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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities
and Measures to Protect American Citizens
Emma Dieterle
Helms School of Government, Liberty University
GOVT 327: State and Local Government
Professor Aaron Van Allen
November 22, 2021
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
Abstract
Illegal immigration is one of the greatest challenges facing our state and local governments.
Border states and communities have had to devote vast resources to accommodate the recent
arrivals from Central America. As a result of the surge of migrants along the border states, there
has been an increase in crime, local job losses, tax avoidance, concerns about voting integrity,
and has put a strain on local hospitals and clinics to treat the surge in Covid-19 cases. Current
policies to secure the border offer little protection for local communities. To reduce the crisis that
local governments face, existing immigration law must be enforced to preclude migrants from
illegally entering the country. Border wall and security must be reinstated and employers
disincentivized from hiring illegal immigrants within the agriculture and meat processing
industry and other sectors of the economy. All individuals that want to immigrate must go
through the application process to legally come to this country. A country that does not police its
borders will cease to be a country. Border security must be strengthened and existing laws
enforced to require migrants to adhere to the process for legally immigrating to the United States.
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
The History of Illegal Immigration.
What Has Led Our Country to This Point?
Illegal immigration transpires when people traverse national borders and violate
the immigration border laws of a nation (Chiswick, 2016). Local government and
communities across our nation, and especially those along the southern border, are in a
state of crisis because of illegal immigration. Open borders have resulted in a breakdown
in safety in communities as violent crime has surged from gang activity and gun and drug
trafficking accompanying migrants. Similarly, illegal immigration has led to job losses
for Americans and has further strained local budgets as more resources are spent on
policing and caring for migrants. The recent influx of migrants are pushing many
communities to the breaking point. Local governments cannot meet the increased
demands that the new arrivals place on services that are already stretched by Covid-19.
The situation is no longer tenable and cries out for the systemic overhaul of our
immigration policies. Simply put, immigration laws must be enforced, and the border
secured to reduce the strain on local communities. Persons who desire to immigrate to
our country must enter in a way that respect our laws and should comport with the
process for becoming legal residents and ultimately citizens. Complying with our
immigration laws, coupled with the protection of our borders, will promote the safety and
well-being of those communities that are the most vulnerable to illegal migration.
“More than 1 million immigrants arrive in the U.S. each year” (Budiman, 2020). The
majority of the people seeking to illegally arrive in our country come from Mexico. “In
2000, some 97 percent of the 1.6 million people apprehended trying to cross the border
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
into the United States were single Mexican nationals” (Bowman et al., 2021). The United
States has sought to stem the tide of illegal migrants from Mexico, and its neighboring
countries to the south, by promoting closer regional and economic ties, with special focus
on trade and investment. However, the efforts to promote economic stability in Mexico
has been undermined by lax border control and archaic immigration policies that date
back to the Reagan Administration (Griswold, D. T. 2003) New policies are required that
will increase border policing, enforce existing immigration laws, and disincentivize
American employers from hiring migrants in order to lessen the impact that illegal
immigration have on local communities.
Congress needs to honor its obligation to “support and defend the Constitution of
the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” This includes finally
passing comprehensive immigration reform and adequately funding border wall
construction and policing to reduce illegal crossings. What is occurring at the southern
border is a violation of our national sovereignty. Substantive policy proposals are needed
to enact and reform immigration laws and strengthen border security to alleviate the
pressures being placed on local communities from illegal immigration,
Border security is an essential action that must be implemented to ensure the
safety of Americans in their local towns and communities. Border security protects states
against illegal possessions of drugs, weapons, and contraband. According to the
Department of Homeland Security, border security is, “the act of protecting our borders
from illegal movement of weapons, drugs, contraband, and people, while promoting
lawful entry and exit, is essential to homeland security, economic prosperity, and national
sovereignty” (Border Security, 2015). Due to the growing violence and crime accompany
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
illegal migrants, there needs to be an increased focus upon border security. Weak,
ineffective borders permit accessible entrance into the United States for terrorists and
smugglers. “Texas and its Department of Public Safety reports that illegal aliens were
arrested and charged with more than 298,000 crimes, an average of over 39,000 per year,
from June 1, 2011, to the end of 2018. Though some of these arrests were for nonviolent
crimes, such as theft, burglary, or drug offenses, they also include many violent crimes:
624 homicides, 1,911 robberies, and 3,955 sexual assaults (which, under Texas law,
include rapes)” (Barry Latzer, 2019). The reality is that illegal immigrants put Americans
lives at risk. Our country has put a process and protocol that would allow people to enter
our country in a legal manner. This process needs to be enacted by ensuring strict border
security.
