Can Immigration Laws Be Enforced?

A major factor has been ignored in the debate over a new immigration act for the US. Can these laws be enforced? Although the number of apprehensions of illegal aliens is high, it is not of the same quality as the number of apprehensions made in the 1950s and 1960s. Often, these apprehensions involv...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Public interest 1983-07, Vol.72 (72), p.107-107
Main Author: Harwood, Edwin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ALIENS, FOREIGNERS, NON-CITIZENS, ILLEGAL ALIENS
Border patrol
Enforcement
Illegal
IMMIGRANTS
Immigration
Immigration and emigration
Immigration policy
Law
LAW AND LEGAL SYSTEMS
Legislation
MIGRATION, IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
Noncitizens
Policy
POLITICAL EFFICACY
Proposed
Public opinion
United States
UNITED STATES, 1945 TO PRESENT
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A major factor has been ignored in the debate over a new immigration act for the US. Can these laws be enforced? Although the number of apprehensions of illegal aliens is high, it is not of the same quality as the number of apprehensions made in the 1950s and 1960s. Often, these apprehensions involve repeat offenders who generally have never been processed for deportation. Congress apparently believes that increasing the manpower of the Border Patrol will help deter the number of aliens. However, while this may help, it is unlikely to bring the situation under control. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1982 contains a number of remedies, including user fees on aliens using border facilities, and the tightening of standards to prevent foreign students who are ''out of status'' from using the Section 245 ''adjustment of status'' provision to become legal residents without first returning home. However, the most effective enforcement tool may well be the fines against employers who have illegal aliens in their employ. The act has been taken up by the current session of Congress.
ISSN:0033-3557