As former U.S. President John F. Kennedy indicates in his posthumously published and recently re-edited essay A Nation of Immigrants, all citizens of the United States are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Therefore, according to the author, immigration policy should suit their needs in order to ensure the well-being of a country which depends on “the contribution of immigrants […] in every aspect of [its] national life.” However, with 37.4 million foreign-born residents in the United States in 2006 , of which 9.1 million have obtained legal permanent resident status since 1997 (1,266,264 in 2006 only) and an estimated 11.6 million are unauthorized migrants , immigration has become a highly controversial subject. Fuelled by the 9/11 attacks and a growing xenophobia in the United States, protest against legal and illegal immigration is increasing, forcing politicians to take action. Although the U.S. economy depends largely on immigrant labour, immigration policy is becoming tougher than ever.
This paper deals with the latest legal efforts to control illegal immigration: the 2005 Border Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act, House of Representatives Bill 4437 and the 2006 Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, Senate Bill 2611 and the reactions they caused among Americans. In order to illustrate the momentousness of the current debate about unauthorized migration, I will start with an overview of the most important facts and figures including a definition of the notion ‘illegal/ unauthorized (im)migrant’, the countries of origin and distribution of illegal immigrants and their impact on the U.S. economy. This will be followed by a discussion of the H.R.4437 and S.2611 bills and the conclusion to this paper.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Illegal Immigrants in the U.S.: Facts and Figures
2.1. Who is an Illegal Immigrant?
2.2. Countries of Origin and Distribution
2.3. The Economics of Illegal Immigration
3 Latest Attempts to Control Immigration: H.R.4437 and S.2611
3.1. H.R.4437 – Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act
3.3. Reactions to H.R.4437 and S.2611
4 Conclusion
5 Works Cited
Objectives & Core Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the legislative efforts undertaken by the U.S. government, specifically bills H.R.4437 and S.2611, to address the contentious issue of illegal immigration, while analyzing the socio-economic implications and the diverse public reactions surrounding these attempts at reform.
- The demographic and economic status of unauthorized immigrants in the United States.
- Legislative analysis of the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act (H.R.4437).
- Examination of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act (S.2611) and its broader scope.
- The role of economic factors versus border security in shaping immigration policy.
- Public and institutional responses, including mass protests and church advocacy.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Who is an Illegal Immigrant?
Unauthorized immigrants are defined as foreign-born non-U.S. citizens who have not been permitted permanent or temporary residence. Most of them enter the United States either clandestinely or without valid documents, or overstay their visa’s expiration. Illegal immigrants applying for lawful permanent residency under the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 245 (i) remain unauthorized until granted the status they applied for. Persons applying for asylum or for Temporary Protected Status are also classed as unauthorized. The number of unauthorized immigrants is estimated by subtracting the number of legal residents on a particular date from the number of foreign-born residents in the United States on the same date.
According to a study carried out by the Pew Hispanic Center in 2006, nearly half of all illegal immigrants currently living in the United States entered legally using mostly non-immigrant visas, which allow stays for pleasure, business and study, but also Border Crossing Cards, which allow frequent border crosses for short stays. About 50%-60% of the total unauthorized population evaded the immigration inspectors and border patrol by entering the country clandestinely.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides a contextual overview of immigration as a central theme in American history and highlights the current controversy surrounding the millions of unauthorized residents in the U.S.
2 Illegal Immigrants in the U.S.: Facts and Figures: Defines unauthorized migration, analyzes demographic origins and geographic distribution, and explores the economic arguments regarding the impact of illegal labor.
3 Latest Attempts to Control Immigration: H.R.4437 and S.2611: Details the specific legislative proposals to manage immigration through border enforcement, surveillance technology, and proposed pathways to legal status.
4 Conclusion: Reflects on the legislative deadlock of the 109th Congress and notes that a comprehensive, widely accepted immigration reform remains elusive amidst conflicting economic and social demands.
5 Works Cited: Lists the academic sources, government reports, and journalistic articles used throughout the study.
Keywords
Illegal Immigration, Unauthorized Immigrants, U.S. Immigration Policy, Border Security, H.R.4437, S.2611, Immigration Reform, Economics, Labor Market, Legislation, Deportation, Naturalization, Guest Worker, Pew Hispanic Center, Border Protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper examines the legislative efforts of the 109th U.S. Congress to reform immigration policy in response to the growing number of unauthorized residents, focusing on the bills H.R.4437 and S.2611.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Central themes include the definition of illegal status, the economic benefits and fiscal burdens of unauthorized labor, border security measures, and the public and institutional backlash against proposed restrictive legislation.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to illustrate the complexity of the current immigration debate by presenting factual demographic data alongside a detailed analysis of proposed legal solutions and their societal reception.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a policy analysis approach, synthesizing government data, legal documents, and secondary academic research to evaluate the intent and potential impact of proposed immigration bills.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers a statistical overview of illegal immigration, a comparative analysis of the House Bill (H.R.4437) and the Senate Bill (S.2611), and a qualitative summary of reactions from advocacy groups, the church, and the general public.
Which keywords best characterize the paper?
The paper is best characterized by terms such as unauthorized immigration, legislative reform, border security, economic impact, and national identity.
How does the author define an unauthorized immigrant?
The author defines them as foreign-born, non-U.S. citizens who lack permanent or temporary residency status, often entering the country clandestinely or overstaying the validity of their visas.
What role do "anchor babies" play in the author's argument?
The author discusses them to highlight the perceived fiscal burdens on the state, noting that children born to unauthorized parents in the U.S. acquire citizenship, thereby granting the family potential access to public benefits.
How is the economic impact of illegal immigration described?
The author presents a bifurcated view: while proponents of enforcement claim illegal labor drains public funds and harms wages, the author also notes that the U.S. economy relies significantly on this labor force to fill gaps in low-skill sectors.
What was the outcome of the proposed bills H.R.4437 and S.2611?
Both bills failed to become law during the 109th Congress, illustrating the significant political disagreement and difficulty in reaching a consensus on comprehensive immigration reform.
- Citation du texte
- Ana Colton-Sonnenberg (Auteur), 2008, The present debate about illegal immigration, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/90903
