this paper reviews the aspect of illegal immigrants.

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Illegal Immigrants

As the corporate environment becomes more complex and turbulent due to the implications of globalizations, populations are increasingly being forced to look for finer niches that can enable them to earn a living with ease. Seemingly, various opportunities that can enable the respective populations to further this good are available in the developed nations. For this reasons, populations are increasingly moving to the developed nations that have sufficient opportunities for economic exploration. However, it is worth appreciating that the geographical space as well as social utilities can not accommodate the traffic wishing to move to the region. This has culminated in illegal immigration that has far reaching implications on the general wellbeing of the country. It is in this consideration that this paper reviews the aspect of illegal immigrants.

In the United States, an illegal immigrant can be defined as a person, usually a foreign national who has gone against the national laws and immigration policies of the United States by remaining or entering the country without following the proper legal channels required (Mohl 245). The number of illegal immigrants in the United States has been steadily declining since 2007 primarily due to the US government’s crackdown on illegal immigrants which involved identifying and locating such persons and then deporting them back to their country of origin.

Statistical evidence indicates that the majority of illegal immigrants in the United States are Hispanics and other people from Latin America (Mohl 245). The main reason for this is that the US shares a border with Mexico which is also inhabited not only by Mexicans but also other illegal immigrants from Latin American countries. These people are attracted by the prospect of a better life for them and their families and believe that just by crossing the border into America they can secure a good job, get a good house and live comfortably.

With regard to composition, Flores indicates that illegal immigrants living in the US constitute of 56% Mexicans, 22% Latin American Natives, 13% Asians, 6% Canadians and Europeans and 3% Africans and other nationalities (Espenshade 196). The definition of illegal immigrants in the US is complex. The first definition refers to entry in the United States. This is the most common way of classifying illegal immigrants. Most of them (around 7 million) arrive in the United States via illegal entry. They usually gain entry into the country via smuggling which is considered a profitable business by those who conduct it.

The second definition refers to those that overstay with their visas in the United States. Sometimes someone comes to visit a relative or to study and then when the visa expires they remain in the country. Most of these people normally lack the money to continue staying in the US but they also do not want to go back home, so they stay with the hope that they might secure a job or some good fortune might befall them. The final definition refers to the faction that violates Border Crossing Cards. A border crossing card is a card that allows one to enter the United States for a definite period of time and when this time runs out the holder of the card is supposed to leave US territory. A number of people use this opportunity to overextend their stay and in the process are classified as illegal immigrants.

Population demographics indicate that since the early 1990s, the number of illegal immigrants has been more than the number of legal immigrants (Barkan 230). This is a worrying trend that has got the US government doing everything it can in order to reverse it. Since majority of illegal immigrants are Hispanics, they tend to move to areas which are heavily populated with Hispanic communities and therefore finding them is difficult. This has changed however, with the latest statistics showing that the current illegal immigrants have taken to living anywhere within the country. It is estimated that close to 14 million people come from families in which either of the parents or the head of the household is an illegal immigrant (Barkan 231). It has been noted that the current batch of illegal immigrants seem to be better educated and well articulated compared to other groups which arrived earlier.

This is illustrated by the fact that at least 25% of illegal immigrants who have arrived in the United States in the not so distant past have at least a college education. Despite this, illegal immigrants generally tend to be less educated when compared to the rest of the US population. 49% of them have not completed high school education, which is in stark contrast to only 25% of legal immigrants and a measly 9% of Native Americans. Illegal immigrants can be found in different sectors of the US economy, and this is because they tend to be desperate and therefore accept any job that they can be offered. In 2005, the National Public Radio released figures which showed the percentage of illegal immigrants that work in the various sectors of the US economy.

They revealed that 33% are in the service industries, 3% in Agriculture, 16% in construction and allied occupations, and 17% in repair, installation and production (Flores 88). Other figures that were released in 2006 indicated that 21% are found in the service industries, 4% in farming, 19% in construction and other allied occupations, 25% in repair, installation and production, 12% in sales, 10% in management and 8% in transportation (Barkan 256). Illegal immigrants generally have low incomes when compared to the earnings of Native Americans and legal immigrants. They however tend to experience an increase in their earnings as they continue their stay in the United States.

These figures show the population of illegal immigrants in various states within the United States as of January 2006.

State of residence Estimated population in January Percent of total Percent change Average annual change

All states 11,555,000 100 37 515,000

California 2,930,000 25 13 53,333

Texas 1,640,000 14 50 91,667

Florida 980,000 8 23 30,000

Illinois 550,000 5 25 18,333

New York 540,000 5 – –

Arizona 500,000 4 52 28,333

Georgia 490,000 4 123 45,000

New Jersey 430,000 4 23 13,333

North Carolina 370,000 3 42 18,333

Washington 280,000 2 65 18,333

Other states 2,950,000 26 69 200,000

Source: Barkan 277

As indicated earlier, illegal immigrants have had diverse impacts on the holistic wellbeing of the country. To begin with, Flores ascertains that the economic implications have been immense (92). Illegal immigrants exact a huge toll on the economy since they do not pay taxes but use facilities and benefit from programs offered by the government just like other native-born Americans and legal immigrants. As such, they are often considered to be the main cause of the various economic problems that affect the American people. Their impact is felt in various areas including wages and employment, mortgages and taxes and social services.

This practice has also impacted in different ways on law enforcement and Apprehension. In this regard, Illegal immigrants compel the government to spend a lot of money in order to control illegal immigration and therefore they increase the amount of expenses incurred by law enforcement agencies which have to track them, deport them and prevent their involvement in illegal activity. Since majority of them have problems securing jobs, they tend to be involved in illegal activities just to make money. This leaves law enforcement agencies with a huge task of controlling those activities. Illegal immigrants engage in identity theft, drug trafficking, slavery and gang violence (Barkan 281).

Also worth mentioning is the environmental impact that the immigrants have had on the United States. According to Mohl, the influx of illegal immigrants has led to environmental degradation in various areas (266). This is primarily because they are often ignorant of the need to preserve and protect the environment and therefore exercise little discretion in the way in which they live and conduct themselves. This is probably caused by poor education or the lack of it. The United Sates has been compelled to employ a significant percentage of financial resources in addressing environmental degradation. The low environmental literacy amongst this faction of the population has culminated in overexploitation of natural resources and in some instances depletion of the same. At this point, it can not be disputed that illegal immigration has had adverse effects on the general welfare of the United States.

Works Cited

Barkan, Eliot. Return of the Nativists? California public Opinion and Immigration in the 1980s and 1990s. Social Science History, 27.2 (2007): 229-283. Print.

Espenshade Thomas. Unauthorized Immigration to the United States. Annual Review of Sociology, 21.1 (1995): 195-201. Print.

Flores William. New Citizens, New Rights: Undocumented Immigrants and Latino Cultural Citizenship. Latin American Perspectives, 30.2 (2003): 87-100. Print.

Mohl Raymond. Latinization in the Heart of Dixie: Hispanics in Late Twentieth Century Alabama. Alabama Review, 55.4 (2002): 243-274. Print.