It is estimated that somewhere between 12 and 20 million illegal immigrants live in the United States today. As such, illegal immigration is a controversial and divisive issue within the country. Proponents contend that illegal immigrants benefit the economy by creating a larger pool of low cost labor and generating additional tax revenue. They argue that illegal immigrants tend to bring the same hard working values shared by Americans, perform vital jobs that most American do not want, and contribute to the cultural diversity of the country. Opponents point to the ill effects of illegal immigration such as increased crime and the socioeconomic burden that comes with it. In this article, we will look at what illegal immigration is, its pros and cons, and then examine differing viewpoints on how best to deal with it.

An illegal immigrant is someone who:

1. Enters a country illegally without being inspected at a port of entry;
2. Enters using fraudulent documents or documents belonging to another person;
3. Enters legally but overstays his or her visa; or
4. Violates one or more of the terms and conditions of the visa or permit he or she was issued in order to remain in the country.

There are many reasons why people may choose to immigrate to another country illegally. It could, for example, be due to persecution or political turmoil in their home country. Most tend to do so in search of better economic opportunities and a higher quality of life for themselves and their families. Migrants from Mexico and Central America make up the majority of illegal immigrants bound for the US. Many risk their lives and face extreme hardship while attempting to cross the border into the US. Immigrants from the Caribbean often attempt to cross the Atlantic in makeshift boats or even tubes. Similarly, immigrants from Mexico and Central and South American countries may attempt to cross by cramming into trucks, box cars, and shipping containers. With better technology and increased security crossing into the US in this has, however, become increasingly difficult.

Regardless of how they got here, once illegal immigrants arrive in the US, their presence creates a number of challenges to American society and this is where the immigration debate begins. One of the biggest arguments against illegal immigration is the burden it creates for tax payers. The presence of illegal immigrants results in increased spending for certain government programs like education and emergency health care which translates to billions of dollars in tax payer money. On a related note, critics of illegal immigration point to how such migrants work illegally and don't pay taxes (or at least not enough to cover the services they receive). They also argue that the presence of illegal immigrants creates other challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, consumption of housing which is already limited, and depletion of precious natural resources like energy and water. Because illegal immigrants are willing to fill low waged jobs, it creates additional demand for such jobs which hurts the middle and working class. Crime is another issue often associated with illegal immigrants. Immigrants may engage in fraudulent activities to obtain Social Security numbers and other documents needed to secure employment and may abuse the health care and welfare system. Other times they may join gangs and engage in more serious organized crime. The immigrants also open themselves up to be victims of abuse and crime. Employers may have them work in hazardous conditions and pay them well below the minimum wage. They may also use their illegal status against them and may commit other abuses knowing that the alien will not report them to authorities out of fear of deportation.

Proponents of illegal immigrants argue that illegal immigrants are essentially hardworking people who have come to America to make a better life for themselves and their presence is actually beneficial to the American economy. They contend that illegal immigrants fill jobs that regular Americans do not want, purchase goods and services, and pay sales and property taxes that help the economy move forward.

The debate on illegal immigration rages on but there is no clear solution in sight. Arizona, for instance, recently instituted a controversial new law which grants law enforcement officers the authority to determine the immigration status of an individual and requires immigrants to carry their documents at all times. This is the strictest law of its kind passed in the US and critics argue against the value it will provide and point to how this would simply lead to racial profiling and increased tensions with the Hispanic community. Lawmakers across the nation have also discussed legalization, amnesty, and deportation as options but, despite valid arguments on all sides, there is no clear consensus. Only time will determine the effectiveness of Arizona's measures and those of new reforms implemented.