter the United States through the Mexican border (Lyons 43) This should not be surprising especially considering that the revelation comes hot on the heels of a 2011 report that stated that the over 7500 individuals coming from countries that have considerable terrorist elements or countries seen as state terror sponsors were apprehended in the south-western border (Lyons 45). The countries of origin included Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen. Security officials believe that the Somali Al-Shabaab terrorist group, which is associated with al-Qaeda, may have managed to smuggle close to a thousand individuals across the United States border.

Historical Background and Efforts in Addressing Illegal Immigration

Immigration has been part of the American fabric since time immemorial. Indeed, this is essentially the reason why the United States came to be known as “the melting pot”. However, the issue of illegal immigration can be traced to the late 19th century (Lyons 46). Scholars note that from 1881 to 1920, more than 23 million immigrants had poured into the United States. This prompted the Congress to pass the Quota Law, which resulted in the reduction of immigration to around 350,000 every year. Indeed, the number of immigrants by 1924 had reduced to 160,000. However, Mexicans were not restricted from entering the U.S as they provided cheap labor. Scholars note that the legal immigration resulted in today’s illegal immigration (Kenney 44).

One of the most fundamental policies made in an effort to limit illegal immigration was the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which gave amnesty to approximately 3 million illegal immigrants. The illegal immigrants who had been in the country for more than five would be granted temporary legal status and later be granted citizenship upon meeting certain conditions (Kenney 40). However, the number of illegal immigrants that were essentially given citizenship exceeded expectations due to fraud in the exercise. The amnesty was complemented by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, which was still aimed at limiting the numbers further (Kenney 42). Unfortunately, the problem persisted through to the Bush administration. Currently, the number of illegal immigrants is touted to be between 12 and 20 million, which is an immense increase from the 7 million in the year 2000 (Kenney 45).

Underlying causes of illegal immigration

Scholars have noted that illegal immigration has been primarily caused by the limited channels that the immigration system provides for legal permanent migration, especially with regard to low-skilled workers. This has resulted in the trumping up of legal structures by economic incentives, thereby creating a large pool of illegal but low skilled immigrants. In addition, employer sanctions pertaining to illegal immigration have been extremely ineffective and ambiguous thereby making it easy for illegal immigrants to find work (Miller 33). These sanctions do not have sufficient mechanisms for verification of employment eligibility, funding for enforcement f interior immigration, or even political will as a result to the U.S economy’s labor needs. On the same note, there has been conflicting political will over the issue of illegal immigrants (Lyons 49). As much as the public is concerned about violations of U.S law and sovereignty, it, at the same time requires strong economic performance, which essentially hinders efforts of disrupting economic activities pertaining to illegal workers. This has resulted in overwhelming focus on the Mexican border, while few resources are channeled interior enforcement.

Policy Options for Combating Illegal Immigration

Efforts to combat the problem of illegal immigration must incorporate three ingredients.

First, it is imperative that effective workplace verification mechanisms are established. In this case, employers should have the tools, as well as legal responsibility to verify the eligibility of a prospective employee to work.

Second, there should be a relaxation of the legal avenues of getting into the country. While temporary worker programs may be good, they come with an entire set of problems such as social divisions and differentiation between citizens and workers (Miller 34). This underlines the necessity of increased permanent economic migration.

Lastly, resources must be extended beyond border control. In this case, adequate resources have to be channeled to the enforcement of immigration laws in the workplace. Real penalties must be imposed on employers who engage illegal immigrants.

Suggested solution

Combating the problem of illegal immigrants necessitates that a combination of strategies are used. This would not only involve closing the borders but also putting in place measures that would eliminate the incentives for illegal immigrants to come to the United States. Research shows that about 500,000 illegal immigrants get into the country yearly with those coming to look for greener pastures being more than 96% (Lyons 54). This is the result of laxity in enforcing immigration laws that have real penalties to employers. In this case, meting harsh penalties on such employers would make it difficult for illegal immigrants to obtain jobs, thereby eliminating the incentives to get to the United States illegally.

Works cited

Miller, Debra A. Illegal Immigration. San Diego, Calif: ReferencePoint Press, 2007. Print.

Kenney, Karen L. Illegal Immigration. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub. Co, 2008. Print

Lyons, Charlton. Illegal Immigration: The Consequence of Misplaced Trust : a Layman’s Close, Hard Look at the Immigration Reform and Contol Act of 1986. Bloomington, Ind: Authorhouse, 2012. Print.