Why Do Some Immigrants Take Shortcuts?

Illegal immigrants who crossed into the United States await processing by U.S. Border Patrol agents outside of San Diego, Calif., on Dec. 5, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

Commentary

Back in earlier times, there were no firm borders to nations as geographic lines were fluid according to conquests and shifting loyalties. People could roam wherever they chose in search of opportunities, yet they had to be careful about wandering into “territories” that some ethnic tribe would claim to be their own.

However, over the last century or two, borders became more solidified, and each nation has drawn up laws regarding both emigration and immigration.

The Problem

It’s common knowledge why lawful immigrants leave their home countries to get a chance at the American Dream. Some are students or tourists, and some are temporary workers who adhere to a legal process to attain visas. Some end up staying here and undergo a lawful process on the path to permanent residency.

However, there are some lawful immigrants who overstay their student or work visas and fail to check in with immigration officials to renew their visas, yet are aware they must check in. This is a form of unlawful behavior and could be subject to a deportation process. Perhaps some of these folks forget to check in, while others may think that they can slip through the cracks if the government forgets about them. Some might have ulterior intentions despite having entered the country lawfully.

In democratic nations, it’s crucial to adhere to the immigration process in order to understand the meaning of liberty and the rule of law. Attaining citizenship is not a right, but a privilege that must be earned. There are no shortcuts to something as important as the process leading to citizenship.

While some legal immigrants feel more comfortable staying within their own cultural enclaves in America, others attempt to assimilate and truly experience the breadth of American society. One would hope that the meaning of immigration involves contributing to society instead of focusing on what you can take from it.

In contrast to legal immigrants, why do unlawful immigrants emigrate from their countries and immigrate to the United States? There are likely manifold reasons for this. Unlawful immigrants start out by defying the rule of law as they sneak into our country or utilize fake asylum claims or fraudulent documents to enter in a method that lacks full vetting. While authentic asylum claims ought to be considered for those fleeing persecution, these claims should be fully vetted. This is a challenge in California and other states.

Most immigrants seek opportunity, but in recent years, many have brazenly demanded social services usually reserved for citizens and legal immigrants. That would be similar to an American entering a foreign nation and demanding the same rights or special rights over those afforded to citizens or legal immigrants in those countries.

Unfortunately, the prior administration didn’t take border security seriously, and vast numbers of unlawful immigrants entered America, including hardcore criminals from adversarial nations. These immigrants were prioritized over citizens and law-abiding legal immigrants. This intake overwhelmed communities and tax-funded social services as it posed a clear and present health and national security danger. How do we solve this?

Some Solutions

There are obvious solutions to unlawful migration. Enforcing current immigration laws is a necessity. The border wall must be completed, and there ought to be well-managed entry points in only a few locations to process those who respect the rule of law. Additional Border Patrol agents will be needed to monitor the Northern and Southern borders. Patrolling the coasts is also critical. Moreover, more immigration judges are required to expedite the legal immigration process.

Next, immigrants with specific claims but insufficient paperwork must get in line behind lawful immigrants in their respective countries. Unlawful immigrants who are already in the United States should not merely be caught and then released back into our society. They must undergo a process of deportation due to breaking the first law of illegal entry. If an individual defies the initial law, they might be tempted to break other laws while in the United States.

Third, the government should utilize the E-Verify system to identify whether an individual is working legally or unlawfully. Businesses need to comply with this system so that illegal immigrants aren’t taking jobs away from citizens and legal immigrants. Limit the number of temporary students and workers who can enter the country each year.

Fourth, take away some of the incentives to illegal border crossings. Rigorous law enforcement at all levels is part of the equation, including halting chain migration. If business and federal laws are enforced, lawless immigrants will have less of a desire to enter the country.

Fifth, something less discussed is helping developing nations to develop. The United States can invest in those nations without creating debt traps and promote democracy at the same time. We can also lower tariffs and trade barriers to enable balanced trade for all partners at reasonable prices. All of these actions can sharply reduce unlawful migration and encourage legal immigration.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.