9 Pros and Cons of Illegal Immigration Vittana.org
Illegal immigration is defined as the act of crossing a national border without permission with the purpose of living full-time in a new nation. When discussing the topic of illegal immigration, every country deals with these border crossings to some extent.
In North America, however, the primary topic involving illegal immigration involves unauthorized border crossings from Mexico into the United States.
There is a benefit to illegal immigration from an ethical standpoint. Opening ones borders to allow people to have the chance to start a new life for themselves is a morally correct position. Although some will always take advantage of an open borders policy, the benefits to society by having welcoming arms will outweigh the negatives that come from bad actors.
The disadvantage of illegal immigration is that, by definition, it is a legally incorrect course of action to take. There are legal methods of immigration available in most nations today. Skipping that legal process de-emphasizes the costs and sacrifices that many households make to start a new life for themselves that does follow the law.
Here are some more of the key pros and cons of illegal immigration to discuss.
1. It provides local economies with a boost.Illegal immigrants might cross the border without permission, but they can still contribute to local society. Many of these immigrants find work in cash-under-the-table positions that are needed, but not often worked, by those with citizenship or a legal immigration status. Increases in production create improvements in living standards and that eventually helps everyone find more success.
2. It creates more diversity within the culture.Diversity can provide a number of positive impacts to a society. It allows the society to grow because there are new ideas, perspectives, and cultures contributing to it. It offers everyone the chance to experience higher levels of growth because there is more access to information. Illegal immigrants combine their knowledge and skills to that of everyone else to create a stronger, responsive, and more productive outlook.
3. It reduces the costs of deportation.The vast majority of illegal immigrants break no other laws beyond their initial unpermitted border crossing. Deporting illegal immigrants is a costly venture. In FY 2016, ICE spent $3.2 billion to identity illegal immigrants, arrest them, detain them, and then remove them from the United States. They handled 240,000 of the 450,000 deportations which took place that year. Each deportation conducted by ICE cost an average of $10,854 per illegal immigrant deported. Stopping just 100 deportations could save $1 million.
4. Most illegal immigrants have established residency.In the United States, as of 2012, about 60% of the population that immigrated to the country illegally has been present for at least 10 years. At the same time, the illegal population that has been in the U.S. for less than five years has dropped from about 40% to less than 20% in the from 2004-2012. One in three undocumented immigrants above the age of 15 lives with a child that is a U.S. citizen. About one in three undocumented immigrants even own their own homes and pay property taxes.
5. It eliminates the cost of child care for legal children, but illegal parents.About 4 million children in the United States have citizenship, but their parents do not. If the government deports these parents, then it falls onto the government to care for them if there are no legal family members involved. Children who have their parents deported become withdrawn, anxious, and may suffer from depression. The cost of foster care per child averages about $160 per day. Multiply that figure by 4 million and thats a cost that can be eliminated if illegal immigration was transitioned to legal immigration.
1. Many illegal immigrants fit into a less-educated, lower-income demographic.The fiscal impact of illegal immigration is generally based on the taxes they pay minus the costs they create. A net increase in the economy can occur when immigrants are more-educated and have a higher income level. Many illegal immigrants do not fit into that category, which means they create a net fiscal drain for many communities.
2. Illegal immigration creates an ongoing security threat.Illegal immigration provides the means and opportunity for terrorism to exist. It presents opportunities for crime. A vast majority of illegal immigrants may follow all the laws, but not all of the do. Yet criminal aliens make up 27% of the total population of federal prisoners, despite the fact that they are an estimated 9% of the total adult population in the United States. In 2003, more than 55,000 illegal immigrants had been arrested nearly 460,000 times, while committing nearly 700,000 criminal offenses.
3. It changes employment dynamics.A free market economy relies on supply and demand for pricing and wages. If there is a lack of skilled labor available to a market, then wages go up. If there is a lot of the same product, then the price for that product goes down. When illegal immigration is present, the job market is suddenly given more workers than it would normally have if those who crossed illegally were not present. More workers correlate to depressed wages, which ultimately means the value of work is priced lower.
4. Illegal immigration can lead to overcrowding.Illegal immigration can change the population dynamics of a community very rapidly. In California, about 50% of the students starting school are either immigrants or a child of immigrants. With the added capacity of these students, nearly 15% of schools in the U.S. exceed their capacity by at least 6%, and sometimes as much as 25%.
The pros and cons of illegal immigration are variable based on each community. Some can take on more illegal immigrants without issue, while others struggle with those who are already present. Without a meaningful dialogue, this issue will remain unresolved. That is the purpose of these key points to start the conversation.
