THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION

Developing a Strong Border and Immigration Policy

Published on August 17, 2010


THE ISSUE:

For far too long, the United States has failed to enforce its immigration laws. Its visa system does not adequately serve the needs of the economy, legal immigrants, or U.S. citizens. Cartel violence and continued illegal immigration along the U.S. southern border have many Americans concerned. Americans are demanding a border and immigration policy that will keep the U.S. free, safe, and prosperous—not an amnesty that simply exacerbates the problem.

THE FACTS:

Border Violence on the Rise, Illegal Immigration Continues. The U.S. has made progress on securing the border, but the border is still not secure. Drug cartels have seized control of major parts of Mexico’s northern border—with more than 6,000 murders in 2008 from drug cartel violence. The threat of spillover violence in the U.S., as well as continued illegal immigration, remains a significant problem.

State and Locals Overwhelmed. Once in the U.S., illegal aliens consume a significant share of government services, such as health care, law enforcement, and education. Particularly hard-hit are state and local governments, which often bear the cost of footing this bill—a multibillion-dollar unfunded mandate. It is estimated that in 2007, illegal aliens in California cost the state between $9 billion and $38 billion in public services.

Interior Enforcement Rollbacks. Instead of building on past progress, the current Administration has reversed a number of effective interior enforcement efforts. For instance, it has switched from random workforce checks to soft audits and has instituted changes in the 287(g) program, a state and local immigration enforcement program, that will discourage participation. In FY 2009, the number of worksite arrests was down “by more than 50 percentâ€