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Immigration: Research Paper
Arlene Hernandez-Aguina
The University of Texas at El Paso
Summer 2014
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to analyze different perspectives of immigration, the immigration
reform bill, and national security issues that deal with immigration. An interview with an expert
in political science was also conducted as a means to support the research. This paper will
discuss the topic of immigration through four different topics: defining the immigration reform
bill, immigration effects on the United States economy and workforce, immigration policies, and
the border wall and human rights. The information provided will provide the audience with
information sufficient enough to have a better understanding of immigration in the United States.
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Introduction
The immigration debate has been around since the start of the United States. Each year
the immigration count rises as more and more people try to make their way into the United
States. The United States government has long fought to keep the inflow of immigration under
control, but in present day approximately 11 million people reside in the United States illegally.
As immigrants continue to come into the United States every day, the United States becomes
more and more concerned with national security and the impact this flow of people will have on
the economy. The United States has taken many new measures to enforce national security such
as making new policies on granting visas to immigrants and the construction of the United
States-Mexico border wall.
An interview was conducted to discuss the issue of immigration with Dr. Irasema
Coronado, a professor at the University of Texas at El Paso with a PhD in Political science.
These paper will further discuss the topic of immigration through the following questions:
1. What is the immigration reform bill?
2. What are the effects of immigration on the United States economy and the workforce?
3. What are some of the immigration policies that have been put into effect?
4. How does the border wall pertain to human rights?
Immigration plays a big role in the United States and the policies the government has passed in
order to help maintain the economy and enforce national security.
Defining the immigration reform bill
The issue of immigration is driven mostly by the immigration reform bill. This bill has
been a long time subject of debate within the senate. To become bill, it must first get past the
House of Representatives before becoming a law. Because the last major change in immigration
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policy was almost three decades ago, getting past the House of Representatives proved to not be
an easy task especially because the republican side is usually against any amnesty for any
immigrants. Republicans keep citizenship out of the question, while democrats disagree.
However, 14 republican senators were convinced to support the bill, followed by an amendment
that dedicated 40 billion dollars for the hiring of 20,000 border patrol agents and 700 miles of
fencing along the United States-Mexican border (Berenstein, 2012). After much controversy and
debate, the border wall was constructed and many new border patrol agents are stationed along
the wall for surveillance. In addition, there are issues to which both houses agree on such as
establishing a merit base point system, electronic registration and issuing more temporary visas
for all workers (Berenstein, 2012). The immigration reform bill continues to be a debate between
the two houses and for all United States citizens.
Immigration Effect on the United States Economy and Workforce
One of the biggest subjects of debate surrounding immigration is the impact it has on the
United States economy and the work force. Will a flow of immigrants lower or increase the
minimum wage? Will there be less jobs for Native Americans? Will taxes change with a bigger
population and bigger consumer intake? These are a few of the questions asked by both the
United States government and United States citizens. The United States currently homes over 11
million illegal immigrants (Berenstein, 2012). This number slowly increases as more and more
immigrants come to America seeking jobs. According to Hinojosa-Ojeda, “Comprehensive
immigration reform generates an annual increase in U.S. GDP of at least 0.84 percent.” (2012, p.
177). Not only would immigrants benefit from an increase GDP, but also Americans. On the
other side however, amnesty would also increase taxes (Orrenius & Zavodny, 2012, p. 6).
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Amnesty for immigrants is a double-sided coin that can both harm and improve the United
States.
The flow of immigration has also cause a rise in the economic competitiveness of the
United States. Almost 104,000 foreigners arrive in the United States every day out of which
3,100 receive visas which will allow them to become United States citizens after five years
(Martin, 2013, p. 125). The incoming immigrants compete with Americans for jobs and a good
income. Theses immigrants come to the United States looking for new opportunities for
themselves and often for their families. However, immigrants who enter the workforce may not
acquire the results that they were looking for. The USCEA has summarized the effect of
immigration on the United States economy as follows: “Although immigrant workers increase
output, their addition to the supply of labour ... [causes] wage rates in the immediately affected
market [to be] bid down... Thus, native-born workers who compete with immigrants for jobs may
experience reduced earnings or reduced employment. (USCEA, 1986: 213-4).” (Martin, 2013, p.
133). Immigrants coming into the workforce cause a shift in the labor supply curve and the labor
demand curve, causing a decrease in their income.
According to Dr. Irasema Coronado, the flow of immigration affects the jobs. Immigrants
mean cheap labor and America strives on cheap labor. Dr. Coronado says, “Cheap labor keeps
prices low and people take advantage of this” (Hernandez, 2014). As long as the prices to
maintain workers are low, the prices for goods also stay low and this is something that all people
prefer. For this same reason, some people will turn their shoulder to immigrant workers and
ignore the problem, as long as goods produced stay at a low price.