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9 Pros and Cons of Illegal Immigration Vittana.org
- Criminal illegal alien sentenced to prison for assaulting ICE officers during Massachusetts arrest - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Chicago mayor orders CPD to document illegal activity by immigration agents - FOX 32 Chicago - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Chicago mayor tells police to probe allegations of illegal activity by immigration agents - Reuters - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- The Left is Badly Misreading the Politics of Illegal Immigration - American Enterprise Institute - AEI - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Mayor Brandon Johnson of Chicago ordered city police on Saturday to formally document and report aggressive and potentially illegal federal... - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Opinion | The left is badly misreading the politics of illegal immigration - The Washington Post - February 1st, 2026 [February 1st, 2026]
- Federal Court Will Hear Minnesota Claims That Immigration Surge is Illegal - The New York Times - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Letters: News outlets are denigrating federal agents and glossing over the reality of illegal immigration - chicagotribune.com - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- Chaffetz: Democrats Have Overplayed Their Hand On Illegal Immigration - FOX News Radio - January 26th, 2026 [January 26th, 2026]
- VOTE: Do you agree with the way ICE is conducting its illegal immigration crackdown? - WPEC - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- ICE arrests dozens of criminal illegal aliens convicted of murder, child rape and more in sanctuary state Minnesota - ICE | U.S. Immigration and... - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- VOTE: Do you agree with the way ICE is conducting its illegal immigration crackdown? - National News Desk - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Cochran: Illegal immigration, enforcement of laws to be at forefront of assembly session - The Daily Post-Athenian - January 11th, 2026 [January 11th, 2026]
- Report: Hundreds more federal agents to arrive in Twin Cities for illegal immigration and fraud crackdown - Star Tribune - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Who's Responsible? Identity Theft Fueled by Government Inaction and Illegal Immigration - Herald/Review Media - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Report: Hundreds more federal agents to arrive in Twin Cities for illegal immigration and fraud crackdown - Red Lake Nation News - January 6th, 2026 [January 6th, 2026]
- Who's Responsible? Identity Theft Fueled by Government Inaction and Illegal Immigration - RealClearInvestigations - January 2nd, 2026 [January 2nd, 2026]
- 2025 Year in Review: Border Security and Illegal Immigration - thetexan.news - December 31st, 2025 [December 31st, 2025]
- ICE Operation Highway Sentinel arrests over 100 illegal alien truck drivers in Gavin Newsoms California - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - December 27th, 2025 [December 27th, 2025]
- ED Attaches Assets Worth Rs 5.41 Crore Over Illegal Immigration To US - NDTV - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- Is the government meeting its pledges on illegal immigration and asylum? - AOL.com - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- ROSEN: Ruben Navarette glosses over illegal part of immigration - Sentinel Colorado - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- HUDs Turner blames housing affordability crisis on unchecked illegal immigration - Scotsman Guide - December 16th, 2025 [December 16th, 2025]
- TSA and DHS team up to crackdown on illegal immigration in the air - Fox News - December 14th, 2025 [December 14th, 2025]
- OPINION: Its Time For Cities To Join The Fight Against Illegal Immigration - Dallas Express - December 14th, 2025 [December 14th, 2025]
- Tory shadow minister praises Trumps illegal immigration crackdown and says it could work in UK - the-independent.com - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Vances Misleading Claims on Housing Prices and Illegal Immigration - FactCheck.org - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- The truth about crime and illegal immigration is even worse than you imagine - The Telegraph - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- ICE Buffalo arrests notorious drug trafficker and criminal illegal alien from Ukraine who attempted to exploit immigration law to hide from justice -... - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Tory shadow minister praises Trumps illegal immigration crackdown and says it could work in UK - AOL.com - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Since the inauguration of the second Trump administration, illegal immigration crackdowns have been - - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- UAE Introduces Strict Visa Rules To Enhance National Security, Imposing Hefty Fines And Prison Terms For Illegal Immigration And Misuse Of Travel... - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration under Trump and Biden: What numbers reveal - MSN - December 10th, 2025 [December 10th, 2025]
- Illegal immigration is hurting U.S. economy: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent - Fox News - November 26th, 2025 [November 26th, 2025]
- Carter calls for increased ICE presence in Atlanta to address criminal illegal immigration problem - U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (.gov) - November 20th, 2025 [November 20th, 2025]
- Florida Takes the Lead to Eliminate Burdens of Illegal Immigration - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 20th, 2025 [November 20th, 2025]
- Trumps claims about murder rates and illegal immigration fit red states more than blue states - WBEZ Chicago - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Violent criminal illegal alien apprehended by ICE after high-stakes operation in Chicago - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Deterring Illegal Immigration: This Town Decided that Actions Speak Louder than Words - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Texas and Ohio Review Voter Rolls to Eliminate Illegal Alien Voting - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 7th, 2025 [November 7th, 2025]
