The Republican party has long obsessed over four topics that statistically do not matter. At least, they do not matter in the sense that they keep claiming it does. Let’s review them here instead of needing to do this on every one of the 20 articles posted by them on BNR per day. The four topics are Illegal immigration, Abortion, Voter Fraud and Violent Crimes; today’s topic is Illegal Immigration
TOPIC ONE: Illegal Immigration
Ignoring the racism aspect (and yes, I know that’s a big ask, but bear with it), Republicans obsess about the people who are currently residing in the USA without legal permit because they claim to be concerned about the security of our border, crime rates, economic drains and the rule of law. It is for them a top tier topic, and often drives their campaigns, regardless of actual impact or location. Let’s take those concerns one at a time and explore the actual facts behind them.
- Security of the border
- Trump dedicated most of his political capitol to “building a wall” as a solution for border security, claiming it would solve or significantly address illegal immigration. Unfortunately, the facts do not bear this out in any way. Border crossings are not the majority source for illegal immigration; VISA overstays are. And a wall does not address the tunnels, water crossings, or the fact that ladders exist. Nor do we have the population to “man” any such wall.
- In essences, while border security matters (drug smuggling and normal immigration topics rest on a defined border), a perceived lack in border security is not the significant contributor to illegal immigration it is made out to be. Attention would be better spent on day laborer policies and VISA overstay enforcement.
- https://www.npr.org/2019/01/16/686056668/for-seventh-consecutive-year-visa-overstays-exceeded-illegal-border-crossings
- Crime Rates
- Republicans define people who are in the USA illegally as criminals, implying that they are guilty of much more lawbreaking than a minor misdemeanor (more on that later). However, study after study finds that immigrants residing here illegally commit less crimes than immigrants in general, and both commit less than non-immigrant Americans. Relative to undocumented immigrants, US-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely to be arrested for drug crimes, and over 4 times more likely to be arrested for property crimes.
- https://www.pnas.org/content/117/51/32340
- Economic Drains
- South Park made the reductive argument: “They took our jobs!” Less simply put, Republicans are concerned that non legal residents take jobs away and tie up resources that would otherwise go to legal residents. What they don’t seem to take into account is how much they add to the local economies due to their relatively low pay, purchase of items and payment of local usage taxes.
- Research reviewed by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office indicates that between 50 percent and 75 percent of unauthorized immigrants pay federal, state, and local taxes. Illegal immigrants are estimated to pay in about $7 billion per year into Social Security.
- Nearly every dollar earned by undocumented immigrants is spent immediately, and the average wage for US citizens is $10.25/hour with an average of 34 hours per week. This means that approximately 8 million US jobs are dependent upon economic activity produced by undocumented immigrant activities within the US.
- Immigrants residing here illegally can get emergency care through Medicaid, the federal-state program for the poor and people with disabilities. But they can’t get non-emergency care unless they pay. They are ineligible for most other public benefits. The cost of this emergency care was less than 1% of Medicaid costs and the majority was for childbirth and related complications.
- https://eu.dispatch.com/story/news/2021/03/15/undocumented-ohio-immigrants-taxes-no-benefits/4628218001/
- https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-01-21-immigrant-healthcare_N.htm
- Rule of Law
- Even with the above arguments, Republicans state that ignoring people illegally crossing the border means we are ignoring crime. And that’s not an incorrect statement. In context, however, improper border crossing is at the same level of lawbreaking as jaywalking.
- Here it is important to distinguish between two immigration rules: illegal entry and illegal Re-entry.
- “Illegal Entry”/8 U.S.C. § 1325 makes it a crime to unlawfully enter the United States. It applies to people who do not enter with proper inspection at a port of entry, such as those who enter between ports of entry, avoid examination or inspection, or who make false statements while entering or attempting to enter. A first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine, up to six months in prison, or both.
- “Illegal Re-Entry”/8 U.S.C. § 1326 makes it acrime to unlawfully reenter, attempt to unlawfully reenter, or to be found in the United States after having been deported, ordered removed, or denied admission. This crime is punishable as a felony with a maximum sentence of two years in prison. Higher penalties apply if the person was previously removed after having been convicted of certain crimes: up to 10 years for a single felony conviction (other than an aggravated felony conviction) or three misdemeanor convictions involving drugs or crimes against a person, and up to 20 years for an aggravated felony conviction.
- 1325 violations are the most common by far; these should be followed up but the seriousness of them is not high. 1326 violations establish a pattern of lawlessness, and should be taken far more seriously. The difference between them should be emphasized and people treated accordingly.
Conclusion:
Border security is not the determinant factor. Immigrants of any resident status contribute more and commit less crimes to local communities. First time offenders commit the smallest infraction against federal law.
“Solving” illegal immigration won’t significantly improve the USA. It may in fact have a detrimental impact on our economy and violent crime rates. As such, it is my opinion that this is a topic that doesn’t matter on the larger scale.