The failure of Congress to adequately address legal immigration has allowed it to
become a major crisis. A historical overview is necessary to arrive at an understanding of
how illegal immigration has come to be the crisis it is today. The issue of illegal
immigration in the United States has become further complicated by ineffective
government policies, market forces, and elite power groups undermining our American
Republic, Constitution, and the rule of law.
In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the Naturalization Acts
that provided the very first guidelines for national citizenship. (A century of lawmaking
for a new nation: U.S. congressional documents and debates, 1774 - 1875., n.d.). In this
act, Congress emphasized and affirmed that the process for nationalized citizenship may
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
only be prescribed by law. Following the law is of utmost importance as it leads to a safer
country and upright citizenship. Thereafter, in 1798 President John Adams signed the
Alien and Sedition Acts. This act gives the President power to expel “aliens” because
they are considered “dangerous to the peace and safety of the United States” (Transcript
of alien and sedition acts, 1798). The Founders understood the necessity of having laws
enforced in order to keep citizens protected and safeguarded.
In 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. This act established a 10-
year freeze on Chinese labor migration. This act was in a response to U.S. citizens
speaking out against the fact that Chinese migrants were creating unemployment and
declining wages for Americans. This law is significant in that it restricted immigration
into the United States.
As we take a look back, we recognize that the Founding Fathers knew that the
issue of illegal immigration in one form or another would be a future problem for the
nation. The Lord provided them with great insight and wisdom which led them to
delineate guidelines for national citizenship in a legal and proper manner. The issue of
illegal immigration was not as axiomatic as it is today. Nevertheless, it is of utmost
importance to understand how it was originally intended to be dealt with so we can make
application of that to today’s pressing problem of illegal immigration.
Jumping ahead to 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the United States
Immigration and Nationality Act. This act largely abolished inequitable quota restrictions
based on immigrants’ countries of origin. It also restricted immigration from Western
Hemispheric countries for the first time. In 1996, the United States saw an immense
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
increase of illegal immigrants. Congress responded by expanding border control
agencies, investing in barriers/ walls within high-traffic areas, as well as increasing
penalties for anyone who assisted migrants in the process of illegal immigration.
A couple years later, an informal group emerged to address the issue of illegal
immigration because they perceived the Federal government had failed to protect border
towns and enforce immigration laws. The Minuteman Project started getting volunteers
together through activism and extrajudicially surveying the border. The many attempts
by Congress to enact immigration reform had failed to stop the flow of illegal immigrants
from crossing into our country. At that point, in 2004, there was about an “estimated 10.4
million unauthorized immigrants that were in the United States” (Passel, 2005). The
numbers of illegal immigrants had increased to such a high degree and the government
was not providing any effective policy solutions to this issue. Immigration reform proved
impossible to attain because of the clash between those that agree with border protection
and those that encourage open borders. We are experiencing the same issues today that
those American citizens were confronted with years ago. Policies, restrictions, and
measures need to be put into place in order to protect the “We the People”.
The problem of illegal immigrants flooding across our border was exacerbated by
President Barack Obama back in 2012. He announced that the United States shall not be
deporting illegal immigrants that meet certain requirements. “The individual must be no
more than 30 years old, have come to the United States under age 16, and pose no threat
to national security or public safety.” (Scobey-Thal, 2014). This policy did anything but
encourage immigrants to go through the legal process. It allowed “800,000
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
undocumented immigrants age 30 or younger to remain and work in the United States
legally” (Why some illegal immigrants aren't celebrating Obama's new policy, 2012).
Most recently in 2017, President Donald Trump desired U.S. Immigration and
Customs enforcement (ICE) to assertively use the 287(g) program to deputize state and
local law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration law. President Trump’s
intentions were to add another extra layer of law enforcement to increase border
protection. President Trump’s desire was to remove all undocumented illegal immigrants.
