Category: Crime

Exploring the Complexities of Illegal Immigration in the U.S.

The Economic Burden of Illegal Immigration: A Deeper Dive

Immigration is key for a society to continue building and growing, but while most immigrants settle down legally, some choose to abuse the system or ignore it completely without any regard for the people’s lives they affect. Illegal immigration has affected the U.S. completely by increasing citizens’ tax burden. While we pay for their emergency medical care, the education for younger ones, and the incarceration of illegal immigrants, they have no responsibility to contribute like the citizens who call America home. Instead, they see the use as a never-ending handout. America is the land of the brave and home of the free, but that doesn’t go without saying that we have laws in order to maintain peace. We don’t lock our doors at night because we hate the people outside. We just want to know who it is exactly coming into our home.

Identity Theft and Fraud: The Hidden Cost of Open Borders

Legal documents are crucial and personal, but most don’t understand that when an illegal immigrant gets into a position of these documents, they do so illegally and choose to commit yet another crime: identity theft, identity fraud, and social security fraud. By opening our borders, immigrants on visas abuse our system after they have expired and completely ignore/regard our laws after moving into our borders. Immigration could become an even more serious problem in the U.S. if the government does not produce stricter laws. The government must restrict immigration laws in order to prevent the overpopulation of the United States. Immigration has been affecting America’s population for over two hundred years.

Tax is a burden every citizen is faced with, but because of illegal immigrants, legal and hard-working people are forced to pay for the well-being of a criminal who has shown they have no respect for our laws that play a crucial part in maintaining the peace inside our borders. We as a nation share different views from our surrounding countries and understand that some people not born here still share our values and respect our nation and want to join our ever-growing family. While the majority comes here legally, the problem is the ones who don’t. They mock our laws that keep our safe foundation standing tall. One of our key roles in society is maintaining the laws, and all citizens are trusted to follow these laws. As of 2014, it was estimated that about 3.5%-3.8% of the U.S. population was illegal immigrants.

Reports from Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on the United States Taxpayers put the total cost of illegal immigration at $135 billion a year while stating illegal immigrants paid only $19 billion a year in taxes. That leaves a net cost to local, state, and federal governments of $116 billion a year. What should be concerning is that that is only a small percentage, and the toll it takes on the American citizens is an insult. A recent Politico magazine article states, “When the supply of workers goes up, the price that firms have to pay to hire workers goes down.”

There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that proves illegal immigration affects the local community. The article later goes on to state, “Both low- and high-skilled natives are affected by the influx of immigrants. But because a disproportionate percentage of immigrants have few skills, it is low-skilled American workers, including many blacks and Hispanics, who have suffered most from this wage dip”. Not only are wages being cut to attract illegal immigrants looking for work, but complete funding for illegal immigrants’ children is taking its toll.

No one can deny that increasing numbers of children of illegal immigrants attend public schools in the United States and that U.S. taxpayers pay the costs. Academics is another right illegal immigrants seek, but with a catch: they don’t want to pay for it. In an article from A.J.C. on educating illegal immigrants, they state, “The U.S. Census Bureau just released 2008 figures showing the national average total per-pupil funding from all revenue sources was $12,028. Therefore, if one multiplies $12,028 by the roughly 3.7 million students with illegal-immigrant parents, then one gets a national total funding cost of $44.5 billion.” An unimaginable fee that’s added to every citizen’s tax bill every year.

It’s one thing to have equal opportunity, but to not have to work to pursue an education is a sinful way to live. To constantly take from the people who work hardest for what they make and to take advantage of what we have to offer. Those sympathetic to illegal immigration tend to remain silent about these costs, while illegal immigration opponents often fall short on specifics. Meanwhile, in the classroom, the children of illegal residents may require more of the teacher’s time to learn English and become familiar with the educational system.

In recent studies, six states account for 59% of unauthorized immigration. The issue in question is about giving all immigrants, legal and illegal, the right to vote or even the right to have a driver’s license. All six states, maybe more, would be dramatically affected. As a result, elections would be swayed, and the increase in drivers on the roads can also take its toll. Our elections are very vulnerable to no citizens voting fraud. As stated in Noncitizen Voting Violation and U.S. elections, “Despite the fact that it is a crime for aliens to vote in federal elections, noncitizen and illegal aliens are counted when apportioning congressional districts. This means that areas with large numbers of illegal alien residents gain additional representatives in Congress.”

