Illegal Immigration and Unintended Consequences
By Anthony Gregory • Monday April 30, 2012 2:33 PM PDT • 17 Comments
Jesse Walker has an intriguing blog post about data concerning illegal immigration. The most fascinating part to me discusses an analysis concluding that illegal alien crackdowns and border fencing has actually increased the illegal immigrant population in the U.S. By making it more risky for undocumented migrants to come in, the border walls have discouraged the back-and-forth movement that used to prevail across the Rio Grande. So more illegal aliens come and don’t go back than before.
Overall, net illegal immigration has decreased, and the deportation rate has nearly doubled since Obama took office. The decline seems mostly to do with the economy, however, and this along with the unintended incentive created by border security for illegal immigrants to remain in the United States confirms any suspicions we might have that immigration controls, like practically all other government controls, do not work as advertised. Indeed, the degree of federal power needed to expel most illegals and keep them out would be unimaginable. Nothing short of totalitarian controls could achieve it, if even that would work.
To the extent there are true problems associated with illegal immigration, we should consider the ultimate source—typically, socialism and state intervention in the economy. Socialization of land and resources prevents people from living in the types of communities they want, with the cultural cohesion some might crave. Government schooling and meddling in health care forces people to pay for others, illegal immigrants and citizens alike, against their will, driving up prices and causing resentment. The drug war is responsible for most of the border violence, and now we see even immigration barriers can divert migration patterns in ways invasive to some communities, as in Arizona. Walls, guns, border guards, drone surveillance, crack downs on employers, intervention into the labor market, jails and deportations will cause vast human misery, significant property destruction, and devastation to priceless liberties. But only by turning away from statism, instead of adopting more of it, can we have both the security and freedom that so many natives and immigrants value.
Tags: Civil Liberties, Civil Society, Immigration, Law, Liberalism, Personal Liberty, Socialism 
The Law of Unintended Consequences triumphs yet again!
John Harrison | May 1, 2012 | Reply
The ‘information’ (and I use the term facetiously) in this article makes about as much sense as a screen door in a submarine!
Richard Wallace | May 1, 2012 | Reply
I don’t like political correctness,THEY ARE NOT UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS !!!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE ILLEGAL ALIENS,they come here and work illegally and send their money to Mexico,contributing nothing but using everything.
I see the consequences in men and women out of work because ILLEGALS have taken jobs where Americans could be working,they talk of a war on terror but the southern border is wide open,but Canadians have to show passports to enter America. Why should our resources be wasted trying to teach Spanish speaking students when others such as Asians,and other foreign students get no special treatment,usually Asians come here and their children excel,anyway it basically boils down to they are here ILLEGALLY, what kind of message does this send to the honest people who are trying to LEGALLY BECOME CITIZENS,of course when you have an illegal President what should it matter about legalities and the Constitution.
jim m | May 1, 2012 | Reply
How could you say they contribute nothing when they come here to work?
Anthony Gregory | May 1, 2012 | Reply
the work they do is not a contribution. it is a “barter”. they only TRADE their work for money, that they then redistribute in their native country. THAT, Mr. Anthony Gregory is NOT a contribution by any definition.
vic s | May 1, 2012 | Reply
Illegal immigrants contribute more to our economy than our legally residing welfare recipients. If we did not provide the able-bodied poor with welfare checks and food stamps, I doubt that there would be as much immigration, legal or otherwise. The increased in the pool of low-skill, low-wage workers would likely fill the demand.
Mark B | May 1, 2012 | Reply
Damn Jim, you sound like a man with real world first hand experience. Your opinion is not welcome on issues dealing with undocumented democrats.
Mike | May 1, 2012 | Reply
You haters don’t say where you live. I’ve lived in Arizona since 1961. I went to school with kids who could barely speak English. I’ve lived around, worked with, partied, dealt and sometimes feuded with immigrants, legal and illegal. These people (and they ARE people) do not live in a vacuum. They pay rent, which means they pay property taxes. They drive cars, which means they help pay for our highways. They eat, they entertain and they feed and clothe their families, which means they pay sales taxes. If they don’t pay income tax, it’s because it’s a felony to do so. (DUH!) If they send money home, well, so do other immigrants. In fact, the first thing my Irish ancestors did in the “land of opportunity” was send money home for their families to join them. And no one minded except the bigots who were already here.
Rita | May 2, 2012 | Reply
By the way, Mr. Gregory, good article. The only part I disagree with is the use of the word “unintended.” I find it difficult to believe that anything our so-called “leaders” do is “unintended.”
Rita | May 2, 2012 | Reply
Seems to me a lot of People who are going ape over illegals are just P.O.’ed they aren’t getting any money from them.
Their collectivist mindset is pretty ugly, too. All this “us” and “we” they are constantly using.
Do you think they always use emotion to think about things?
Whenever I ask these types of emotion-thinkers, “what about welfare recipients?” I always get the sound of crickets as a response, looks like it’s the same here.
Scape goating is an American past-time because it’s sooo easy Not to think.
clark | May 2, 2012 | Reply
I’ve had several neighbors over the years who are mexican and are not here legally. They started having many children as soon as they came into the country. They claim to be catholic. They were on welfare and food stamps.
