preview

Illegal Immigration Is The Land Of Freedom And Opportunity

Decent Essays
America is the land of freedom and opportunity. There has been an increasing number of illegal immigrants entering the country over the years. “It is estimated that more than 12 million undocumented immigrants currently reside within the United States, with this number projected to increase into the foreseeable future (Muschek 2015). The majority of illegal immigrants are Mexicans, “75% of all illegal immigrants come from Mexico” (Krogstad 2016). Illegal immigration can be defined as someone staying in a country without the country’s official permission. Every year the Border Patrol arrests thousands of illegal immigrants who have violated the nations’ laws by unlawfully crossing the border from Mexico. Illegally crossing the border is…show more content…
Healthcare officials have reported that there has been an increase in fiscal pressures due to the rapidly growing illegal immigrant population that has overwhelmed their systems (Muschek 2015). “Between 1990 and 2008 in the state of California alone, more than 70 emergency rooms closed due to the overextending of their limited resources and funding” (Muschek 2015). This potentially affects all individuals seeking medical assistance in the United States. While Americas’ emergency rooms are limited in space and resources, illegal immigrants can also receive welfare benefits. “Households headed by unlawful immigrants received an average of $24,721 per household in direct benefits and means-tested benefits in 2010” (Richwine 6). Direct benefits include social security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, and worker’s compensation. Means-tested welfare benefits include Medicaid, food stamps, the refundable earned income tax credit, public housing, supplemental security income, and temporary assistance for needy families (Richwine 5). Illegal immigrants are ineligible for most of these welfare programs; however, one way in which they receive some of these benefits is through their U.S. born children. “It is estimated that 300,000 anchor babies are born in the U.S. every year and the cost of giving birth in an emergency facility in the United States is $13.5 billion annually” (Muschek 2015).
Get Access