Immigration Policies
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The Immigration Control and Reform Act (IRCA) passed in 1986 has sought to keep the
inflow of immigration under control. Passed nearly three decades ago, the IRCA remains the
only policy dedicated to large-scale immigration policy. This policy legalized millions of illegal
immigrants through different programs which caused an immediate decrease in the number of
illegal immigrants in the United States. Although the illegal inflows of immigration dropped
when the IRCA was first introduced, the numbers quickly rose again. Apprehension for illegal
immigrants rose from 1.6 million in 1986 to about 853,000 in 1989 (Orrenius & Zavodny, 2012,
p. 89). In the later years after IRCA however, apprehension numbers dropped and the number of
illegal immigrants rose.
Immigrants come into the United States through many different ways and for a variety of
reasons. Figure 1 taken shows the number of immigrants that have entered the United States over
the span of 5 years (Orrenius & Zavodny, 2012, p. 89). Furthermore, Figure 1 shows some of the
reasons why many immigrants enter the United States. The number of immigrants rises and falls,
as those the number of people who are involved with these immigrants. These immigrants will
risk everything in order to cross the United States-Mexican border.
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The senate immigration bill consists of many parts. The bill covers specific rules and
policies for immigrants looking to get a visa. For example, the bill specifies all kinds of
immigrant workers from low-skilled workers to high skill workers and farmers and their rights to
attain a visa, residency, and even citizenship. The bill also had a huge impact on border
security.Only six months after the bill was passed, the Department of Homeland Security
submitted two plans, one which would reduce traffic along the borders and another for increase
fencing (Matthews, 2012). The United States would also spend billions on setting up cameras
along the border as well as hiring thousands of border patrol officers to maintain surveillance all
along the border wall. The United States-Mexico border wall adds jobs in the United States,
while.
The Border Wall and Human Rights
The full United States-Mexico border wall is not the first of it’s kind. In 1996, Congress
passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA), a legislation
that granted the government the authority to construct a wall and having the ability to take any
land necessary to build the wall. Such a wall was in fact built, but only in small stretch in San
Diego, California. It was not until 2006 that Congress passed the Secure Fence Act which gave
the government the right to construct fencing along the borders of five different states. During
the construction of the border wall, many protests took place along the border. The protests main
concern was that the United States-Mexican border wall was a violation of human rights. The
building of the wall is a direct violation of an article II and Article XXIII. The articles protect the
rights of the people who own land on which the wall was constructed and also those whose lives
are affected by the barrier: “Under these provisions, distinctions between individuals and taking
of property constitute unlawful violations of human rights unless they are necessary for the
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achievement of a legitimate and lawful governmental goal and are proportional to that goal."
says Gilman (2011, pg 276). The wall unjustifiably took land away from it’s rightful owners
whom did not have a say in keeping their land. .
Dr. Coronado points out that immigration creates a barrier between families. Some family
members will come across looking for a job and a greater opportunity to maintain their family
while leaving that same family. The barrier across the border has become a literal barrier
between families. Immigrants who cross the border often risk their own lives and at times, they
do not return to their families. The unity of families is often sacrificed for the better opportunities
that are promised in America, but sometimes these problems are not fulfilled.
Environmentalists have also protested against the border wall. According to McFayden,
“Physical barriers hinder migrating wildlife, and plans show the fence will fragment wildlife
refuges and private sanctuaries.” (pg.2). Several laws were waived in order to construct the
border wall including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
The barrier also affects humans. More people crossing are put at risk because smugglers will
begin to charge more for their services and their job becomes much more difficult. Often, these
“cayotes” fail to smuggle their people and children, elderly, and entire families will lose their
lives in an attempt to cross.
Conclusion
Immigration continues to be an issue in the United States. This topic gives rise to many
debates including who to grant visas to and how to fortify national security, particularly along
the borders and more specifically, the United States-Mexico border. As long as the United States
economy, national security, and human rights are concerned, immigration will continue to be
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topic of debate in the United States. Congress and the people will continue to look for answers
on how to solve the issue of the immigration debate.
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References
Gilman, D. Seeking breaches in the wall: an international human rights law challenge to the
Texas-Mexico Border wall. Texas International Law Journal, 46:257, 257-294.
Retrieved June 25, 2014.
Hernandez, Arlene. 2014. Immigration with Dr. Irasema Cornado. Unpublished raw data.
Hinojosa-Ojeda, R. The Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Cato
Journal , 175-199.
Martin, P. L. Migration and US economic competitiveness. Migration Letters, 10, 125-143.
Retrieved June 25, 2014, from
Matthews, M. (2013, April 16). The senate immigration bill: Here's what you need to know. The
Washington Post, Retrieved from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/16/the-senateimmigration-bill-heres-what-you-need-to-know/
McFadyen, J. Immigration issues: U.S.-Mexico border fence pros and cons. Retrieved from
http://immigration.about.com/od/bordersportsandcustoms/i/Fence_Issue.htm
Orrenius, P. M., & Zavodny, M. The Economic Consequences of Amnesty for unauthorized
immigrants . Cato Journal , 85-106. Retrieved June 25, 2014, from
The New York Times. (Producer) (2013). The immigration reform battle explained - 2013 news
[Web]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctoEyPQs0N0