Introduction
The oxford dictionary defines migration as: “to go to a new location in order to get jobs“. This suggests that the primary motivation of migrants is to find work. However, economic social and political factors in various combinations have always affected the various constant waves of migration throughout history.
Major causes
• To look for employment: most illegal immigrants often anticipate working only temporarily in the destination country and the lack of opportunity for advancement is less of a problem.
• Family reunification: Some illegal immigrants seek to live with loved ones, such as a spouse or other family members in the destination country.
• Wars and security: the Illegal immigration may be prompted by the desire to escape civil war or injustice in the country of origin.
• Non-economic push factors: include persecution (religious and otherwise), frequent abuse, bullying, oppression, and genocide, and risks to civilians during war. Political motives traditionally prompt refugee flows to escape dictatorship for instance.
Dangers
Illegal immigrants expose themselves and citizens to dangers while engaging in illegal entry to another country. Aside from the possibility that they may be intercepted and deported, some considerably more dangerous outcomes have been known to result from their activity. As an example, illegal immigrants may be trafficked for exploitation, e.g. where people have been forced or tricked into slavery to work as laborers especially in factories. Another danger may be prostitution, where people are forced into sexual slavery.
Effects of Illegal Immigration
Many studies show that illegal immigrants could threaten the jobs available in key metropolitan areas, in different countries. In areas which contain a significantly large number of illegal immigrants, low wages prevail. These areas are generally near the border which is where the immigrants usually remain so that, in case of trouble, they can go back to their native country. Many of these immigrants work for minimum wage, because they fear being caught by employers who refuse to pay more. Most of these immigrants are unmarried, and support families back in their native land who have low expectations right from the start. In search of a better quality of life, millions of people cross international borders each year. Over one hundred million people now live in a country other than that of their birth, and millions of these immigrants maintain their cultural identities in their adopted countries (Weiner, 1996).
Another problem with illegal immigration is that apart from it being a burden on public funds like health and education as is the case in many countries, it brings along crime. This may be in the form of a minor infraction like disturbing the peace or a serious infraction, like murder or rape. Police officers are not even allowed to ask a person about their citizenship status when they are arrested because of all the laws that protect illegal immigrants, especially in the United States, which inhabits a high number of illegal immigrants, among several other developed countries.
Effects of illegal immigration on the economy
The effects of illegal immigration on the economy are both positive and negative, depending on one’s place in the economy. For employers who like cheap labor provided by the illegal immigrants, the effects of illegal migrants’ lease can only be beneficial. The appropriate residents who believe that the illegal immigrant's cheap labor has cost them well-paying jobs do not however apply the same sentiments.
One thing that stands out and may be the reason why the government has never taken a drastic action against illegal immigrants is the fact that the increased workforce means more production output. The increased population also translates to more spending by the different customer groups on rent, food, education, healthcare among other products and services that can be either necessities or luxuries.
Illegal immigration also affects the gross domestic product upwards. Over the years, there has been a consistent immigrant growth of GDP by $10 billion annually, which measured against the size of the economy. In the free market economy, the illegal immigrants also affect prices on goods and services. Before setting the price manufactures consider things such as demand supply, affordability and the customer's purchasing power.
The greatest negative impact of the undocumented immigrants in the economy is the fact that they do not pay income tax, yet, they or their dependents still use basic facilities provided by the government. This drains the economy as the government is forced to increase its spending or vice versa.
Conclusion
Finally, it is important to note that we're not dealing with just numbers but real people with hopes and dreams, despite the illegalities. 100 years from now, none of us will care about anyone's legal status in any case. That is not to say that criminal activity should be encouraged, continue, ignored or condoned in our present time.
