The History Of Illegal Immigration

Immigration has played an important role in America 's history; however, what defines an acceptable immigrant, and how to deal with immigration has changed throughout the course of America 's history. Illegal immigration has become a controversial issue amongst the American public, and now more than ever, the pros and cons of illegal immigration are being examined by American citizen across the country. Immigration 's controversial nature, however, is one thing that has always remained true in the United States. In today 's modern era, the topic will only become more polarized, due to the changing ethnic makeup of the United States. “In the past three hundred years, more than two hundred million men, women, and children have come to America.” …show more content…
Criminal activity is another aspect of illegal immigration. Debates on Immigration provides a source for statistics on crimes committed by illegal aliens; the book is authored by by Judith Gans, Elaine Replogle, and Daniel Tichenor. Randal C. Archibold, a reporter for the New York Times, found that “Arizona appears to be bearing the brunt of smuggling-related-violence. Some sixty percent of the illicit drugs found in the United States- principally marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine- entered through the border in this state” (qtd in Gans, Replogle, and Tichenor 206). The south western parts of the United States have become infested with narcotics and smuggling. Tunnels are being built to bypass border enforcement. Gang violence is increasing; this increase threatens not only the safety of the current generation, but the safety of future …show more content…
Within the Department of Homeland Security, there are numerous entities such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the Transport Safety Administration. Each one of these entities is specialized to deal with a specific role concerning immigration. These groups are found at airports, seaports, and other points of entry into the United States. Securing the border seems like an easy enough task, but it in fact a monumental challenge. A glance at a map reveals that the United States-Mexican border is not a straight line, but rather a mix of natural barriers and hand drawn ones. A wall that encompasses the entire border is virtually impossible to build and maintain. Regardless, the federal government still manages to apprehend illegal aliens. How are illegal aliens captured? One popular method is to perform work site raids. As the name implies, federal agents will travel to a work site and detain all those who cannot prove they are here legally. The business owner will face some form of penalty should illegal aliens be found to be working on the premises. What comes next for those apprehended is