Impact of Illegal Immigration 1
The Impact of Illegal immigration to the Department of Homeland Security
CJUS 380-B01
Wallace Canada III
Professor Sterling
Liberty University
10/16/2021
2
Summary of Issue Raised
Immigration is an ever-growing issue in the United States. This issue must be addressed
luckily the Department of Homeland Security is responsible of keep this issue under control and
protecting the borders of this country. Illegal immigration ultimately creates economic
complications for the United States citizens such as losing their jobs and possible drug trades. The
Department of Homeland Security must stay committed to working against illegal immigration so
that these problems do not occur anymore, keeping the American citizens safe. As the United
States Immigration Laws increase, illegal immigrants try to keep a low profile while taking away
opportunities from American citizens. As the Department of Homeland Security works endlessly
to crack down on these illegal actions the United States government must continue to protect the
rights of its citizens.
Position Statement
Immigrants hold jobs that are important to our economy and communities. Immigrant
workers without a college degree — who appear to be a main target of the proposed rule — are
found throughout the economy but make up a sizable share of the workers in certain industries.
Firms in such industries will have a harder time hiring staff if these workers can no longer come to
or stay in the United States. (Sherman, 2019). Research has also shown that immigrants contribute
to native workers’ jobs and wages in sometimes hidden ways. For example, immigrants tend to be
unusually mobile workers, quicker than their native-born peers to move around the country in
response to shortages that appear in local labor markets. This helps native-born workers by filling
gaps that could otherwise make their jobs impossible or reduce their productivity and lower their
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wages. There is a preconceived notion that illegal immigrants have no positive impacts on the
United States, this assumption could not be further from the truth in fact, there are many positive
impacts of illegal immigration such as education, economy, sports, and overall population. These
positive impacts help the United States stay relatively economically free and helps local businesses
thrive while providing good products to their customers. Illegal immigrants work at high rates and
make up more than a third of the workforce in some industries. Their geographic mobility helps
local economies respond to worker shortages, smoothing out bumps that could otherwise weaken
the economy.
Impact of Illegal Immigration
Illegal immigration refers to the migration of people into a country in violation of the
immigration laws of that country. It is also defined as the continued residence without legal right to
live in that country. Typically, this occurs when people from a poorer country seek financial and
economic freedom in a richer country. The main reason for illegal immigration from a foreign
country (Mexico) to the United States is for financial and economic freedom and a better life.
Illegal aliens are usually not financially able to post bail and are less likely to be released from jail
than a citizen on their own recognizance. In an article titled What is Illegal Immigration? from the
Earth Eclipse website that overpopulation occurs when population growth outstrips the overall
capacity of the country. These causes of illegal immigration have been equaled by a great number
of effects. These include the strain that has been put on the United States and its Citizens. Public
utilities have been stretched out to not only meet the needs of United States citizens but also illegal
immigrants that add to the population. Illegal immigration causes loss of jobs for United States
citizens. Employing illegal immigrants means the employer gets away without paying requisite
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taxes. This leads to great savings and customers could end up paying less for products and services.
Even though this sounds like a positive impact it could undermine government programs.
Most illegal immigrants are seeking job opportunities, there is a good number of
immigrants who are involved in criminal activities. For example, the MS-13 gang, which is
comprised of Central American immigrants. Without proper monitoring of those who are
entering the country illegally, criminals and terrorist could also find their way into the
country. This opens up the possibility of the United States crime rate to increase causing all
law enforcement agencies to use more resources and request more funding to handle these
issues. It is understood that one reason for illegal immigrants to attempt to cross the border
is because of overcrowding in their home country. The combination of high benefits and low
cost provides a powerful stimulus for the illegal migration from Mexico to the United States.
Illegal immigrants have an impact on the economic well-being of the legal resident population of
the United States. The impact is on both the level of income and the distribution of income to
residents in the United States.
Review of Literature
Illegal immigration has greatly immigration has greatly impacted the United States
economy by not only opening up more pathways of business but also by allowing employers to
hire these illegal immigrants and pay them less than minimum wage. Even though these
unauthorized citizens make finding jobs harder for United States citizens it balances out by their
great work ethic and desire to eventually obtain citizenship. Their ambitious mindset to achieve the
freedom they value, and desire outweighs any risk and gives them hope to reach a better life.
Hiring illegal immigrants keep the United States economy competitive and active. This also creates
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opportunities for diversity in the workplace and the possibility for employers to grow their
businesses across multiple areas and economic levels.