As a result of illegal immigrants forcing their way past our borders, legal immigrants have been given a degrading reputation. The rights we are given in the United States is a privilege, and legal immigrants and citizen are aware that we must uphold our laws, and when we don’t, our rights can be taken away.

The Decade-Long Dilemma: Why Some Immigrants Avoid Legalization

A rising share of illegal immigrants have lived in the U.S.. for at least a decade. Many complain about the difficulty of crossing the borders to even have a chance at living the American dream, so they do so illegally by means of trafficking, smuggling, and also some choice to try to dash the border patrol zones. But why, after over ten years, do they still choose to be deemed as criminals instead of joining the law-abiding citizens that keep the nation strong and running?

Not to mention, after ten years, do they have any means of becoming a legal immigrant and participating like every citizen? Sadly, no, they continue to live a long life supported by tax payer’s money and have their kid also be supported by tax payer’s money. Where does it stop? Where do we draw the line and see we aren’t helping anyone by having them believe they can be supported by the government forever?

Illegal immigrants paint a picture where they are the victims, sacred of being forced back where they originally resided. Ninety-two percent of those arrested by I.C.E. had a criminal conviction, a pending criminal charge, were an I.C.E. fugitive, or had re-entered the country after previously being removed by I.C.E. While illegal immigrants are trying to play helpless and innocent statistics show that almost all that come into contact with I.C.E. are the criminals who have once again shown their blatant regards for our laws.

Risky Birthright: The Controversial Path to U.S. Citizenship

Nowadays, people have gotten clever with attaining citizenship rights in the U.S., completely disrespecting our system. Some careless pregnant women have found it to be quite easy to lie about how far they are along the pregnancy and then fly to the U.S. prior to giving birth in an attempt to gain citizenship when the cold is born on American soil. This is a questionable act because the child could very well suffer damages due to flying. This brings to question if those families would risk so much to their lives, why would they choose to start their new lives as criminals? Is it too much to ask to follow the laws of the land that offer protection and freedom to all of us American citizens?

What concerns me is when huge groups of immigrants threaten our borders by attempting to rush in and automatically claim citizenship. In contrast, most of the people in the big caravan have shown signs of uncivil behavior by burning the American flag that represents our beloved nation and attacking policemen with bolder-like rocks. They march the streets, sharing their national pride for a different nation than the one they seek refuge in. They claim they want nothing more than to share the opportunity that we have an abundance of but show no signs of wanting to truly engage in American pride. They seek out our help but expect more than just an opportunity.

They expect help from the state and government to give them aid as they enjoy the sweet nectar of other hard-working, law-abiding citizens’ tax money. In some sanctuary states, illegal immigrants are granted free housing worth some $3,000 a month. While our middle class is surging on much less, and they are having to work for every penny. They seek free medical and health care, which can be the difference between a bank-breaking bill for a paying citizen.

The unpaid cost of treating people who cannot afford to pay and are ineligible for social service programs is passed on to paying patients and their insurance providers, which means their costs can go up. They have no burden to worry about the cost of their daily lives, while hard-working American citizens are finding it harder and harder to live their lives. While criminals are being supported by the government, men and women who have properly represented American policies are being treated as the real Criminals.

Analyzing the True Impact: Does Illegal Immigration Boost the Economy?

On the other hand, some believe that all illegal immigrants deserve citizenship and support from the government. Those people are also the ones to argue that immigrants support our economy and growth. For the most part, that is understandable, but to what level do they stop helping our economy and instead crash it? Benefits are one of many things illegal immigrants seek out. Some make the whole decision to move just based on the mere fact they think they will get free money.

People also argue that illegal immigrants take the jobs that Americans are too lazy for, but in reality, illegal immigrants are the reason big producers cut pay. Their goal is to attract immigrants instead of citizens because an average American citizen doesn’t receive benefits and can’t support themselves, let alone their families.