In order to bring about major reform, the first step is to remove those have not taken the
proper legal steps necessary to enter the country. President Trump’s plans were
challenged in the federal court. “In June 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court, while refusing to
take position on the overall legality of DACA, ruled that the manner by which the Trump
Administration sought to end the program was arbitrary and capricious” (Bowman et al.,
2021). Actions to end the DACA program were not taken because of the upcoming
election. Thus, we continue to experience the effects of illegal immigration as it disrupts
the daily lives of citizens in local towns and communities along the border. There must be
ways in which we can correct and resolve the problem to produce the best results for
American citizens.
History is a tool for us to glean from the past. History is also a means through
which we can take past principles and policies that have been effective in order to
reinstate them. This is not only a matter of applying the rule of law, but it roots itself back
to God’s Word. Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, “The Rocks, his work is perfect, for all his
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he”
(Deuteronomy 32:4, English Standard Version). God set into motion a system of moral
uprightness and law. We have an established system of immigration laws in our nation;
yet, we have elected officials in government that resist enforcing the rule of law and
partaking in immigration reform. One of the paramount issues of our day is the crisis of
illegal immigration and how it is adversely impacting our nation.
The Positive and Negative Sides of Illegal Immigration
It is critically important to understand both the positive and negative impacts of
illegal immigration in order to fully comprehend this issue. There are several key
perspectives that must be considered to arrive at this understanding.
One of the issues that must be analyzed is the contention that illegal immigrants
expand the American economy. Those that disagree with this argument state that illegal
immigrants do not benefit local economies through spending, as they send a large
percentage of their wages back to their countries of national origin. “Illegal immigrants
residing in the U.S. send $50 billion in remittances to their home countries each year,
according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The World Bank estimates that number is
even higher, closer to $120 billion” (“Illegal Immigrants,” 2014). Another study states
that illegal immigrants pay approximately $11.6 billion in indirect taxes paid on utilities,
clothing, gasoline, etc. (Undocumented Immigrants’ State & Local Tax Contributions,
2017). Those in favor of this argument suggest that illegal immigrants boost the local
economy by patronizing local restaurants and businesses. However, this impact is greatly
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
offset by the strain that illegal immigration puts on public resources at the state and local
level. “There are city and state income taxes, fuel surcharges, sales and property taxes,
etc…. States and localities also bear the main burden for financial costs associated with
public education, city and county infrastructure, and local courts and jails. The combined
total of state and local government general expenditures on illegal aliens is
$18,571,428,571. The services referenced in this section are supported directly by the
payment of city and state taxes and related fees” (O’Brien & Raley, 2017)
Another issue that requires understanding is the access that illegal immigrants
have to state-funded social welfare programs. Citizens are impacted when their tax
dollars are being redirected to fund the providing of social services to illegal immigrants.
Citizens are increasingly frustrated when their hard-earned money is going forth and
providing social services to illegal immigrants. By contrast, advocates for migrants
contend that they should have access to welfare programs on humanitarian grounds. This
is a disingenuous argument as it demonstrates an absolute disregard for the legal
procedures and process for entering into the United States legally. In fact, entering the
country illegally actually prevents migrants from having complete access to many state-
funded social welfare programs. A study shared, “In 2014, 63 percent of households
headed by a non-citizen reported that they used at least one welfare program, compared
to 35 percent of native-headed households” (Camarota, & Zeigler, 2018).
Many American businesses benefit financially from illegal immigration as
migrants are an abundant source of cheap labor. There are those that propose that
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
American companies will become less competitive if they do not break labor laws and
refrain from employing illegal immigrants. A research study on the impact of the hiring
of illegal immigrants on the job prospects of Americans workers concluded that,
“Compared with their share of the overall U.S. workforce, unauthorized immigrants had a
larger presence in production (8%), service (8%) and transportation and material moving
(6%)” (Krogstad et al., 2020). The large percentage of immigrants holding jobs in these
sectors of the economy means there are less employment opportunities for American
workers. This is a critical factor to consider when weighing the overall impact of illegal
immigration. There are both positive and negative vantage points to contemplate
regarding the issue of illegal immigration. However, what is paramount is that we live in
a nation of laws. We will not have a secure nation unless we end the policy of open
borders and require immigrants to follow the process for legally coming into our country.
Our Founders understood this wisdom and it is still applicable today.
Illegal immigrants crossing into our country have contributed to an increase in
crime. “In 2002, police department reports indicated that more than 33% of criminal were
non-American citizens” (Miller, 2005). “Out of this population, 55% were in the country
illegally, which means that more than half of the crimes committed by immigrants are
associated with illegal immigration” (Legomsky, 2007). These statistics further confirm
the fact that illegal immigrants are associated with crime and lawbreaking. The United
States should always hold to an America first perspective. Crimes perpetrated by illegal
immigrants is putting the lives of American citizens at risk.
