Illegal Immigration Paper

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Brigitte Jones

DR. Brown

English 1302-4426

May 1, 2008

Illegal Immigration

Many Americans stereotype “illegal immigrants” as a menace to society, neglecting the fact that they are

benefiting our financial system. Immigrants should have the ability to become involved in society, be

recognized as a person with ambitions, and have the resources to fulfill their goal of financially stabilize their

future, something that is economically impossible in a country such as Mexico. If immigrants were offered a

more realistic approach to enter our country legally, the number of deaths of “illegal immigrants” would

decrease and the economy would flourish. These individuals attempt to pave a future for their family and

entering into the United States is their primary focus, but inconsistent immigration laws have affected this

outcome.

Kiera LoBreglio emphasizes her concern with the legal aspect of “illegal immigration,” yet the issue in

her eyes resides in the law. She indicates that:

[t]he late 1800s and early 1900s marked a period of relatively unrestricted immigration from Mexico to

the United States. As the supply of Chinese workers decreased with the enactment of the Chinese

Exclusion Act of 1882, United States employers in the southwest began to recruit large numbers of

Mexican laborers to lay rails and harvest crops (935).

The laws enabled immigrants to enter the United States to work and help boost the economy. Americans

recruited these Mexican immigrants in a time of need, when they had jobs that could not be fulfilled, knowing

that a hard day’s labor could be rewarded with wages that were close to nothing in value. Also, “[i]n response to

the labor shortages caused by World War II, Congress entered into a series of bilateral agreements with the



Mexican government that allowed for the importation of temporary laborers into the United States” (936-7).

There again, Congress calls upon Mexican immigrants in a time of desperate measures. LoBreglio accentuates

that the United States control in regards to the borders had vanished, leaving Congress no other option than to

pass the “Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986” (939). The government should acknowledge this

drastic change. Murray demonstrates that the “U.S. immigration policy needs to be reconfigured because of its

many contradictions” (2666). Individuals that once helped the American economy are now being excluded after

all their accomplishments, which seems to be a contradiction to legislation of the past.

LoBreglio reveals an ongoing problem that continues to escalate due to the racial profiling in

immigration enforcement (943). Many Americans have overlooked the Fourth Amendment to the United States

Constitution, which is intended to secure the rights of individuals. In summary, the amendment states that

people have the right to secure themselves and their belongings without fear of being violated. Searches can

only be conducted with probable cause that is supported by oath or affirmation. However, “that provision has

not been universally applied, as many ‘Mexican-looking’ people have undergone searches and seizures without

a warrant” (943). For the reason that a person has a different color skin tone then the average Caucasian

American, does not provide a valid cause to search them or assume they are illegal. This again reflects the

inconsistency of the laws. Immigrants are also the target of thoughtless racial slurs. Many are referred to as

“wetbacks”, aliens, drug smugglers, and other terminologies, which express racism. Individuals have the right

to privacy and deserve to be respected by others.

Illegal immigrants persist on dangerously making an effort to cross the border between Mexico and the

United States. Although some may succeed, many others fail. John Annerino outlines the harsh journey of

migrants, “Dust Devils whirl around us as the raw sun torches the bleak landscape. The hot sun blisters our feet.

The vast desert swallows our footsteps. And the distant mirages consume our dreams” (7). The migrants had to

make challenging sacrifices when they abandoned their community to work for our country despite the low

wages and disrespect. Anti-immigrants view illegal immigrants as a hindrance to the economy. Annerino

reminds Americans that, “They left it all behind because Mexico could not offer them, and 40 million others,

the one thing they needed most to pull themselves up out of the depths of poverty and despair; an honest job for



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an honest day’s wages” (76). Additionally, although illegal immigrants reside in the United States, the law does

not emphasize humiliation, deprivation, or death. An unlawful event can scar a person for life, just as the one

described by the Sheriff’s Department in Arkansas, “A woman [illegal immigrant from Mexico] was locked for

four days in a tiny holding cell [and] forgotten by authorities and left without food or water” (Nossiter). She was

deprived, starved, and humiliated due to her illegal status. This incident was unjustified by law. The woman was

stripped of her dignity because the authorities had the power to accomplish such task.

On the contrary, the question that still remains is what circumstances push “illegal immigrants” to enter

the United States. That is to provide their families the ability to succeed. However, if they were given a fair

chance to plead their case and explain the circumstances that have kept them from being able to acquire the

proper documents to enter the U.S legally, it could have an impact on the number of illegal immigrants that

reside here, as well as, minimize the number of deaths that occur. According to Randal C. Archibold, in

Arizona, a migrant was killed while trying to cross the border by a patrol agent, yet it appears to be unlawful

because it was at a secure distance. That immigrant risked his life, knowing at any point could be his last breath,

to find a solution to his problem back home. The countries should work together and find a common ground

where both Americans and Mexicans can be successful. However, Mexicans have to worry about sneaking

around and facing deportation. The world should interact as if they are parts of a whole, as if different cultures

combined together rely on each other in the United States.