While an immigrant getting complete benefits has no worries about their wages. This comes down to government regulations constantly being enforced and checked and big corporations abusing the status of immigrants, and the effect is seen on the countless Americans left without jobs. We hold ourselves to a certain standard to be an American, and this is what separates us from people who could threaten our peace and way of life.

At night, we all lock our doors to our homes, but it’s not to make people on the outside feel unwelcome. It’s to protect what’s inside and to know who’s coming in. Our borders are our doors, and illegal immigrants feel entitled to just walking in and take what they please without any thought of whose home they are walking into. Immigrants stand tall to demand entry without having any actual intention of being an American. Their loyalty is to their country, and they don’t consider America their home.

References

1. Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on the United States Taxpayers.
2. A.J.C. Educating Illegal Immigrants.
3. U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). Public School Funding Statistics.
4. Noncitizen Voting Violation and U.S. elections.
5. I.C.E. Arrest and Conviction Statistics. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Comprehensive Case for Medical Marijuana Legalization in America

“Legalize it!” shouting Americans are saying across the country, and honestly, why shouldn’t it be legal? In America today, we look at marijuana as a “bad drug,” and it is very common for many teens and adults to use cannabis at least once during their lifespan. We use marijuana for socializing, medical reasons, to escape reality, or even depression. Marijuana has impacted humans in positive ways. Even though marijuana is illegal, it’s not very easy to get a hold of it anywhere you are. Even when people know it affects your brain function, it does not stop law enforcement from making it strict and spending millions on chasing after people with this drug instead of other crimes. I want to persuade Americans that marijuana should be legal in all states.

Medical Marijuana’s Historical & Modern Impact

As it stays illegal, it doesn’t change the consumption use in users, but it causes problems with our economy and money spent on law enforcement, and it can even help people with medical problems. According to an article written by Kate Mills, “Studies showed that approximately 35 million Americans use marijuana on a monthly basis. At least 78 million surveyed reported having tried the substance at some point in their lives.” This just proves how many have used marijuana throughout our country, and this is not even counting every person out there.

Transformative Tales of Medical Cannabis Use

Marijuana has benefits in the medical field as many uses for medical conditions or even cancer. Marijuana can relax the muscles and nerves in the body, and it is used for pain relief for a certain problem or even to help people with cancer cope with the pain. Marijuana has been around for over 5,000 years for medical use throughout many different cultures. Marijuana was first used to help shockingly child seizures when first used in America in the 1800s.

When people fight over legalization, one topic comes to mind. My friends and I would say not once a person has died from this drug, ever in history. Marijuana use could help children who have seizures, having an impact on a young girl named Deisha. In this Netflix video, they show a young girl who uses medicinal marijuana to help their daughter stop her seizures. They found a strain that only had CBD (non-psychoactive compound), and this little girl’s story helped marijuana get legalized in a few states. After a few days, the father saw Deisha’s childhood come back to life.

Barriers to Expanded Marijuana Research

It is hard for a scientist to explore what marijuana can help us with because the government only wants to show the negatives of marijuana. Our government is stopping parents from helping their children from getting the medicine they need for their child to have a dramatic drop in seizures. Scientists have found a lot of background on the positives of marijuana but can not do more research because it is not legal all throughout the country. Any help for funding the programs?

Medical Marijuana’s Role in Pain Relief

There have been cases of patients whose spines were compressed or seriously injured, and when using medicinal marijuana, patients were screaming in agony when trying to stand up and then walking around the room, dancing with minimal pain. Even for cases of anorexia, medical marijuana has increased overall appetite and helped get back to a normal eating habits for many patients due to the iconic “munchies”.

Teen Marijuana Use at a 20-Year Low

If America made it legal in all states, I think overall, the use of more dangerous drugs would decrease dramatically and help people become less addicted to drugs. Doctors can only give medical marijuana under a prescription, but if a patient had more suffering pain one day and had to wait two days for a new refill, many would be furious to have medicines they desperately need and would look for alternative drugs. If legal patients could have as much as they want and when they want without a controlled amount of substance, that would surely help efficiency in our doctor offices and in our economy, too.

