Illegal Immigration

Illegal immigration can be defined as the migration of people across the borders of a country in an illegal manner, violating the immigration laws of the country of destination. An illegal immigrant is a person who has entered a country without permission or overstayed the period of time allowed by law as a visitor, student, or businessperson. The United States is a nation of immigrants. In fact, the United States is the number one destination for immigrants in the world. It has [Page 908]been estimated that, in 2011, the total immigrant population in the United States reached about 40.5 million. However, for decades, illegal immigration has been a topic of discussion and dissension among Americans because of its social, political, and economic implications for American ...