k only after a decade in which Mexico can produce the jobs needed. The INS also reports that by the year 2000, the population of prime labor age in America will drop by 8.5 million. That is a large loss of labor and can only be offset by the immigrant population. The key is to make sure that this decrease is offset by a legal immigrant population. That is what the government attempted to do with the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Marley 880). The intent was to cut back on crime, terrorism, and welfare fraud. They fell short of their intent because the inadvertently clumped all immigrants together, both legal and illegal (Marley 885). America will continue to allow immigrants to enter the country for numerous reasons; such as those who take up a common cause against a foreign foe, as a gesture of shame after some foreign debacle, for economic reasons, and for purely humanitarian purposes (United States). recently we saw our government agree to accept 20,000 Kosovar refugees, and financially help with 20,000 more in Albania. Now 20,000 is a tiny gesture in the big picture, but in a world of crises how many times can our government afford such gestures. Can America continue to play the role of the last true hope for the “huddled masses” of the world? Conclusion Illegal immigration must be curbed. If nothing else it is unfair to those who wait for years to come to America legally. Currently illegal immigrants can choose to leave on their own meaning they can come back legally if they choose. Our laws say that we can formally deport these illegal immigrants and bar them from legal entry. Why does our government continue to create loopholes in the laws they pass. I don’t feel that those enter the country illegally should have a right to return; if they are willing to break immigration laws they are more likely to break other laws. What does this policy say to those who lawfully await ent...