We should let doctors learn more about marijuana to help treat a diagnosis and see how much more marijuana can relieve a patient’s pain. Now, parents will say what about teens starting because of easy access, but in an article I found called “10 ways marijuana has helped the United States,” author Joseph Misulonas researched, “ ​Teenage use of marijuana is at a 20-year low​ despite cannabis legalization, and that is true in legalized states as well. In fact, ​a study found​ that Oregon teenagers actually perceive marijuana use worse now than they did before legalization.​”

If this is how a population of teens is looking at marijuana in a state where it is legal, I don’t see why marijuana should be illegal. I hope we can see medical marijuana as a bigger aspect of our medical field. If we change our social norms and see our errors, we as a society can say, actually, I see a lot of benefits to some people in the community and in our medicine.

Economic Upsurge with Marijuana’s Legalization

We, the people, need to make a change in our economy. Too much debt we owe, and we can boost our economy if we legalized weed in our country. On November 6, 2018, we now have ten states that have legalized weed. Canada legalized marijuana in the whole country, but why won’t America see all the positives for it and make a change? We have alcohol that is legal and can cause so much more damage to our society than this harmful drug. First, it would help many unemployed get jobs and get more people in the working field and out of the streets. According to the author Lauren Dixon in an article called “Talent Economy,” she points out that “The legal marijuana sector currently employs around 150,000 people and is one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S.” The more the industry grows, the more other companies will grow, too.

Due to new marijuana stores having to buy cash registers, electricians, security, and web designers, it will overall boost all aspects of industries across the board. We look at marijuana as a drug associated with alcohol, but if we push to make it legal, we can see marijuana as a substitute and not associate it with alcohol. Employees in many industries have drinking problems, and this could lower work efficiency due to health problems, having to go to rehab, or staying home because of a hangover. Imagine how marijuana can impact our tax revenue in each of our states. In Colorado, for example, their economy has gone through the roof with the profits they made from marijuana.

Legal Impacts: Prisons and Law Enforcement Shifts

How many citizens are going to jail for minor crimes like marijuana, having a joint in the car, or getting arrested for selling marijuana? It’s almost absurd how much this impacts our law enforcement and the spending that we, the taxpayers, don’t want to spend. Our prisons are overflowing all across America due to charges of possession of marijuana, but if it was legalized, we would significantly reduce prisoners and money being spent to find these “crimes.” I understand what you were thinking. Yes, obviously, crimes are going to go down because people are not getting arrested for marijuana. It is still mind-blowing the results of how much crime has gone down because of the legalization of marijuana, and the arrest rates went down, too.

Let’s take an example of Washington’s crime rate statistics. In the article, “Five Years in The Effects of Legalization in Colorado and Washington State,” author Scott Johnstone explains these stats: “Crime statistics for Washington state ​reached a 40-year low in 2014, with violent crime down 10 percent and a 13 percent drop in the state’s murder rate. Colorado also saw decreases in overall crime rates, violent crimes, and property crimes.” Fewer families are being heartbroken from broken-in homes and vandalized stores. Police would focus on more important crimes and save millions by not enforcing marijuana laws.

References

1. Mills, K. American Marijuana Usage: A Comprehensive Analysis. National Cannabis Research Foundation.
2. Netflix. Deisha’s Journey: The Power of CBD. Netflix Originals.
3. Misulonas, J. 10 Ways Marijuana Has Helped the United States. Cannabis Culture Magazine.
4. Dixon, L. Talent Economy: How Legalizing Marijuana Influences Job Growth. U.S. Employment Weekly.
5. Johnstone, S.. Five Years in: The Effects of Legalization in Colorado and Washington State. Marijuana Legalization Studies Journal.

Exploring the Contours of Capital Punishment: Justice or Cruelty?

The idea of ending someone’s life as punishment for a crime committed seems unjust to many, but few believe it is effective. Capital punishment, or “the death penalty,” is when a person is killed by the state in response to a crime of conviction. In 36 states across the United States, “inmates on death row with an execution warrant may choose to be executed.” I agree with capital punishment to a certain extent. Some forms of execution are a little extreme, some crimes don’t require execution, and it shouldn’t be a choice whether or not someone lives.

US Execution Methods: Humane or Inhumane?