The Government Accountability Office has demonstrated the fact that the deaths, due to border-

crossing, have increased drastically. The deaths are due to many issues that these illegal immigrants encounter

while striving to enter into the United States. GAO’s investigation expresses the escalated deaths that have

multiplied by two due to the attempts of crossing the desert in Arizona. The data represented could be used to

minimize the number of deaths in the future. These deaths occurred because of many reasons: weather,

starvation, dehydration, malnutrition, diseases, suicide, and drowning. GAO also focuses attention to the fact

that high temperature related deaths has raised, while deaths involving homicide, traffic, and submerging has

decreased or stayed the same. Among the many different causes of death to these individuals, heat remains the



leading source. Many times these illegal immigrants would die and there would be no way of identifying their

remains. Wives, children, and other relatives have learned to accept the devastation of knowing their loved one

took a journey in search of a better lifestyle, and never returned.

The Attorney General explains the tactics for securing the southwestern border in “Border Crossing

Deaths Have Doubled since 1995; Border Patrol’s Efforts to Prevent Deaths Have Not Been Fully Evaluated.”

He acknowledges that the southwestern border needs to be strengthened and the laws of immigrants should be

examined seriously. The contradiction lies in the illegal immigration laws by attempting to minimize the

activity among migrants. In fact, he insists that this process among the southern border can only be achieved if

the Immigration and Naturalization Service steps in and helps. The Attorney General draws attention to the four

phases that have to be implemented to gain more control of the border. Knowing that the process would not

only make the challenge of crossing harder, but it would also be a higher dollar attempt. He concludes that this

strategy will cause illegal immigrants to second guess crossing the border illegally. Although the government

had a plan, the success was not as drastic as expected. Many migrants overlooked the border control and

continued to adventure across “no-man’s land”. In spite of fast intervention to protect the border, INS had high

expectations that migrants would no longer attempt to cross such life threatening deserts. On the other hand, the

Attorney General mentions that after such blueprints were in effect; the number of deaths that pertained to

overexposure of different temperatures has increased (6-9). Many times the United States has tried to reduce the

number of illegal individuals, yet they fail to do so and statistics show that the deaths continue to soar.

Similarly, American government explains that the numbers dealing with deaths among illegal

immigrants are not a hundred percent accurate in “Border Crossing Deaths Have Doubled since 1995; Border

Patrol’s Efforts to Prevent Deaths Have Not Been Fully Evaluated.” The government made numerous attempts

to account for the many deaths that occurred during the challenging journeys. However, law enforcement and

border officials encounter incidents where the remains of people are unidentified due to lack of legal documents

or the bodies are weather-beaten to the point of skeletal remains. The officials would then make a decision, if

the death was based on crossing the border. Assuming that the deceased individual had died does not accurately

describe the real reason for the death. Although that could be the case, it is not necessarily a fact. The



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government admits that the statistics demonstrated could be questioned. The Government Accountability Office

mentions “the fact that a number of bodies may remain undiscovered in the desert also raises doubts about the

accuracy of counts of migrant deaths” (27). Accuracy pertains to exact numbers with supporting data, yet there

may be numerous other bodies lingering around that are waiting to be stumbled upon. Medical examiners that

account for the deaths among the border believe that majority are documented, but the remainders of the

unallocated ones are a vague. Once again, inconsistency reflects the outcome of these “illegal” people. The total

numbers of undocumented deaths are an ongoing mystery.

On the other hand, the critics of the nation’s immigration policies have a different view on the situation.

John Peters argues, “Illegal immigrants take American’s jobs, threaten national security and even change the

nation’s culture by refusing to assimilate.” He reiterates that immigrant advocates insist that illegal immigrants

take the jobs that American’s refuse which in return boosts the economy. Mark Murray elaborates on the words

of Frank Sharry, “[t]he crime of the immigrants is that they want to work hard [and] the crime of the employers

is they want to help the economy” (2666). The largest uproar is that many employers see nothing wrong with

hiring illegal immigrants; the job has to be accomplished. The only partial crimes that the immigrants are

committing are the desire to work and illegally crossing the border.

Correspondingly, immigrants have made numerous contributions to the American nation. They

orchestrate from Nobel Prize winners to founders of major companies such as Intel, Google, and Sun

Microsystems. But, the United States endures one major issue: its inconsistent political system that pertains to

immigration (Economist). As demonstrated in Help Not Wanted, “[t]he United States is fortunate that it can

solve its talent problem with the wave of a magic wand, by simply expanding the supply of visas to meet the

demand. Raise the cap on H1B visas--or better still abolish it--and increase the supply of green cards, and the

world's brightest will come flooding in.” The solution to the immigration problem remains in hands of

legislators, only they can decide how to resolve the illegal aspect. The U.S. is having a hard time adjusting to

the modern world and they are suffering (Economist). The immigration law should be modified, allowing

immigrants the ability to work in the United States temporarily until they are able to acquire proper



documentation and identification. Nancy Pelosi argues that “We need to raise the standard of living of our poor,

unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country

who need our help along with millions of unemployed minorities.” Our poor consist of all the individuals that

reside in the U.S. that are unable to financial support themselves.

