Immigration Law: A Case Study

Such as any other regular US citizen worker, the majority of undocumented immigrants pay taxes as required by the law. According to a study from the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy found that there are 11 million illegal immigrants that contribute roughly $12 billion dollars annually to the US government, including State and Federal taxes. According to the website Vox by Alexia Campbell, the government provides an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), created by the IRS in 1996 so people who aren’t allowed to work in the United States could still file taxes on any money they earned. The IRS showed that in 2010 about 3 million ITIN holders paid more than $870 million in income taxes. Out of the 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States there are children, mid age and the elderly. Some people argue that illegal immigrants are a burden to the US economy, but tax contributions’ statistics demonstrate

Several illegal immigrants buy a fake identification that they get from people who are selling it for a few hundred dollars. “They get on the payroll by using fake or fraudulent social security numbers or social security numbers of the deceased”(Germano). Another way for an illegal immigrant to get on the payroll is by getting an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. According to Roy Germano “Immigrants now file their income taxes using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs)”. Even though they have a number that they use to pay taxes, illegal immigrants also have to pay taxes for everything they buy including food, house rent, and other items. “Immigrants—legal and undocumented—all buy things, and thus pay these taxes as part of their purchase”. Immigrants are consumers just like everyone else in America. They have things that they have to buy to survive in this country, so they should be treated with respect regardless of their status.

In the United States immigration has almost always been a controversial topic to discuss. James Madison wrote that "Our kind reception of immigrants is very proper, but it is dictated more by benevolent [sic] than by interested consideration, though some of them seem to be very far from regarding the obligations as lying on their side"(Madison, James) When Madison wrote this he had no clue of the problems that immigration could cause in the modern day United States in the last five to six decades. To better the U.S 's immigration policy, reforms are a necessary practice in order to better the involvement in immigration to the U.S. for both the immigrants and for the country.

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 has a mandatory detention provision in 8 U.S.C 1226(c). The issue this pathfinder explores is whether §1226 (c) requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain a noncitizen offender who committed a qualifying offense “when the alien is released” from custody immediately or any time after they are released from criminal custody. The language of the statute is ambiguous because it does not provide a time frame for when an alien can be detained after being released from custody for a qualifying offense. The statute is not clear whether “when released” can mean a couple of days after release from custody or years after release.

I believe that the future success of the United States depends on a renewed commitment to individual rights over an emphasis on the common good. For example, if the government would provide healthcare to all citizens in the United States, in essence, it would be forcing citizens to pay for the healthcare of others through taxes. This violates the people’s right to spend their money in the way that they choose, limiting Americans’ disposable income and potentially hurting our economy. An additional example concerns immigration. The government should most definitely limit immigration and carefully scrutinize those they let in to protect citizen’s right to the pursuit of happiness. If too many immigrants are let into the US, they would be competing

About 28 million individuals moved to the United States between the years 1880 and the late 1920 's. "The newcomers living in different nations all through the world chose to leave there foundation of source and move to the United States for different reasons, some of which included flexibility from political and religious mistreatment, starvation, or to experience the American Dream of perceived economic opportunity. Once settled; immigrants were often stereotyped and discriminated against because they were “distinctive”. Social Justice was nonexistent as Employers often took advantage of immigrants, men were paid less than other workers and women were paid less than men. (Library of Congress, 1990) The numbers of newcomers dropped dramatically in 1924, when Congress passed highly restrictive immigration legislation. (Bankston, Carl L., 1999). As time has passed the United States Immigration laws have made it increasing more desirable for individuals to seek illegal entry as opposed to the legal process. High control and subject to numerical confinements and qualification prerequisites comprising of essential family or work relationship and absence of access to compassionate security, for example, shelter or refugee status have played a noteworthy role.(American Immigration Council, March 2012)

Throughout time, around the world there has been an invisible racial barrier which has affected race, colonialism, enslavement, policies, and incarceration. Multiple efforts have been made to break down the racial boundary but in reality, racism is still very alive to this day. Progress has been slow to end the race boundaries due to changes in US Immigration laws, changes in the US Criminal Justice system, and the problems of the 20th century being the problem of the color line.

