Budget and Policy

Since the formation of the United States, immigration has played a consequential role. The first people to arrive on the American shores were looking for a better life. The same is said of today’s immigrants that arrive to the U.S. The United States like any other nation has a fundamental right to control their borders and the people they allow into the country. Now it seems more than ever immigration has become a hot button issue. Some people believe immigration should increase from its current levels. Others believe that immigration levels are fine at their current level. An even more contentious issue is the debate over illegal immigration. The vitriol hurled by both sides of the debate borderlines on absurdity. This paper will look at the history and criminal justice response to legal and illegal immigration as it affects the United States.

The US immigration policy generates a heat debate in the country. Liberals and conservatives support different sets of legal mechanisms that would lead to reach certain goals. There is a disagreement on ways to achieve goals but everyone agrees on what the goals are. “On one hand, many in congress support a path to citizenship for undocumented workers and increased legal immigration. On the other, a substantial number argue for greater border enforcement, mass deportation, and decreased immigration” (Dowd, 2011).

The criminal justice system main goal in the US immigration policy is to reduce illegal immigration and all related violent crimes. The US criminal justice system attempts to secure the border against smuggling illegal aliens who are more likely to end up victims or criminals. Illegal immigrants suffer poverty and are subject to victimization. They are under paid, kidnapped, and are taken advantage of in illegal acts such as drugs, prostitution, gang activities, etc. Illegal immigrants mostly do not report to the police when they become victims or when they witness a crime because they have fear of...