They even had baby formula delivered to their door since the mother’s didn’t have a drivers license. They lie and say they aren’t married. They were married in Mexico before coming here. Their husbands work under the table-they make cold cash. I know this as fact because I know some of the employers who hire them. Also, one of my friends married a mexican man and he sent all his cash to his parents in Mexico and low and behold a few years after they were married and he gained his citizenship he stopped coming home then just left. I say if they come here and take advantage of all that our country gives them then americans should also be able to go to Mexico and receive the same benefits. Also, they drive without licenses and insurance. People have no idea how many accidents they cause and end up bankrupting many of their crash victims. I have personally known 4 people that this has happened to. if americans did that to a mexican in their country they would be jailed for it.
tab | May 8, 2012 | Reply
I agree I lived in San Diego Calif. and I saw kids getting on the train in Mexico and coming over the border and going to school. I tried to find out how that was legal and why it was being allowed but all I got was hate looks and the message that I shouldn’t be raciest and mind my own business. EXCUSE ME!!! Ya I was outraged. You can ask anyone who knows me I am NOT racist BUT it seems to me that maybe our schools wouldn’t be crying for more money and resources if there was a LEGAL willingness going on in the schools. They knew the kids were not there legally but the fed. gov. gives them $$ so they work it by lying about student counts!! They don’t ask are the number of students LEGAL?? Don’t get me wrong: I wish we could educate every child in the world but the truth is resources are limited!
Ranee | Jul 12, 2012 | Reply
I can say for a fact that what you are saying is true!! My X and I were broadsided by an illegal who had no license and had borrowed the car from another person. The police were so rude to us and in their report even said the accident was both our faults! Because we made a big deal about the guy being an illegal! He BROADSIDED us! And as far as the welfare thing my daughter in her sophomore year got pregnant and when we tried and tried and tried to get her assistance she was denied over and over even though the law states that she legally was allowed to receive the help. AND at the welfare office they had special lines and assistance for Spanish-speaking people. I’m not really sure but I would think that if you were here legally you could speak and write in English, being the fact that at the schools they have special classes to teach English! Ya I am sick of all the politicians who live in their big houses and say they KNOW how we the people feel. They are so far removed from every day working people that it makes me laugh when they try to act like they are no different! Please!
Ranee | Jul 12, 2012 | Reply
OMG! are you for real?? If you don’t mind me asking where do you live? I’ve lived and grew up in S. Cali. and I know for a fact that the San Diego area is so far in debt because of having to pay for all the illegal people getting welfare having their babies here so we will not have the heart to send them home. Do you have any idea just how much it costs to go to the hospital and have a baby?? How many millions of dollars in welfare and school funding do we spend paying for them to be here ILLEGALLY!!! Every other crime is punished; why is the crime of entering this country ILLEGALLY ok?? There is a way for EVERYONE to come to America LEGALLY! Believe me all of the people standing in those long lines to come here LEGALLY are just as upset as I am at the blatant disregard for the LAW! And please if you respond to me DON”T be a total idiot and call me a racist! I go to Mexico all the time, I help at the missions, and I donate fool and clothes! I help anyone I can here who needs help but I am also being real here. WE cannot support the people who refuse to follow the LAW! Just like if we break any other law we must pay the consequences to you, me, everyone.
Ranee | Jul 12, 2012 | Reply
LOL
Ranee | Jul 12, 2012 | Reply
I am an Hispanic American and I grew up in the 70′s where there were no Illegals getting the perks they do now. I didn’t dare speak Spanish back then; it was unheard of. Today, my jaw drops seeing how much they’re catered to for being here Illegaly. My husband who is from Britain came here to the states, and paid thousands to get his green card to work and live here; he had to get his medical jobs as part of his immigration to live here. We went to the American Mexican Ministry; a women in front of us go her shots, for she was Illegal, for $23.00..... My husband had to pay $300.00. You can see why we get upset for them being here and getting help left and right. Illegals get to claim tax child credits and get thousands of dollars; who cares if they buy stuff and pay sales tax–the street are paved with gold here for those who are law breakers of Immigration! Don’t be fooled believing the illegals are clawing there way to live here in the states. Come to Kansas and go through the beef packing houses, go to the stores and watch them use there VISA cards while they pay for 6 bikes and an Xbox 360 as their wallets are full of cash! They drive nice cars and trucks as we drive our 1999 ford. My husband has $600.00 taken out from the government for taxes, and illegals here in Kansas don’t have to have their checks have ANY TAXES taken out for 7 years! The towns cater to them so they can work in their factories..... most are uninsured with their cars. If we were uninsured we would go to JAIL! It’s a mess here in Kansas. In time we will be like California where they are going bankrupt caring for Illegals to live and work there!! Have you ever heard of English, Scottish, Welsh, Irish demanding to live here for FREE? NO they would be sent back to there country in a heartbeat. It’s the honest truth!! I have seen and experienced illegals living here and how much power Illegals are getting in the state and Federal level. Obama is even giving visas to the young to gain votes for those who are here illegal while Eric Holder is demanding no ID for illegals to get Obama re-elected! It’s sad how our government looks away and let’s them drain our system. The Illegals don’t even like America–they’d rather have the Mexican flag fly over there business, and the crime rate has soared. There are gang members and our cities are looking like slums. Why is the truth so hard to face when it comes to Illegal Immigration?
Tia | Jul 12, 2012 | Reply