Home List of Pros and Cons 10 Critical Pros and Cons of Illegal Immigration

10 Critical Pros and Cons of Illegal Immigration

The issue on illegal immigration has been facing America for so many years and currently, there are about more than 12 million illegal aliens in the United States, with a million entering the country as legal immigrants on a yearly basis. More than half of this aliens are those who have entered legally but extended their stay without filing for extension. The rest have made their way through borders and risked their lives cramped in trucks and literally crossing the borders.

Despite this, the government is still trying to make things good for illegal immigrants and the country as well. Policies have been changing over the years, with President Obama giving amnesty decrees granting illegal immigration law exemptions to a certain percentage of undocumented aliens.

What Is Illegal Immigration?

This is the migration of foreigners to a country who are not legally eligible to migrate or extend their stay for more than a given period yet they refuse to leave. According to the United States Department of Home Security, people involved in illegal immigration are those non-US residents who either cross the borders without inspection or people who were given visas to stay for awhile but instead of leaving, they overstay.

This controversy had been viewed from different angles by two groups, the proponents and opponents are debating whether this is good for the United States or not.

Here are some benefits and setbacks supporters and critics shared about this issue.

List of the Pros of Illegal Immigration

1. It helps the economy.
According to supporters, illegal immigrants work for cheaper labor and are often hardworking people because they are saving money to bring back to their families. With more than enough labor force, businesses can increase production and reach their targeted sales. If businesses are booming, it is also good for the economy.

2. Undocumented aliens are willing to take all kinds of jobs.
With the goal of making it in the land of milk and honey, an undocumented alien can work at jobs the average American will not be willing to take. This way, goods and services will be delivered on time. When it comes to doing household chores, cleaning, feeding the pets and taking care of an adult in need of care and attention, an illegal immigrant can take on these types of jobs. And knowing how busy working Americans are, it helps to get support from someone. This is also applicable to meet the needs of an impaired adult.

3. Illegal immigrants who work also pay taxes.
Some illegal aliens who have managed to get jobs in home care, restaurants and automobile shops pay revenue to the agency. But doing so, having them stay illegally somehow allows them to compensate the government, one way of the other. Also they have to open back accounts and buy necessities like automobiles. The money and taxes they pay help the U.S. economy.

4. Undocumented aliens contribute to a richer culture and biodiversity.
For some, having mixed cultures in a country is a good thing. This is why they are in favor of illegal immigration because these immigrants bring in their culture and skills to the nation.

5. Deporting these illegal immigrants can cost the government so it is better to let the stay.
There are supporters who claim that if all the people who are overstaying in America will be deported, it will cause a lot and it is never that easy. This expense is not the kind of money the United States can afford. Besides, there are other issues that America needs to focus on other than illegal aliens.

List of Cons of Illegal Immigration

1. The threat of terrorism and crimes.
Opponents of illegal immigration argue that America is faced with national issues such as threats of terrorism. Although not all are terrorists and bad people, there are some who come to the U.S. to havoc fear and commit crimes like drug-trafficking and illegal activities. There have also been reports of more than a hundred cases of crimes related to illegal immigrants.

2. Illegal immigrants take jobs away from Americans.
Critics of illegal immigration are rallying over the policies of the government regarding this controversy. They say that because of the influx of illegal workers, more and more Americans remain unemployed because employers sometimes favor illegal immigrants over legal residents because of cheap labor and longer working hours.

3. Illegal immigration costs money.
Opponents contend that taxpayers’ money is spent in paying for border patrol and deportation. This is one of the complaints of groups against illegal immigration. They also raise that poor illegal immigrants medical expenses are paid for by the government and this money come for taxpayers as well. Unauthorized aliens who get sick or give birth on American soil have to be given medical attention even without insurance and money to cover for hospital bills at the expense of the American taxpayers. Moreover, children of illegal immigrants waiting to be deported need to be taken care and this requires money.

4. Undocumented aliens add to the population.
Those who are not happy with illegal immigration complain that with the increasing number of illegal immigrants and some with children, more people add to overcrowding buses and trains as well as students granted with scholarships which should be given to legal immigrants, these situations are not favorable to most of the people.

5. Illegal immigration is a law violation.
Some critics are fuelled with the fact that amnesty is granted to illegal aliens. They say that this is an act that should not be tolerated. These people came illegally and should not be allowed to stay longer. They are in violation of the law because letting them stay will only encourage them to do other illegal doings.


The debatable issue on illegal immigration is not about to end with the developments taking place as time passes on. Contentions from two opposing groups will still be present as policies are ever changing and immigrants keep on coming from different parts of the world. Government leaders and different sectors who are affected with the issue should take these things in consideration to come up with clear-cut solutions to illegal immigration.

One Final Important Note