Economic Impact
Besides the negative connotation that follows illegal immigration the fact is that the United
States needs young immigrants to stay competitive. This creates economic growth and prepares for
an aging workforce and the increased retirements of the “Baby Boomer” generation. According to
an article titled “The Positive Economic Impact of Immigration” found on FWD.org it is claimed
that Immigrants add trillions of dollars to our Gross Domestic Product and tax revenue including,
$2 trillion to the U.S. GDP in 2016 and $329 billion to state and local and federal taxes annually.
Cuts to our legal immigration system would have devastating effects on our economy, including a
2% decrease in the U.S. GDP by 2040, a 12.5% decrease in U.S. economic growth, and 4.6 million
fewer jobs. Middle class families and Rust Belt states would be hit particularly hard, as they rely
on immigration to stabilize their populations and revive their economies. This also translates into
education. It is noted in the article that 43% of all recently arrived immigrants are college
graduates. This is compared 29% of native-born Americans, and 40% of fortune 500 companies
were founded by immigrants and their children, employing over 10 million people worldwide.
Impact on Taxes and Education
The impact that immigrants have on taxes and education is absolutely incredible.
Immigrants make significant contributions to tax revenue including $329 billion in state and local
and federal taxes annually. Undocumented immigrants contribute roughly $11.74 billion a year in
state and local taxes, including more than $7 billion in sales and excise taxes, $3.6 billion in
property taxes, and $1.1 billion in personal income taxes, funding our schools, hospitals, highways
and other essential services. Immigrants are innovators, job creators, and consumers with an
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enormous spending power that drives our economy and creates employment opportunities for all
Americans. International students are a powerful economic asset due to their entrepreneurial spirit,
innovative skills and vast spending power. They spend billions of dollars as consumers, supporting
local businesses, and go on to found companies like Google, Yahoo! and Trulia, employing
hundreds of thousands of Americans. It is stated in the Article titled Immigrants Contribute
Greatly to U.S. Economy, Despite Administration’s “Public Charge” Rule Rationale written by
Arloc Sherman that Immigrants hold jobs that are important to our economy and communities.
Immigrant workers without a college degree — who appear to be a main target of the proposed
rule — are found throughout the economy but make up a sizable share of the workers in certain
industries. Firms in such industries will have a harder time hiring staff if these workers can no
longer come to or stay in the United States.
Conclusion
To summarize all point that have been discussed. The positive impacts of illegal
immigrants justify why many immigrants risk their lives and freedom to find economic and
financial gains. The impact immigration has had on the United States economy and education is
significant due to the many opportunities for diversity and a competitive market. Lastly this opens
doors for higher wages and more production of resources.
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References
Illegal immigration: A positive economic contribution to ... (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2021,
from
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omic_Contribution_to_the_United_States
Immigration facts: The positive economic impact of immigration. (2020, September 22). Retrieved
March 12, 2021, from https://www.fwd.us/news/immigration-facts-the-positive-economic-
impact-of-immigration/
Introduction to Homeland Security: Principles OF All-Hazards risk Management, Edition 5 by jane
A. BULLOCK, George D. Haddow, DAMON P. COPPOLA - books on Google Play. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 12, 2021, from
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Introduction_to_Homeland_Security_Principles_
of_Al?id=M--cBAAAQBAJ&gl=US
By Arloc Sherman, More from the Authors Arloc Sherman Areas of Expertise, Arloc Sherman
Areas of Expertise Poverty and Inequality Family Income Support Recent Work: House
COVID Relief Bill I, Arloc Sherman Areas of Expertise Poverty and Inequality Family
Income Support Recent Work: House COVID Relief Bill I, Recent Work: House COVID
Relief Bill Includes Critical Expansions of Child Tax Credit and EITC Bolstering Family
Income Is Essential to Helping Children Emerge Successfully From the Current Cri, House
COVID Relief Bill Includes Critical Expansions of Child Tax Credit and EITC Bolstering
Family Income Is Essential to Helping Children Emerge Successfully From the Current
Crisis Bolstering Family Income Essential to Help Children E, . . . Parrott: Senate’s
American Rescue Plan Would Dramatically Reduce Hardship. (2019, August 15).
Immigrants contribute greatly to U.S. economy, DESPITE Administration's "Public
CHARGE" RULE RATIONALE. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from
https://www.cbpp.org/research/poverty-and-inequality/immigrants-contribute-greatly-to-us-
economy-despite-administrations
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