ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the extent of illegal immigration into the United States and the reasons for the migration of undocumented workers. It examines the benefits and drawbacks of illegal immigration on the American economy; federal, state, and local services; and the impact on the melting pot culture, traditionally a key foundation of the US immigration culture. The chapter discusses the pros and cons of the policy responses of federal, state, and local governments to illegal immigration. It debates whether illegal immigrants should be granted a pathway to citizenship with rigid application requirements but no punishment for their original illegal entry into the United States. Those on either side of the illegal immigration debate present their data and their arguments in campaigns seeking to gain the attention of the White House, Congress, and the American public opinion. One of the solutions proposed by the Obama administration and others is the creation of a pathway to citizenship for these immigrants.
