The issue of illegal immigration remains a hot topic in the United States, especially pertaining to the US-Mexico border. Through illegal immigration across the border, Texas currently serves as home to at least 14% of the overall undocumented residents of the United States (Hobbs, 145). In fact, of all the traditional states of settlement, Texas depicts the highest proportion of undocumented residents to the overall figure of foreign-born population. Due to the concern of illegal immigration, goods and merchandise crossing the border, the Texas Department of Public Safety in collaboration with the federal Border Patrol work towards securing the Texas border. These officers also ensure the security of the commercial automobiles crossing the border, look out for terrorism, drugs trafficking and undocumented people (Hobbs, 145). The issue has gained mixed reactions from the members of Congress. On the one hand, the Republicans call for more attention on border security, while the Democrats seek the creation of a legal way to citizenship. As such, the debate concentrates on legislation that aligns with the present geopolitical and economic reality.
From the Democrats’ point of view, various industries in the United States require labor from other countries. Important sectors such as food service, manufacturing, meatpacking as well as maintenance serve as major employers of immigrants. Considering the huge revenue generated by such sectors, providing them with steady, consistent access to low-skilled and high-skilled labor remains critical towards sustaining the country’s worldwide competitiveness in major industries. Underlining this fact, democrats indicate the need for reforms that will allow immigrants opportunities to cross the U.S. and join the workforce lawfully. Citizenship remains the best solution as it values immigrants, recognizes their input to the economy. All the same, border residents call for a solution that balances security concerns with the prevailing economic reality.
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However, the Republicans raise concerns of border security, calling for the deployment of huge numbers of border patrol agents. In addition, they propose the construction of fencing, all through the Texas border. To the Republicans, more patrolmen and fencing addresses all cross-border trade and border security matters. The National Border Patrol Council indicates that majority of people coming through the Texas border, albeit illegally, seek work opportunities in construction or agriculture (Paxton and Anthony, 12). Nevertheless, there remains a large number of immigrants crossing the border to peddle drugs or form part of lawless sects and commit crimes. As such, aligning economic goals with the security goals require an increasing investment in the security infrastructure throughout the border. As a matter of fact, goods worth above one billion dollars move across the Texas-Mexico border on a daily basis (Paxton and Anthony, 13). However, the shortfalls seen in the existing border infrastructure result in prolonged delays at the various border crossings. The deficiency in the needed infrastructure largely causes unrelenting use of various points of entries which allow for drug trafficking.
In retrospect, from 2006 to 2009, the US federal government allocated more than two billion dollars for the erection of 670 miles of fencing, with expenditures per mile extending up to fifteen million. Despite the effort, illegal immigration still continues across the border. As such, skepticism on the expenditure on fencing remains high among opponents of fencing the border (Rocha, Benjamin, and Robert). In fact, opponents of fencing indicate that no fence is capable of stopping determined people from getting into the country. Moreover, many citizens in border towns hold that a security-focused method to immigration disregards their social and economic links with towns on the other side of the border in Mexico. As a result, border security concerns have focused on the deterrence of terrorist-related actions while promoting interests on national security. Throughout his presidential campaign, President Donald Trump indicated that his administration would ensure the construction of a border wall to enhance border security. His approach on combating illegal activities across the border also involves stepping-up border patrols. In fact, with communication from President Donald Trump, the state of Texas currently positions National Guard members along the border with Mexico. Their efforts seek to enhance the detection of attempts at smuggling goods and drugs as well as illegal immigrants across the Texas-Mexico border. In conjunction with the border patrol agents, the enhanced security forces seek to support the interdiction of all smuggling attempts while allowing legal trade to continue.
In conclusion, as legal goods worth billions of dollars as well as consignments of drugs and clusters of undocumented immigrants keep on crossing the Texas-Mexico border, reforms on border security and immigration attract discussions from both sides of the political divide. On the one hand, the Democrats call for a legal pathway for immigrants alongside the necessary border infrastructure. On the other hand, the Republicans opt for the construction of fencing to prevent any unauthorized entrance into the United States through the border. Considering that both federal and state authorities work to enhance security at the border, fighting criminal activities in such a dynamic setting comes with a myriad of hurdles. The task requires adherence to state and federal regulations in line with border protection rules. The state and federal authorities have to comply with the set international statutes, treaties, agreements, and conventions regarding border security. Therefore, the Senate bill needs to have a legislative solution towards helping economic growth in the US, creating more job opportunities and allow immigrants a chance at citizenship.
References
Hobbs, Christie. " State-Federal Partnerships in Immigration Enforcement: Is the Trend Right for Texas. " Tex. Tech. Admin. (2007).
Paxton, Pamela, and Anthony Mughan. 2006. “What’s to Fear from Immigrants? Creating an Assimilationist Threat Scale.” Political Psychology 27 (4): 549–68.
Rocha, Rene R., Benjamin R. Knoll, and Robert D. Wrinkle. "Immigration enforcement and the redistribution of political trust." The Journal of Politics 77.4 (2015): 901-913.