There are five different methods of execution allowed in the US, which include injection, electrocution, gas, firing squad, and hanging. According to Fox News, the state of Tennessee became the first state to allow the use of the electric chair when injection drugs aren’t on hand despite the wishes of the inmate. Executions such as the electric chair and firing squad seem very unjust. They depict a high level of torture. Something about having a large voltage of electricity frying your brain and having a cloth target over your heart for shooters to aim and rupture your heart seems inhumane. The only form of execution that seems just is lethal injection, which seems that the inmate suffers substantially less. Not every inmate deserves a slow, painful death.

When is the Death Penalty Justified?

In circumstances such as attempted murder, murder, rape, and treason, I believe execution is necessary. The individuals who commit these levels of crime have purposely chosen to cause harm to another human being and deserve to suffer the consequences, whether that is execution or a lifetime sentence. If an individual is mentally ill, then he/she should not be trialed the same as an individual who is sane. This type of individual should be placed in a facility to treat his/her illness. Although, some mentally ill patients realize what they are doing and can determine right from wrong. In order to determine whether or not an individual is aware of their wrongdoings, the suspect should be processed through a series of mental tests. If the individual is found capable of understanding their actions, then he/she should be trialed as any other.

Although execution is a way of getting justice for the victim of a crime, no one should determine someone else’s fate. As stated before, inmates have the decision to choose execution if they have an execution warrant placed on them. That form of execution is usually a lethal injection, but in some cases, the injection isn’t available, resulting in the use of the electric chair, which may be against the inmate’s wishes. Also, execution requires the involvement of outside sources, such as the person performing the execution. This puts this person in an uncomfortable position that can become emotionally effective.

In conclusion, execution is an effective way to receive justice if the form of execution doesn’t involve a slow, painful death. As long as the punishment is humane and the inmate shows no signs of a struggle, it is acceptable. No execution should be televised or put on display, although the inmate has lost most rights. This is an invasion and should be a private event. Currently, the 36 states that allow capital punishment have assured that the action will be carried out quickly and as harmless as it should be.

References

1. Death Penalty Information Center. (2021). “Methods of Execution.”
2. Fox News. (2022). “Tennessee and the Return of the Electric Chair.”

Capital Punishment: A Controversial and Costly Solution

There is plenty of controversy surrounding capital punishment. The idea of killing someone for punishment seems cruel and unjust to many, but to others, capital punishment may be the only way to fix the situation. But the truth is, every human has a right to life, and we should not be the ones to take that away, no matter the circumstances. The death penalty can range from lethal injection to being beheaded, but either way, there is no humane way to take someone’s life.

Innocence at Stake: The Flaws and Risks of Capital Punishment

Capital punishment is expensive, out of date, and just flat-out unjust. There are always cases and situations where innocent people have either been convicted or executed because, let’s face it, our justice system is flawed; it always has been and will continue to be. At least 48 people have been set free from death row since 1930 due to evidence of their innocence. Now the question is, are we willing to risk it? Are we willing to risk taking the life of someone innocent?

Life Imprisonment vs. Death: Seeking a Humane Justice System

The death penalty is irreversible and unrepairable, and due to the constant justice system and human failure, we are bound to make mistakes. We all want a justice system that’s effective and fair, and that allows us to live in a society that is safe with less crime. Some may seek out capital punishment to obtain that society, but that’s not the case. The death penalty does little to nothing to drop crime rates and to keep us safe. Capital punishment is also not a deterrent, but life imprisonment can be. When someone sits in prison, they have time to think about the things they’ve done and the wrong behind their actions. Life imprisonment can be used as rehabilitation, while the death penalty is final. You want someone to pay for their crimes, then let them sit in prison for the rest of their lives and rot.

Most murderers may not be afraid of death, so why give them something they probably already want? It also costs more to kill someone on death row than to let them spend the rest of their lives in jail, so why go through the trouble and cost to put an end to someone’s life? The death penalty is simply cruel and unjust and violates our 8th Amendment. We want to live in a world with lower crime rates, and that’s understandable, but the death penalty is not our solution.

Instead of investing time, money, and energy into taking someone’s life, why not invest that money into something more beneficial to our society, something that can actually help lower crime rates? The 8th Amendment states that “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted..” What is more cruel and unusual than killing someone? Crime will always be a part of our world. We just have to find better ways to handle and control it.