Immigration laws in the United States should be adjusted so it is easier to migrate to the U.S. This is true because all human beings have a right to seek out a better life. For example, children in Central America are trying to migrate to the U.S. but immigration laws are preventing them from entering the country. In effect of this they are forced to hire guides or more commonly known as “coyotes” who help them illegally cross the border. When all they are trying to do is escape their terrible lives in Central America where they will most likely be forced to join a gang and sell drugs. But even then, some people want to create more barriers to keep immigrants out which is un-fair and just

DACA or Deferred Action for Childhood arrivals is a immigration policy put in place in 2012 by the Obama administration. It allows child immigrants, also known as dreamers to stay in our country for work and school purposes without getting deported.

Since the first settlers of Texas to the present day, the rugged and individual attitude of the Texan people has often resulted in serious squabbles and disagreements between the federal government and the state. These issues stem from education to environmental policies and also include welfare problems, such as women’s rights and social policy. However, the struggle of immigration policy dating back to the start of the century has evolved into a very complex issue. On one hand, the U.S government is currently a divided government, as the results from the General election of 2014 identified rapid gains by the Republican Party in the House of Representatives and the Senate cultivating a strong conservative viewpoint while the office of President is currently dominated by a Democratic president, Barack Obama, which backs a liberal attitude of protecting the immigrants. Meanwhile in Texas, The intense conservative view of the state allows a common battle with the federal government, as the issue is much more relevant to the border state and does everything to curb federal legislation from protecting immigrants to deporting them and securing the borders. The issue that arises in this fierce standoff between the state and the federal government is that the poor, low income immigrants are held in a perpetual sense of deportation and lack of citizenship for their children or other people who wish to immigrate.

I chose not to include the discussion of a pathway to legal status for undocumented immigrants for personal reasons. My opinion on this subject is too strong for me to be objective. As an immigrant myself I have gone through the daunting and intimidating process of obtaining the United States citizenship. I am very happy and proud to be an American citizen. Nevertheless, I believe, that giving legal status to people who chose to disrespect the law of the United States and put financial stability of their families above the law just sends the wrong message. It undermines the legal and administrative struggles many people undergo on their way to legally become U.S. citizens and permanent residents. It is just my personal opinion though.

The Republicans Immigration and the Rule of Law is a controversial topic because of the stereotypical propaganda that all legal and illegal immigrants take jobs and blow up buildings. These ideas are byproducts of racial profiling in America. Racial profiling is a common occurrence in the United States. In an article called Racial profiling - separate and unequal keeping the minorities in line - the role of law enforcement in America, it specifically talks about racial profiling in the police force.

Since announcing his run for the presidency in 2015, Donald Trump promptly decided to make immigration a substantial part of his campaign. Trump raised awareness of a problem that many politicians weren’t talking about: sanctuary cities. Although commonly referred to as sanctuary cities, the technical term is “sanctuary jurisdiction”, which includes cities, counties, and entire states. Sanctuary jurisdictions do not currently have a leal definition but they are generally considered areas that refuse to enforce immigration law and often times are uncooperative with the federal government’s immigration decisions. The president has made it clear that he is committed to tackling immigration issues and reforming legislation that makes it easy

This act was passed and signed on November 6 1986 with the prime objective to amend and revise the status of unauthorized immigrants as set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill provided authorization to non-Americans the chance to apply and attain legal status given that various mandatory requirements were met. The status of all the applicants was decided by the “Designated Entities” and subsequently by the U.S. Attorney General. The applicants were required to prove their continuous physical presence in America as of the January 1 1982, with a clean criminal record as well providing proper proof of registration with Selective Service. Also, some other minimum requirements were a basic knowledge of U.S. history, American

At the hearing of President Tuman’s appointed commission on Immigration and Naturalization witnesses plead with the retainment of security and the liberalization of racial restrictions on McCarran Immigration Act. In Los Angeles, California witnesses like Edward H. Gibbons who was a representative the Los Angeles Conference of Civic Organizations gave examples of individuals under the immigration act and the examples they are pleading to the commission. Edward H. Gibbons mention Harry Bridges who was a union leader convicted on perjury in obtaining a citizenship and was now under deportation. However Mr. Gibbons explain that Harry Bridges hasn’t been deported in the last twenty years as his country refuse to accept him. This