Illegal Immigration and the United States

Illegal Immigration and the United States

The United States is known as the melting pot. Since the early 1800's immigrants from around the world have come to the United States for a variety of reasons. Some came to get away from religious prosecution, others came to exercise their freedom of speech, yet others were looking for political choices. Most immigrants regardless if they came from Italy, Poland Vietnam, or Honduras have one thing in common; they all wanted to improve their situations, more specifically they are after a better life for themselves and their families. Employer income in the United States far exceeds the pay received from any of the countries that immigrants came from. "Mexican migration both to Northern Mexico and to the United States is almost entirely motivated by economics" (Payan, 2006, p 61). As time has passed, societies and economies have developed. The development and increased population in the United States has forced the United States to establish immigration rules such as the Immigration Act of 1924 which set annual admission limits. The rules allowing immigrants to enter the United States are based on, a work visa, temporary tourist visa, student visa or other type of authorized documents. This systematic process controls the amount of immigrants entering into the United States.

Border control is necessary to enforce immigration rules and prevent immigrants from entering illegally or staying beyond the legally established period of time. Since Mexico and other South American countries are very close to our southern border it is very easy for them to cross into the United States. The economies in these countries are much lower than their northern neighbor. "As long as the per capita income differential between the US (over $30,000) and Mexico (less than $4,000) continues to be so wide, it will be difficult to stop immigrants" (GlobalSecurity.org, 2010). This economical disparity further fuels the decisions of Mexican and other South American immigrants to enter the United States legally or illegally.