Research Log 4

"Backfire at the Border: Why Enforcement without Legalization | Douglas S. Massey | Cato Institute: Trade Policy Analysis." The Cato Institute. Web. 14 Oct. 2011.

The author’s purpose of this piece is to bring to the reader’s attention that an enforcement only policy to stop illegal immigration isn’t going to work, and that is true in my opinion. Some other claims the author makes is that the cost to U.S. taxpayers of making one arrest along the border increased from $300 in 1992 to $1,700 in 2002, an increase of 467 percent in just a decade. Which if that is true, that is a huuuge increase and something needs to be done about it. Because there are less arrests and more deaths, it’s costing taxpayers more because they have to pay the law enforcement that are protecting our borders. So if we were able to come up with another policy other than enforcement, that would greatly help tax payers and help illegal immigration prevention.
Some great key concepts that Mr. Massey discus’s is “Congress should build on President Bush's immigration initiative to enact a temporary visa program that would allow workers from Canada, Mexico, and other countries to work in the United States without restriction for a certain limited time. Undocumented workers already in the United States who do not have a criminal record should be given temporary legal status.” And I think this idea is genius, I’m all for getting rid of illegal immigrants, but if that illegal immigrant has no criminal history (other than being in the U.S. illegally of course) they should give him a temporary legal status, maybe not amnesty, but a temperate citizenship granted to work for a certain amount of time then go home. If they want to comeback then they could come back legally and go through the process like they should. This idea is a more peaceful way to slow down illegal immigration and I believe it would work because instead of taking illegal immigration on with just force, a peaceful and helpful or beneficial for the illegal immigrant policy would probably work.
I reacted to this claim positively and if it was brought to a vote, I would support it and heed others to support it as well.
I chose this source by using google scholar and looking up enforcement on illegal immigration, and after scrolling down and reading other articles I chose this one because one it wasn’t a 35 page pdf and that it was clear and to the point. Also because of its percpective on illegal immigration perspective. It wasn’t just against preventing it, or for enforcing prevention as strictly as possible, it was a clear minded view on it. I want to know if there are any laws like the author talks about out there yet, or if there are some in the process in the making. I could go from here and get another article on against preventing it because I only have one or two articles on it at the moment. I want to get as many perspectives on Illegal Immigration as possible, I still hold my opinion on getting rid of illegal immigrants as fast as possible, and if that means granting more visa’s to immigrants from Canada, Mexico, and other country’s temporarily then I’m all for it.