Essay on Immigration: Illegal Immigration and Immigrants

Submitted By michelle_xo07
Words: 1128
Pages: 5

"On April 23, 2010 Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona, signed one of the toughest

bills gearing towards illegal immigration." (New York Times, 2010) The Arizona

immigration law, also known as SB1070, is a law stating that if a person fails to provide

the proper documentation showing that they are a legal alien they are convicted of a

misdemeanor. This law also allows law enforcement officials to ask any suspicious

person for documentation papers after any lawful contact. I strongly agree with the

SB1070 law for many reasons. Arizona putting a stop to immigration helps decrease

violence and the smuggling of drugs into the United States. It also stops taxpayer’s

money from going to immigrants, as well as provides more jobs for Americans. Illegal immigrants are not coming across the border to find a better life in the home of the

free. Many immigrants are coming to Arizona to bringing their violence, as well as their

drugs. "Three Border Patrol agents are assaulted on the average day at or near the U.S

border. Someone is kidnapped every 35 hours in Phoenix, Arizona often by agents of

alien smuggling organizations. And one-in-five American teenagerslast year used some

type of illegal drug, many of which were imported across the unsecured U.S.-Mexico

border." (CNS News, 2010) As these immigrants are crossing the border the death rates

are rising. One reason why immigrants are committing so many crimes is because they

can get away with it as they will just be sent back to Mexico. If your loved one was in

danger due to an illegal would you want him to be able to get away with it? Of course not.

This law not only protects the immigrants from coming in, but also helps stop the

violence as they will have a consequence from having caused the violence as well as no

proper documentation. "According to the Department of Homeland Security, by 2008, the

crime rate had dropped to 477 per 100,000 - despite the fact that Arizona's

illegal immigrant population had increased by 70% during this same time." (Beresky and

Fish, 2010) Many people oppose of this law argue that if the Americans would have

safely secured the border we wouldn't have to have this law. But, that's not true.

Immigrants are finding every way to be smuggled into Arizona, but with this law in effect

immigrants crossing the border as decreased.

If the violence that is brought to Arizona due to illegal immigration is not bad

enough, we are helping pay for them. As we work hard every day to provide for our

families, illegal aliens are coming in and living off of our tax money. The taxes we pay

are going towards welfare as well as Medicare for these families. How is this right? The

immigrants are coming into our country while they are not paying taxes; they don't have

insurance as well as they don't even possess a driver’s license. As legal citizens that work

hard we are required to have proof of most of these documents. Why are illegal

immigrants able to not have any of these but are still receiving the benefits of welfare? It's

because we are providing for them. "Arizonans fork out nearly $1.3 billion annually to

pay for all of the costs incurred from illegal immigration; around $810 million for

education, $400 million for health care related expenses, $80 million in incarceration

costs, and the remainder in welfare benefits. All of this is required while Arizona runs a

$500 million deficit annually." (Associated Content, 2010) As the law is in effect this will

not be happening. Illegal immigrants will not be able to get welfare or any state program

that helps those in need without proper documentation. The opposing side of this law may

state that Arizona residents will still be paying for the immigrants to leave the state. This

is true, but there money will not go nearly as much as