Consider these facts taken from the Census Bureau:

-Households headed by illegal aliens imposed more than $26.3 billion in costs on the federal government in 2002 and paid only $16 billion in taxes, creating a net fiscal deficit of almost $10.4 billion, or $2,700 per illegal household.

-Among the largest [of these costs] are Medicaid ($2.5 billion); treatment for the uninsured ($2.2 billion); food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches ($1.9 billion); the federal prison and court system ($1.6 billion); and federal aid to schools ($1.4 billion).

-Although legalization would increase average tax payments by 77 percent, average costs would rise by 118 percent.

-If illegal aliens were given amnesty and began to pay taxes and use services like households headed by legal immigrants with the same education levels, the estimated annual net fiscal deficit would increase from $2,700 per household to nearly $7,700, for a total net cost of $29 billion.

-(taken from the Center for Immigration Studies, independent non-partisan research organization, found at http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html)

These facts clearly show how important it is for our country to eliminate illegal immigration. But it cannot be solved by building a fence alone. It requires a two-fold solution, the first being the elimination of economic incentives for illegal immigrants and the second being the increase of our nation’s immigration quotas.

Heavy fines must be placed upon employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. This will discourage businesses from seeking out illegal immigrants as employees. Illegal immigrants must also not enjoy access  to free healthcare, welfare, or education. This is the first step to reducing illegal immigrants from crossing our borders.

Illegal immigrants must be prevented from citizenship in the United States. The philosophy of an immigration policy is to ensure that we prevent those who do not respect our laws from entering the country. Illegal immigrants have demonstrated a disrespect for the laws of the United States, and should be barred from staying or returning to the USA because of this lack of respect. Only those serious about contributing to American society and respecting our laws should be considered for citizenship.

Our nation’s immigration quotas fill up at an astonishing rate. Allowing legal immigration on a reasonable scale will discourage some individuals from coming to the country illegally. Doing so will allow legal immigrants to acquire and work those jobs.

It should also be noted that illegal immigration was partially responsible for 9/11. Unprotected borders are a great concern to our country and the Department of Homeland Security, in addition to local and federal law enforcement agencies, must carry out the enforcement of our laws and the deportation of illegal immigrants.