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
The impact of crime carried out illegal immigrants is very apparent, especially in
local communities. “More than 90% of illegal immigrants arrested by federal agents in
the United States last year had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges,
including 56,000 assaults and thousands of sex crimes, robberies, homicides, and
kidnappings” (Judicial Watch, 2014). This increased crime has evidenced itself within
border towns. Examples include: illegal immigrants starting fires on properties that are
not their own, in addition to trying to break-into and burglarize homes. This does not
protect and keep the American people safe. “Residents of the border town of Del Rio, the
seat of Val Verde County, say they have been overwhelmed by the crisis at the southern
border. Border Patrol agents have arrested almost 100,000 illegal immigrants so far this
year in the county, which including Del Rio, has fewer than 50,000 residents” (Lucas,
2021). The negative impact of illegal immigrants has personally affected many American
citizens who are living within the border towns. At a town hall, a myriad of residents in
Del Rio testified as to their personal experiences of illegal immigrants putting their own
lives at risk. “Another woman said that one of her relatives—a hotel housekeeper—was
raped at work by an illegal immigrant. In another incident, she said, the son of a co-
worker was threatened at knifepoint by a group of illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants
have started fires on the Texas ranch and twice tried to break into the house where she and
her husband live with three young daughters, Allison Anderson said” (Lucas, 2021).
These are real and tangible experiences that our fellow American citizens are currently
experiencing.
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Illegal Immigration Statistics and Its Implications for Increased Crime
Another effect of illegal immigrants entering into the United States illegally is the
increase in the number of organized crime groups. Organized crime is outside the law and
often comes with the purpose of increasing profits for its members. “The Southwest
border (SWB) of the United States is the principal arrival zone for most of the illicit drugs
smuggled into the United States, as well as the predominant staging area for the
subsequent distribution of drugs throughout the country” (Perkins & Placido, 2010).
Organized crime not only presents problems of illicit drugs but involves other factors such
as human smuggling, human trafficking, extortion, murder, and kidnappings. “All these
crimes represent a multi-billion-dollar industry, and they pose a threat not only to
communities on both sides of the border, but to our national security as well. To combat
the drug trafficking organizations and other criminal elements on the border, the FBI
partners with Mexican law enforcement and many federal, state, and local agencies on
task forces targeting drugs, violent crime, and public corruption. The stakes are high”
(FBI, 2010). These are pressing issues that have extremely detrimental impacts on our
nation. We see an increase in all these crimes under the current Biden administration.
“More than 61,000 immigrants who illegally entered the United States through the
southern border have been released into the country since President Biden took office,
according to government data” (Fitzgerald, 2021). Unless measures are taken now to
suppress the increasing number of illegal immigrants entering the country, the issue will
deteriorate and worsen.
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Human trafficking is a terrible tragedy that has effected illegal immigrants
themselves. "Illegal aliens are highly vulnerable to being trafficked due to a combination
of factors, including lack of legal status and protections, limited language skills and
employment options, poverty and immigration-related debts, and social isolation” (Fairus,
2016). According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform there are
approximately 17,000 to 19,000 immigrants continually trafficked in the United States
each year. (Fairus, 2016) This is a crime against humanity. The primary participants in
trafficking are organized crime groups. From the very beginning, there are criminal acts
that enable the trafficking, such as extortion, money laundering, and migrant trafficking.
The human traffickers are known to be violent and foster fear among the individuals. The
United States must put a cessation to this issue of human trafficking.
Homicide is another disturbing crime that illegal immigrants are involved with.
“A report by Loucky shows that 95% of homicides committed in the Los Angeles region
were target by illegal immigrants” (Loucky, 2006). The Government Accountability
Office held a study and examined five states that had a substantial State Criminal Alien
Assistance Program (SCAAP) in 2008. The five states were: Arizona, California, Florida,
Texas, and New York.
