Illegal Immigration Problem Accelerating
Here's an interesting chart from the BBC:
It is interesting to note the dates on the graph. Notice the first peak of the top graph which comes in 1986 as well as the subsequent decline to 1989. So what happened to cause that? The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. at the time. The passage of that act is what caused the three year decline in the number of illegals living in the U.S. because all of those who were living here illegally then could lay claim to citizenship under this law. But then notice what happens from 1989 onward: A steady and accelerating increase in the number of illegal immigrants living in America.
Wonder why that is? Could it maybe be because the amnesty granted in 1986 convinced would-be illegals that, if enough of them cross the border and set up residence here in America, that we'll just give up and grant them all amnesty? I'd say that's right, and I'd also say that these immigrants aren't stupid as that is just what would happen if some of our politicians get their way.
The question we have to ask ourselves, though, is this: What good is amnesty for sovling the illegal immigration problem? As this chart shows, the last time we granted amnesty we ended up with a problem that was bigger than the one we faced previously.
It is interesting to note the dates on the graph. Notice the first peak of the top graph which comes in 1986 as well as the subsequent decline to 1989. So what happened to cause that? The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, which granted amnesty to 2.7 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. at the time. The passage of that act is what caused the three year decline in the number of illegals living in the U.S. because all of those who were living here illegally then could lay claim to citizenship under this law. But then notice what happens from 1989 onward: A steady and accelerating increase in the number of illegal immigrants living in America.
Wonder why that is? Could it maybe be because the amnesty granted in 1986 convinced would-be illegals that, if enough of them cross the border and set up residence here in America, that we'll just give up and grant them all amnesty? I'd say that's right, and I'd also say that these immigrants aren't stupid as that is just what would happen if some of our politicians get their way.
The question we have to ask ourselves, though, is this: What good is amnesty for sovling the illegal immigration problem? As this chart shows, the last time we granted amnesty we ended up with a problem that was bigger than the one we faced previously.
