by Kathryn Keeley

Created on: November 20, 2010   Last Updated: November 22, 2010

We are a country founded by the many cultures drawn here by the promises of a better life. Historically, we have always prided ourselves with being a melting pot of diverse people. However, while legal immigration continues, the increasing number of illegal immigrates is becoming a problem. An illegal immigrant is a person who has either entered a country without permission or someone who, after being granted entry to a country, has stayed beyond the allowed period of time. And although many think this is a uniquely American problem, it is a worldwide dilemma, happening to many other prosperous countries in Europe, for example.

This issue raises an interesting moral conflict because, although illegal immigrants have broken the law, they are often forced to do so out of the desperate need to survive and to support their families.

Why is immigration considered to be such a big problem in this country? A common concern today is that illegal immigrants put financial burdens on our schools and hospitals, and because of their situation, they often do not pay their full share of taxes.  Another valid concern is that illegal immigrants take jobs away from American citizens.

Because of these concerns, many “solutions” have been suggested. From increasing border control and installing fences along the border, to granting amnesty, these solutions have all been tried, but so far have not solved the problem.

If we increase the border control and strengthen fences, we are simply slowing down the immigration problem. Furthermore, it is very expensive and based on past experience, not very effective. In addition, it has negative ecological consequences because it disrupts many animals on their annual migrations as well as the natural flow of rivers.

By granting amnesty to all the immigrants in the U.S., we are rewarding lawbreakers, which will likely encourage more and more to come in unlawfully. In fact, we have tried this tactic already, and it failed. In 1986, we provided amnesty to 2.7 million illegal immigrants. The act of eliminating the issue increased it; before amnesty was granted, there were around 140,000 people per year immigrating here illegally, now there are over 700,000!

Many suggest ways of decreasing, slowing, or avoiding the problem, but we need to end it. To end the problem, we have to tackle it at the source. We must eliminate the reasons why people enter illegally. Mainly, they come for jobs. Many businesses will hire cheap labor so they

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