For example, in California:
“There were 28,030 inmates incarcerated for homicide and related offenses (first degree
murder, second degree murder, manslaughter, and vehicular manslaughter) in December
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2009. Using GAO’s 2008 estimate, there were approximately 2,430 illegal aliens
imprisoned in California for homicide and related offenses. The total population of
California was approximately 37 million, and the illegal alien population was
approximately 2.5 million. Applying the same analysis as above, this yields an estimated
rate of 97.2 illegal aliens imprisoned for homicide and related offenses per 100,000 illegal
aliens, and 74.1 citizens and legal residents imprisoned for homicide and related offenses
per 100,000 citizens and legal residents” (Kirsanow, 2018).
Combining all the data from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) with
only five states in mind led to a staggering statistic. “Assuming that each person
incarcerated for a homicide-related offense is responsible for only one death, yields 5,400
people killed by illegal aliens” (Kirsanow, 2018). Illegal immigrants that are flooding
through our borders are more prone to commit criminal acts than American citizens.
Illegal immigration is not a victimless act. In fact, it has a deleterious impact on society by
creating more crime.
The increase in the number of criminal gangs is yet another consequence of illegal
immigration. The 18th Street Gang is one of the biggest street gangs in the United States.
It is in Los Angeles, California. “It is estimated that about 60% of its members are illegal
immigrants, according to a confidential report last year by the state's California
Department of Justice” (18th street gang, n.d.). In 2005, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) created a new task force to combat the increased amount of crime
groups emerging as a result of illegal immigrants entering the country. The National Gang
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Intelligence Center (NGIC) collaborates with both state and local law enforcement
agencies to interrupt and eradicate these gangs. Even with some of these enforcements in
place, it is not enough to stop these crimes from being committed. The FBI has
acknowledged and recognized these current and concerning issues. “A high-ranking FBI
director said gangs have followed the migration paths of illegal alien laborers to avoid big
city police departments that have cracked down on their activities. An example of this is
seen in the notoriously violent Salvadoran gang known as Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13,
which has spread throughout the U.S.—to at least 42 states—and continues
expanding. Most of the country’s state and local enforcement agencies have reported gang
activity in their jurisdictions and the problem will only get worse, according to the FBI”
(Judicial Watch, 2009). Most drug gangs are made up of illegal immigrants. Many are
drawn to the drug gangs due to lack of education or formal skills to take on proper jobs.
Thus, the increase of illegal immigrants has resulted in more homicides and gang crimes
within in the United States.
Kidnapping is another tragic consequence of illegal immigration. “Criminal
organizations like Mara Salvatrucha have been expanding their reach and increasingly
turning to human smuggling as a means of profiteering. Assuming the average ransom
price has not risen even further since 2009, and a possible 22,000 kidnappings annually,
these smugglers and criminal organizations could be making more than $50 million a year
from ransoming their victims” (Walser & Zuckerman, 2011). Many of these victims are
being threatened with death or the death of their dear loved ones. Many are also being
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burned, blindfolded, drugged, and beaten. Criminal gangs have been known to watch
illegal immigrants gather near immigration checkpoints. Members of criminal gangs have
often called themselves “Immigration hunters.” “Yet it is not just Mexican criminal
organizations that pose a risk to illegal immigrants. Among the 2008–2009 kidnapping
cases reported by the CNDH, 59 percent were said by interviewed immigrants to be
carried out by “coyotes” or “polleros” (Walser & Zuckerman, 2011). Even with the
immense horror of these kidnappings, victims are often unwilling and resistant to file
complaints. This resistance is coupled with induced fear of what will happen to them if
they speak to authorities and the probability of being deported. Much of this unnecessary
tragedy could be avoided if illegal immigrants would choose to come into the United
States legally. There are also other measures that must continue to be enforced to decrease
the amount of human-smuggling. “ICE works to dismantle the infrastructure of human-
smuggling networks. Its STAMP (Smugglers and Traffickers Assets, Moneys, and
Proceeds) program, for one, targets smuggling organizations’ profits. The program focuses
on anti-money-laundering measures and seizing criminal assets to combat the estimated
$6.6 billion human-smuggling enterprise. STAMP also follows money trails left by
smuggling networks in order to identify and locate members” (Walser & Zuckerman,
2011). These measures are helpful in creating a robust strategy to dismantle human-
smuggling networks. The process of crossing the border puts lives at risk and is dangerous
to illegal immigrants themselves and to our nation.
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The impact of illegal immigrants are vast and deleterious to both state and local
governments and to our nation as a whole. The increased amount of crime, human
trafficking, human smuggling, crime groups, murder, and illicit drugs have huge ripple
effects upon our society and American citizens. We must implement measures and
reforms to combat the issue of illegal immigration to both protect American citizens and
increase border security. Keeping the American people safe should be of the utmost
priority, especially in regard to the effects of illegal immigration!
