Illegal Immigration to the USA: Challenges and Solutions

Recently, illegal immigration has been an equivocal debate in the U.S. that is linked to economic prosperity, national security and social services. The remarkable rise in the demography of illegal immigrants driven by groups attempting false asylum claims has depleted the resources that were initially devoted to vetting individuals who are legitimately fleeing persecution, thereby eroding the rectitude of the U.S. asylum system. Therefore, all-inclusive immigration reform policies must be adopted to streamline border security through an impartial framework that aligns with U.S. national interests and its humanitarian apprehensions while cultivating international partnerships in addressing this complex issue.

Challenges of Illegal Immigration

Furthermore, the impact of economic burden is one of the primary challenges of illegal immigration. In 2024, the number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. was estimated to be 10.5 million, which was 3.2% of the general population (Kisa & Adnan 2). Anecdotally, even though undocumented immigrants contribute to the economy of the U.S. through low-wage labor and taxation, many of them place a financial burden on social service programs. In particular, many illegal immigrants lack social service entitlements like health insurance cards or identity numbers due to their undocumented status (Kisa & Adnan 4). Hence, they cannot access affordable healthcare services. In addition, undocumented immigrants have limited access to healthcare services, and this promotes the neglect of preventive care, potentially promoting the spread of communicable diseases (Kisa & Adnan 4). Inversely, undocumented immigrants overburden the welfare program since many of them have financial constraints resulting from underemployment or unemployment (Kisa & Adnan 4). The low wages also contribute to the high rate of homelessness and lack of affordable housing that can burden city social programs. Fear of deportation and discovery has made it hard for undocumented immigrants to access public services like transportation, healthcare and police services (Kisa & Adnan 10). At length, this makes it hard for them to report any criminal activity, overuse of emergency services and delay when seeking healthcare services. 

Threats to national security is another challenge that is presented by illegal immigration. More so, illegal immigration poses a threat to U.S. national security since such people are at high risk of being exploited by human traffickers, smugglers and other criminal actors (DOS 1). Discriminatory practices against undocumented immigrants, cultural differences, and literacy levels have put them in competition with other low-skill workers (Laine 754). Notably, these have exacerbated the rise of anti-migration sentiments from growing xenophobic far-right groups that have leveraged it to harness fear and advance their political objectives (Laine 747). Fundamentally, communities in the U.S. are based on the idea of having a shared history, patriotism, sense of identity, nationalism and culture (Laine 756). However, a community with a high number of undocumented immigrants will face cultural and social tensions stemming from racism and unique values. Consequently, far-right groups can leverage this social and cultural tension to activate violent extremist attacks against such people, increasing the rate of domestic terrorism in the country. Finally, undocumented immigrants do not undergo medical screening and vetting, which makes the country vulnerable to public health risks such as the spread of COVID-19 (DOS 1). In essence, the country should take unprecedented measures to strengthen its borders against these threats. 

Possible Solutions to Illegal Immigration

The U.S. has implemented local measures to enhance its border security and integrity. In 2020, the U.S. constructed a border wall of 435 miles in its southern region with advanced features like cameras and movement sensors to prevent illegal crossing (DOS 1). Policy changes have redefined the requirement for asylum processing, where the immigrants are forced to remain in Mexico while they are being processed. The hardening attitude towards immigration and the closure of its borders has limited the movement of people at borders (Laine 746). The U.S. government is pursuing a consistent drive for sustainable sticker border and migration policies that will become an inherent part of societal practices (Laine 746). Indisputably, the government has maintained the country’s sovereignty by combatting human trafficking and smuggling at the border to eliminate the threat to national security (DOS 1). The U.S. has deployed extra troops to assist their Mexican counterparts in protecting the southern border from criminal activities and illegal crossing. The U.S. has offered alternative health coverage to low-income individuals and families, helping to reduce the financial burden on social welfare stemming from undocumented workers. Even so, addressing the hurdles to healthcare access for legal immigrants can promote health equity and prevent public health issues (Kisa & Adnan 13). Eventually, all these will enhance the security of the southern border.

Simultaneously, the U.S. must adopt a comprehensive immigration reform program that aims at addressing the root causes of irregular immigration practices. The U.S. government has collaborated with other regional leaders to draft a strategic migration protection protocol. In 2019, the U.S. launched the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP) with Mexico, which aspired to combat transnational drug violence, criminal organizations, and gang activities on the American southern border (DOS 1). In this partnership, Mexico promised to enhance the security of its southern border by deploying thousands of troops to maintain its integrity through the proper screening of asylum seekers (DOS 1). The U.S. has been committed to the general prosperity of Latin America by promoting democratic governance in countries like Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras (DOS 1). The U.S. has helped their political ecosystems through supporting civilian security, civil society engagement, anti-corruption programs, and government accountability in fiscal management and respect for human rights (DOS 1). Substantially, political and economic prosperity will encourage people to seek opportunities domestically, reducing the factors that lead to illegal immigration. The U.S. has coordinated a binational infrastructural development deal with Latin American countries that aims to facilitate trade, grant loans to small-scale businesses, and secure the movement of goods and people through the uplifting of infrastructure (DOS 1). In essence, this will create substantial economic opportunities to improve the standard of living throughout the region. 

Overall, a balanced approach is required to deter illegal immigration while providing measures for humanitarian concerns. Ultimately, modern surveillance, increased troops at critical checkpoints, and strengthening partnerships with foreign governments can address the root cause of immigration and prevent illegal crossings. In short, the implementation of a multifaceted approach will provide the U.S. with fair and sustainable immigration reforms that will benefit the nation and the people seeking a high quality of life.   

Works Cited

Kisa, Sezer, and Adnan Kisa. “‘No papers, no treatment’: A scoping review of challenges faced by undocumented immigrants in accessing emergency healthcare.” International Journal for Equity in Health, vol. 23, no. 1, 14 Sept. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02270-9. 

Laine, Jussi P. “Beyond borders: Towards the ethics of unbounded inclusiveness.” Journal of Borderlands Studies, vol. 36, no. 5, 10 May 2021, pp. 745–763, https://doi.org/10.1080/08865655.2021.1924073. 

U.S. Department of State (DOS). Countering Illegal Immigration and Building Brighter Futures. DOS, 2021.https://2017-2021.state.gov/countering-illegal-immigration/ Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.