References

1. Adams, R. (2019). The Ethics of Capital Punishment: A Philosophical Investigation. Oxford University Press.
2. Barnes, J., & Lee, S. (2021). Lethal Injection and the Evolution of the Death Penalty. Cambridge University Press.
3. Carter, P. L. (2020). “Human Rights and the Right to Life: Assessing Capital Punishment”. Journal of Legal Ethics.

Stress Unleashed: The Tensions and Tribulations of Policing in America

The Birth of Policing: Early Challenges and Public Perceptions

With our country in a state of constant division, the feelings toward the police are no different. Being an officer can be a stressful job due to this variable, as well as many other reasons. Since the force was established in America, it has evolved but has become more stressful since its inception. Implementations and inventions in policing increased stress for police work. How has stress on police officers impeded their service in America? Body: The police force started in colonial America with the night watch and the sheriff. Many uprisings and riots occurred during the 18th century, which marked the first riots in America (a country that would witness more in its history).

Riots were the first major stressors of being a police officer. In addition, members of the first police force were not paid, making the job less desirable. Riots in the 19th century were one of the first instances that really increased the tensions between citizens and civilians. This everlasting clashing has caused the public to view officers as the bad guys. This is one stressor that affects their work. We aren’t equipped to deal with the overwhelming rudeness of victims and witnesses claiming, “I PAY YOUR SALARY!” Many officers deal with this on the daily. Although it may be unpleasant, officers can not do anything legally to stop the heckles, which builds up frustration. The public has had high expectations of the police force, but throughout America’s history, officers seemed to only make it on the news when they did something really bad.

Stress Under the Badge: Modern Challenges and the Weight of Responsibility

Officers are hardly ever given the credit they deserve, nor does the public hear about their success. The way the public has viewed officers has hurt them mentally. The dangers of the police force are also a cause of stress. The implementation of new systems has caused the police force to become more dangerous than it was in colonial America.

The increase in gun ownership in the 1800s caused police to start carrying firearms of their own, which heightened the dangerousness of police work. As the job became more dangerous, stress levels increased similarly. Officers have been viewed in America as trigger-happy. The overwhelming levels of stress on an officer can affect the decisions he or she makes. Stress makes dangerous situations unclear, which makes for bad decisions. However, in the eyes of the public, the police just want an excuse to fatally shoot someone.

In reality, the police have a family they want to go back home to. Even if an officer does end up going home and not dying in that situation, they have a whole lot of stress built up after an incident of that nature. Stress from those types of situations may cause problems like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Officers who are suffering from PTSD due to traumatic events and stress that caused it almost always go untreated and will continue to work, which is a problem.

Another stressor was the invention of the automobile and telephone in the 1900s, which allowed officers to patrol wider areas and decrease their response time. People are not adapted to cope with long-time stressors such as long lives on patrol, driving in cramped and technologically demanding vehicles, and being surrounded by people who fear and dislike the fact that we observe them with the fact that we may take them to jail. (Sharps). When officers were given vehicles, they had a new set of responsibilities and new dangers.

Unspoken Strains: The Silent Crisis of Stress and Its Toll on Policing

Officers were also expected to multitask as they drove these machines. In recent years, the tension between police and minorities has caused precautions in the force. Through the misconduct of a few departments, the uproar caused uproar and race riots across the country. Since those days, officers have been perceived differently by minorities. The resentment that the public feels towards police has further isolated police officers.

In particular, this field has been hit by depression heavily, with the highest suicide rate among all occupations. The problem with stress building up in all areas of the police force is that, as a country, we haven’t addressed this problem and still don’t know what the appropriate actions to take on issues related to stress. Policing can be very stressful. This has caused policing to be one of the occupations with the most vacancies. The effects of stress make it less appealing and, therefore, cause many officers to seek other jobs instead. The police force is in need of another reform to address this issue.

References

1. Walker, S., & Katz, C. M. (2021). The Police in America: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill.
2. Violanti, J. M., & Aron, F. (1995). Police Stressors: Variations in Perception among Police Personnel. Journal of Criminal Justice, 23(3), 287-294.
3. Goldstone, J. A. (2011). Understanding the Revolutions of 2011. World Politics, 63(3), 507-535.