Articles’ Analysis
The article, “What should be done about the illegal immigration from Mexico to the United States?” by Crowe & Lucas-Vergona (2007) compares six proposals recommended to manage illegal immigrants from Mexico. The six alternatives are; doing nothing, deporting all immigrants, making all immigrants US citizens, starting a guest worker program, opening the border with Mexico, or developing the Mexican economy. The authors deploy the Analytic Network Process (ANP) to identify the most viable recommendation and conclude that making the current illegal immigrants be US citizens, followed by tightening border security, is the best option. The second most feasible option is setting up a guest worker program due to its economic benefits. In the article, “Illegal immigration, state law, and deterrence,” Hoekstra & Orozco-Aleman (2017) examine the effect of state and federal policies on deterrence of immigrants. The study finds that restrictive state policies deter illegal immigrants by 30 to 70 percent, significantly impacting illegal immigration. In Gravelle's article of 2016 about personal contact and public attitude, he explains that policies are, in most cases, fueled by public attitude toward immigrants. Therefore, he examines the effect of personal contact on public attitude to determine if contact with immigrants is changing attitude and policy initiatives. He concludes that personal contact with immigrants does not affect public attitude and policy-making initiatives.
Comparison of Findings
Conclusions from the three articles can be integrated to form a more viable solution for illegal immigration. Crowe & Lucas-Vergona (2007) conclude that making all the illegal immigrants be US citizens, followed by stricter border laws, is a viable approach. This relates to Hoekstra & Orozco-Aleman's (2017) conclusion that policies deter immigrants. Therefore, establishing more stringent border laws would deter illegal immigrants. Lastly, Gravelle concludes that personal contact with immigrants does not affect public attitude and policy-making initiatives. Therefore, illegal immigrants already in the US may take part in guest work programs without impacting public attitudes as border security increases simultaneously.
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Challenges and Initiatives
One of the most significant challenges in tackling illegal immigration is maintaining human rights, especially minors. Attempts to separate children from their parents have attracted harsh human rights criticism, making it a challenge for the US government. The government has responded to this challenge by returning all children who show up at the border accompanied by their parents. Only those with nonparent adults are separated at the border.
Arizona State and Immigration Laws
Arizona State has among the strictest immigration laws. The state passed an Act that makes it a crime to stay within its borders without documentation. Police are allowed to stop, detain and arrest illegal immigrants. Such persons face a jail term, fines, and court costs. These laws are effective because they deter illegal immigrants from crossing into Arizona. The biggest challenge for the Arizona laws is that it goes against federal laws, which are paramount over state laws. This has attracted several court cases against the execution of the Arizona laws.
References
Crowe, S., & Lucas-Vergona, J. (2007). What should be done about the illegal immigration from Mexico to the United States? Mathematical and Computer Modelling , 46 (7-8), 1115-1129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcm.2007.03.026
Gravelle, T. B. (2016). Party identification, contact, contexts, and public attitudes toward illegal immigration. Public Opinion Quarterly , 80 (1), 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1093/poq/nfv054
Hoekstra, M., & Orozco-Aleman, S. (2017). Illegal immigration, state law, and deterrence. American Economic Journal , 9 (2), 228-252. https://doi.org/10.3386/w20801
