Running head: TO CROSS OR NOT TO CROSS THE BORDER?

To Cross or Not to Cross the Border?

Following the American Psychological Associations Guidelines
Mariana Ramirez
The University of Texas at El Paso

TO CROSS OR NOT TO CROSS THE BORDER?

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Abstract
Immigration has existed in the United States since decades, and even centuries. This is not
something that is new. Foreign people feel the need to immigrate and stay in the U.S. in order to
pursue a better life, such as different or more job opportunities, a better salary, an education that
will last a lifetime, security and peace of mind, and more. There are two types of immigration:
legal and illegal. Legal immigration consists of obtaining a green card in order to be able to
reside permanently in the U.S., while illegal immigration is residing in the U.S. without
permission, thus making it a crime to do so. Currently, illegal immigration is viewed as if it was
the most evil crime ever. Many people dont realize what caused illegal immigrants to leave their
countries and come to ours, so they should realize that by helping them stay here, they will help
the U.S. become an even better country.
Keywords: immigration, illegal immigration, United States, foreigners

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To Cross or Not to Cross the Border?

Illegal immigration is considered to be a crime by the government of the U.S. Even
though this can have serious consequences, such as deportation, foreigners still decide to come
into the country this way. Once in the country, foreigners
become illegal immigrants by obtaining a temporary visa and
then failing to leave the country, or by failing to renew it and
not leaving. Illegal immigrants sometimes come alone, and
they decide to leave their families in their home countries,
but sometimes they also bring their families with them. Most
of the time, illegal immigrants come into the country looking
for

different

and

opportunities in order

1[U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant

Population, chart] Retrieved December
11, 2015 from
www.pewresearchcenter.org/facttank/2015/11/19/5-facts-about-illegalimmigration-in-the-u-s/

better

job,

and

economic,

to have a better life. This is

something that some people fail to see, they dont realize that illegal immigrants are trying to the
same lives that theyre living, by having a decent salary, a good education, and security.
Why is Illegal Immigration a Problem?
Illegal immigration is a problem because, while it poses no problem to the
economy of the U.S., it hurts the security of our country. Illegal immigrants arent the ones who
cause the countrys security to decline, but it is the fact that our borders are so open that anyone
can come in, not just illegal immigrants that are simply looking for a better life. Drug traffickers
and terrorists may come into the country and we may not even notice this.

TO CROSS OR NOT TO CROSS THE BORDER?

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What is the Solution?

I believe that the solution to fix the problem of illegal immigration is to legalize
all of the illegal immigrants that are already here. Deporting all of them would be a waste of time
and resources. Illegal immigrants should be legalized, but first they should be interrogated to
show that their intentions are good, so they can prove that theyre not bad and that they are
indeed looking to live a better life. By legalizing the illegal immigrants, this will create job
opportunities, it will also strengthen Social Security, and it can increase the production of
different services and goods, which boosts the countrys economy.

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References
Kane, T., & Johnson, K. (2006, March 1). The Real Problem with Immigration... and the Real
Solution.

Retrieved

December

11,

2015,

from

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2006/03/the-real-problem-with-immigrationand-the-real-solution
Krayewski, E. (2013, February 7). 5 Reasons to Grant Amnesty to Illegal Immigrants. Retrieved
December 9, 2015, from https://reason.com/archives/2013/02/07/5-reasons-for-amnestyfor-illegal-immigr/
Krogstad, J., & Passel, J. (2015, November 19). 5 facts about illegal immigration in the U.S.
Retrieved December 9, 2015, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/19/5facts-about-illegal-immigration-in-the-u-s/
[U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Population, chart] Retrieved December 11, 2015 from
www.pewresearchcenter.org/fact-tank/2015/11/19/5-facts-about-illegal-immigration-inthe-u-s/