- Their plan was a flood of illegal immigration. Our answer is an immigration moratorium - Fox News - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- ICE arrests Guatemalan illegal alien convicted of felony breaking and entering in Virginia - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- ICE and Oklahoma bolster public safety on states highways by removing 34 illegal alien truck drivers - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Illegal Immigrants To Be Hit Hard As SNAP and WIC Benefits Expire - Center for Immigration Studies - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Illegal Aliens Seek Less Effective Tracking System - Federation for American Immigration Reform - November 5th, 2025 [November 5th, 2025]
- Leon Sheriff's Office gets OK for $500K reimbursement for role in illegal immigration crackdown - Tallahassee Democrat - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Illegal Migrant Stabs Man Who Was Walking His Dog in the U.K. Exposes Truth Illegal Immigration - Megyn Kelly The Devil May Care - October 30th, 2025 [October 30th, 2025]
- Judge rules immigration detention of Chicago man with daughter battling cancer is illegal - CNN - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- Judge rules immigration detention of Chicago man with daughter battling cancer is illegal - AP News - October 26th, 2025 [October 26th, 2025]
- ICE lodges arrest detainer for criminal illegal alien who killed 3 in California while driving 18-wheeler under the influence - ICE | U.S. Immigration... - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- White House condemns Illegal immigration as Indian truck driver kills three in California crash - The Indian EYE - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more illegal alien criminals on Thursday as the Democrat-led shutdown continued into its fourth... - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- Illegal Immigration Crackdown Heats Up Along Treasure Coast - Real Radio 92.1 - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- Illinois warns immigration officers tampering with license plates is illegal - The Guardian - October 24th, 2025 [October 24th, 2025]
- Trump's work on illegal immigration has been 'nothing short of phenomenal': Rep. Brandon Gill - Fox News - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- Florida's CFO talks illegal immigration and funding for NE Florida sheriff's offices - The Florida Times-Union - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- Illegal Alien Police Officer Arrested in Illinois - Federation for American Immigration Reform - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- Trump's work on illegal immigration has been 'nothing short of phenomenal': Rep. Brandon Gill - Yahoo - October 23rd, 2025 [October 23rd, 2025]
- The Strange Case of the Illegal Alien Cop - Center for Immigration Studies - October 19th, 2025 [October 19th, 2025]
- ICE, federal partners arrest more than 1,400 illegal aliens in Massachusetts during Patriot 2.0, including murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, child... - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- ICE arrests illegal alien serving as a local police officer in Suburban Chicago - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- Federal immigration agents arrested an illegal immigrant who was working as a police officer in the sanctuary state of Illinois. Radule Bojovic, an... - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- Democrats Fight for Illegal Alien Healthcare Benefits as Government Shutdown Continues - Federation for American Immigration Reform - October 17th, 2025 [October 17th, 2025]
- The UK government will pay you $120K to convince the public that it's successfully tackling illegal immigration - Fortune - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Chief Deputy Lowes attends panel on illegal immigration - ReadTheReporter.com - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Headlines and Heartlines: State Rep. Janis Holt discusses education, property tax relief, illegal immigration and district concerns - - Bluebonnet... - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- Rafe Fletcher: Accountability, not technocracy, is the answer to illegal immigration - Conservative Home - October 15th, 2025 [October 15th, 2025]
- The Disturbing Connection Between U.N.s Green Energy Push and Illegal Immigration - The Heritage Foundation - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Of Course Illegal Immigrants Access Public Health Benefits - Center for Immigration Studies - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- An illegal immigrant gang member on the run for allegedly killing a man in California went on to kill a woman in Texas before Immigration and Customs... - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- ICE Issues Government Shutdown Warning on Illegal Immigration - Newsweek - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Digital ID cards: what are they and how will they help the UK deal with illegal immigration? - The Conversation - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- ICE arrests illegal alien from Haiti connected to criminal terrorist organizations - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (.gov) - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- ICE, law enforcement partners searching for 2 illegal aliens who escaped after choking Border Patrol agent - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - September 23rd, 2025 [September 23rd, 2025]
- Venezuelan man responsible for sex trafficking female illegal aliens sentenced to 10 years in prison - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement... - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- UK minister dismisses Trump's call for military intervention to control illegal immigration | Hindustan Times - Hindustan Times - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- ICE lodges detainer against illegal alien who murdered a teenage girl after she rejected his sexual advances - ICE | U.S. Immigration and Customs... - September 19th, 2025 [September 19th, 2025]
- ICE receives more than 150K job applications as Trumps crackdown on illegal immigration continues - New York Post - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- ICE receives more than 150,000 job applications as Trump crackdown on illegal immigration intensifies - UNILAD - September 17th, 2025 [September 17th, 2025]
- Richard Brant and Lauren Butler: Reform UKs Plans for Getting Tough on Illegal Immigration: From Legal Reset to Sunset - UK Constitutional Law... - September 15th, 2025 [September 15th, 2025]