For decades people from countries all over the world have been entering the United States illegally in various ways. These immigrants spread out all over the country and begin to work and live as citizens. Illegal immigrants take dirty, hard jobs that no one else will take and accept very low pay for their grueling work and long hours. Every day an estimated ten thousand illegal immigrants cross the border from Mexico and enter the Unites States. This adds up to about three million people a year. Although this may seem like a vast number of people, these immigrants make up only thirty one percent of illegal immigrants in the United States. Illegal Immigrants coming from China, Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba also make up a large percent of illegal immigrants in the United States.

When one discusses the topic of immigration, illegal immigration is sure to arise, and for obvious reasons. Although many experts may argue that these people pay taxes and use their wages to buy goods in our country, many economists say that this is not the case. Nearly ten billion dollars gets sent back to Mexico from immigrants working in the United States. That is ten billion dollars that does not go to the government that is supporting them, but goes instead to the Mexican government. Many illegal aliens also use an estimated $2,700 more in services than they pay in taxes. Services often utilized by illegal immigrants are systems that are designed to help Americans, such as Medicaid, food assistance programs, and the federal court and prison systems. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, illegal aliens are costing millions of dollars each year, but their role as those working in jobs many Americans would not take allows the people of the United States to maintain the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed. In a way, harmful economic effects of illegal immigration are cancelled out by beneficial ones, leaving one’s view on the economic effects of illegal immigration partially up to personal beliefs as well as one’s place in society.