What is the Legal Protocol for Legally Entering the Country?
There are thousands of people who desire and dream of becoming an American citizen.
So often this process is being disregarded by the increased number of illegal immigrants coming
across our borders. It is critical to understand the process of becoming a legal citizen. This is of
utmost importance in keeping American citizens safe as law and order is needed. A foreigner
who is seeking to become an American citizen must go through the necessary steps of the
naturalization process. A person cannot obtain legal citizenship without successfully completing
a myriad of forms, interviews, and tests. It is an arduous process but the end result is worth it
when one legally becomes an American citizen.
The first step in applying for citizenship is making sure that one is eligible to file an
application to determine eligibility for citizenship. An eligible applicant must file an N-400
application. There are several crucial prerequisites required before a person assumes U.S.
citizenship.
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“The number of days that you had spent outside the United States, over the past five
years will be counted as you need to meet the residency requirements. If you had
remained abroad for more that 6 consecutive months, you cannot file your US citizenship
application and you must have lived in the American state in which you filed your
naturalization application, for three consecutive months. If you have a criminal
background, your application for US citizenship will not be considered. Moreover, you
must not leave the country after filing Form N-400 and you must remain in America until
you take the oath of Allegiance” (“How Difficult is it To Become a US Citizen” n.d.).
Once an application is filed the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) will inform the applicant about a biometrics appointment and a required appointment to
complete the fingerprinting process. The next step is to set up an interview for U.S. citizenship.
In the interim, it will be necessary for the applicant to learn English as well as prepare in advance
for a civics test. Passing the U.S. citizenship test is of utmost importance. If the applicant fails to
receive the necessary score, then citizenship will not be granted. The test covers foundational
principles of our nation’s history, laws, and government. The citizenship test also evaluates one’s
ability to write and read sentences in English. If the applicant fails either portion of the test, there
will be another opportunity to be tested again. If the applicants fails on the second attempt then
the application process for citizenship has to be started from the beginning.
If an applicant has successfully passed the test, then the United States Citizenship and
Immigration Service (USCIS) will send a ceremony letter. The date of the naturalization
ceremony will be printed on the letter. The final steps in the citizenship process is to attend the
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citizenship ceremony and take the oath of Allegiance. After the ceremony the certificate for
naturalization will be given to the new American citizen. While the process can be lengthy, these
are the legal protocols that must occur in order to become an American citizen.
American citizenship is desired and dreamed by millions of people throughout the world.
Each year there are over 700,000 applicants that are naturalized. (Batalova, Hanna, & Levesque,
2021). There are a myriad of reasons and benefits regarding why people decide to go through the
lengthy process with the hope of becoming an American citizen.
“You can travel with one of the most powerful passports in the world, accepted in over
180 countries. You can obtain federal benefits available only to U.S. citizens. You can
apply to sponsor your relatives as immigrants from overseas. Your children automatically
become U.S. citizens — even if they are born abroad. You cannot be deported to your
country of former citizenship or nationality. You no longer have to deal with immigration
paperwork such as renewing your green card. You can apply for jobs with the U.S.
government including police forces. Only after becoming an American are you entitled to
vote and to run for office. For a lot of people these benefits add up and make the process
worthwhile” (Semotiuk, 2020).
These are just a couple of the benefits and advantages of becoming an American citizen.
Through obtaining citizenship, one has the opportunity to fulfill the responsibilities of being an
American citizen. It is the gift of cherishing, honoring, and respecting the freedoms given in this
country. The gift of freely worshipping, having the freedom of religion, press, and assembly.
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These freedoms should never be taken for granted. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those that
can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety”
(“Ammo” n.d.). The importance of this quote is to recognize that freedom should be both
cherished and protected for those that will become American citizens and for those that already
are.
It is a good reminder to familiarize ourselves as American citizens with the the legal
process of naturalization. It should be the desire of all American citizens to push for and
encourage everyone to come into our country legally. It is also paramount to recognize the
benefits of coming into our country legally. Our nation’s naturalization system was put in place
to keep our citizens safe. This process should be protected to the utmost.
Border Security Measures
There are several border security measures that should be reinstated in order to ease the
crisis at our southern border and protect the citizens of border towns. Border security measures
are a critical part of the immigration policy discussion. There needs to be strict and smart
enforcement to ensure the safety of millions of people along our borders.
