The Impact of Illegal Immigration on Society and American Economy

The United States population of illegal immigrants have risen in the past 10 years from 5 million to approximately 12 million. This rise has led to increased concerns about the effects which are posed by illegal immigration in the country. When comparing the costs and benefit of illegal immigration in US, conclusion can be made that there is need to protect the border, this is because illegal immigration is likely to cause a drain in the United States economy (Borjas 58). Illegal immigration poses some major effects in the country these includes, economic burden, threats of terrorist attacks, crime rates increases in the country, economic insecurity and also it results to increased disadvantages to many Americans workers. Illegal immigration causes major flaws which are obvious.

Illegal immigration in United States contributes to financial security and it is expensive. Those workers who are not regulated are underpaid; this results to low wages of certain region and occupation. Foreigners who are illegal in the country cause an increase in financial burden on the law enforcers and local communities (Portes 469). For instance, illegal immigrants have a tendency of having families which are large than the Americans. As a result of this difference, there is straining of available resources in the communities. When the margin of workers supply increases, the cost in which many organizations or companies have for paying their workers decreases (Hanson et al. The drift of wage over the past ½ century indicate that there is 10% increase of workers with a specific skills, this results to decrease of wage by 3% of that group.

The inflow of illegal immigrants affects both the group of people who are low skilled and the highly skilled American workers. There is no need to rely of the statistics which are complex in order for us to see the impacts which illegal immigrants cause to the American workers. For instance, Crider Inc, a plant which processes chicken in Georgia a decade ago was raided by foreign immigration agents and approximately 75% of workers disappeared in one weekend only. Illegal immigration results to increase of low-skilled individuals to gain access in United States (Hanson et al. When these illegal foreigners are given legal status in the nation this will translate to low employment in the job market. When illegal immigrants are legalized in the country they will be in a good position to gain access to the benefits which are offered by the government to those people who are unemployed.

Many people will start searching for those jobs which suits their skills; this will result to increased wage and better productivity which in turn result to higher gross domestic production rate (Chiswick 181). Although the current statistics shows that immigrants have positive impact in the economy of a country, there are several scenarios where those who have been born in America finds themselves giving in to the immigrants. This is because firms tend to hire the immigrants because they are willing to work with low salaries and they leave the Americans. Illegal immigration results to increased crime rates in United States; this is because many of the wanted criminals in some areas in United States are foreigners. Legal status in the United States will result to high economic growth in contrast when the unauthorised immigrants are granted citizenship there would be increased wage rates and productivity gains.