Quite the opposite, former undersecretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Asa Hutchinson,

agrees that the law should be enforced; however, when a family is being productive and contributes to

American society but they have entered into the U.S illegally, the illegal aspect cannot be overlooked (Peters).

Congress has taken a loose approach involving the immigration laws, leaving the states to enforce their own

rules. In spite of all the imperfections that are mentioned, “[w]e understand the humanitarian reasons that

brought them here.” Those facts tie back into the idea that “illegal immigrants” come to the United States in

order to find a solution to their poverty problem back in their homeland. If we were to deport all of them,

thousands of companies would collapse due to lack of employees (Welch). We need the immigrants to continue

boosting the economy.

Peters declares that, “The back door to undocumented immigration to the United States is

essentially wide open.” In other words, why not just allow illegal immigrants in to find an alternative for their

lives? Similarly, Murray mentions “[s]earching for higher wages and a better way of life, undocumented

foreigners (the supply) cross the border to find jobs, which the U.S employers (the demand) want to fill with

inexpensive labor” (2666). It is a give and take situation, an illegal immigrant is willing to give his life in order

to take and fulfill an American dream, yet the government attempts to stop entry all together. The leading lady

in regards to employment and immigration, Theresa Brown, exclaims “I would think that most immigrants

would prefer to come in with a visa rather than sneaking in to die in the desert” (qtd in Murray 2666). When an

individual, particularly an illegal immigrant, wants a better life for their family, it is a dream; not a crime.

However, some Americans view it differently. Keep in mind, Wayne Cornelius claims that “[d]evelopments in

Mexico may be as important to the future of U.S. immigration policy as anything that Washington politicians

may do.” Americans may have to eventually welcome immigrants into the United States and join to expand the

economy.



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Annerino placed himself among the many Mexicans that adventured through the killing grounds. He

emphasizes that the two countries have caused the land between them to become a killing ground that has taken

the lives of many individuals.

After struggling several hundred miles in the footsteps of Mexican immigrants, I started wondering if

the United States and Mexico shouldn’t build two memorials before the ‘tortilla curtain’ is turned into

the Iron curtain: One border monument would be constructed in Sonora across from El Sahuaro on

Mexico’s Highway 2, and it would serve as both a shrine for families of the missing and deceased and as

a warning to all those who think about crossing the killing ground; the second memorial would be built

in Arizona at the Mohawk Rest Area on U.S. Interstate 8, and it would also include the names of the

dates who perished (133).

The lives of these people should be remembered as heroes because they made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving

their lives in their own country to have a prosperous future. Even though many of these migrants are not alive to

tell their stories, they will still be known as heroes to their own people. Annerino reiterates “nothing will stop

these honest people in their quest for a better life, not the killing ground and not the transformation of the

‘tortilla curtain’ into the Iron Curtain” (42). Life is serious, just as these immigrants are.

Mark Murray emphasizes that “[t]he United States could significantly reduce illegal immigration by

streamlining the application process and by opening more channels for legal entry” (2666). There are different

options and approaches that can help put an end to the outrageous deaths. The United States needs to take an

initiative to help improve the economy in Mexico so the immigrants do not have to migrate. Many actions can

attempt to solve the issue, but Americans have to be willing to swallow their pride and help the Mexican people

He also draws attention to the fact that “[i]f you actually improve things down there, you’re going to see a huge

change. People really don’t want to leave their homeland. But just like the early Americans, if you need a job,

you are going to come.” That remains true for any individual, American or Mexican. Murray also stresses that

“if the United States is serious about reducing illegal immigration, it needs to develop an economic aid package



for Latin America … and get more cooperation from Mexico.” In spite of that, it might only intensify illegal

immigration and the ongoing controversy may never conclude. Murray realizes that “[i]t’s not an intelligent

way to think about undocumented immigration through the lens of border control” (2666). Border control may

not be as accurate or concerned with the lives of these illegal immigrants.

What one person may view as a positive impact; another may see as a harmful event. Whether a person

is legal or illegal, they are still individuals that provide for their family by working. All in all, illegal immigrants

want to find ways of improving their poverty; while Americans want to preserve their economy. Is it wrong to

want a better life? Should one be criticized for wanting what is best for their family? Absolutely not! Indeed my

own argument about the immigration laws having an effect on the American economy and the deaths among

illegal immigrants, many individuals tend to overlook the issue. The many ways that the United States can

intervene and regain control of its border, can only be accomplished if the two governments join together to

improve the Mexican economy. If living conditions were improved in Mexico alone, many of the people would

remain in their country. Keeping in mind, the only reason a person takes a journey in search of a better lifestyle

is if they are unable to achieve it at home.



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