There are several ways to improve border management. U.S. Customs and Border
Protection should put forth transparent metrics to assess border security. The lack of metrics has
created a lack of lucidity regarding both our nation’s border security and the distribution of
resources. “It has also made it difficult for members of Congress to hold the agency accountable
and to know what additional resources are needed or unnecessary to ensure our national security”
(Immigration Forum, 2016). Custom Border Patrol Field Operations oversees the flow of
commerce and immigration at both land and seaports. Currently, they are heavily understaffed.
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This understaffing at ports leads to an increased opportunity for drug and human
trafficking/smuggling. There should also be additional training and oversight of Custom Border
Patrol. The training can be helpful as it would provide clarity with border management.
There are several physical ways to improve and secure our southern border. U.S. Border
Patrol set in place border barriers over thirty years ago. This is a pivotal component in gaining
operational control of the border. “Deploying the wall system in high priority areas—particularly
urban areas where illegal border crossers can quickly vanish into the surrounding community—
allows the USBP to decide where border crossings take place, not smugglers, and the USBP can
deploy personnel and technology in complement to the border barrier. In 2006, the U.S. Senate
voted in a bipartisan 80 to 19 majority to pass the Secure Fence Act, which authorized
construction of physical infrastructure to secure the border. Securing our Southwest Border was
once a bipartisan issue” (Department of Homeland Security, 2020). However, the issue of a
border wall is no longer a bipartisan issue since President Trump’s administration. Due to
increased partisanship in Congress, there is no longer a shared, unified goal to keep and protect
our southern border. There are several potential legislative solutions. “The DHS and the states
should pursue, and Congress should support, the use of Section 287 of the Immigration and
Naturalization Act (INA) as a mechanism for state and local law enforcement to enforce the
immigration aspect of border security. Section 287 (g) of the INA provides authority for state and
local enforcement to investigate, detain, and arrest aliens on civil and criminal grounds. Officers
governed by a §287 (g) agreement must receive adequate training and operate under the direction
of federal authorities. In addition, in a civil lawsuit, the state law enforcement officers would be
considered to have been acting under federal authority, thereby shifting liability to the federal
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government, and providing additional immunity for the state law enforcement officers enforcing
federal laws” (ProCon, 2018). The Border Security Results Act (R.1417) was a policy put forth
in Congress in 2013 that ended up dying; yet, this act should have been enacted. The policy
involves creating a plan that would include provisions, analysis of threats to border security, an
in-depth technology plan, specific security metrics, and staffing requirements for border security.
Another bill, (Border Enforcement Accountability, Oversight, and Community Engagement Act
of 2015) that was put forth in Congress outlines specific training, education, and guidelines. The
bill describes its main purposes as to, “ (1) recommend border enforcement policy
improvements; (2) evaluate policies of federal agencies operating along the borders to protect
due process and human rights of border residents and visitors, protect land owner private
property rights, and reduce the number of migrant deaths; (3) recommend safety improvements
for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel; and (4) evaluate training and the
extent to which CBP supervisory and management personnel practices encourage workforce
development and promote field safety” (Congress.gov, n.d.). Finally, another aspect that would
help to secure our border would be to provide for full funding of the Coast Guard. A secure
border plan must focus on both land and sea options. “As land borders become more secure, drug
smugglers and human traffickers will quickly look to sea options. Maritime security efforts must
be enhanced in conjunction with land security” (Baker McNeill, 2009). These are just a few
suggestions to keep our border secure, safe, and strong! Citizens, Congressmen, governors, and
leaders should all be united under the singular purpose of keeping our southern border secure!
Conclusion
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The Effects of Illegal Immigration on Local & State Communities and Measures to Protect American Citizens
The job of securing our borders requires cooperation at the local, state, and federal levels.
It is critical to have the assistance and collaboration of all law enforcement agencies. It is of
utmost importance to keep our borders secure in order to reduce crime, job loss, tax avoidance,
and to protect local communities. Without enacting and enforcing border security measures and
policies, our immigration system will become unenforceable and security at the border will
unravel. The naturalization system and legal immigration process must be implemented and
upheld. A country that does not police its borders will cease being a country. Border security
must be strengthened, and existing laws enforced to require migrants to adhere to the process for
legally migrating to the United States.
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