Illegal Immigration: A Continuing Issue for the 1980s

Abstract

[Excerpt] Illegal immigration is not simply a matter of mounting numbers of individuals occupying American turf. Illegal immigrants compete for employment and income opportunities with citizen workers, usually low-wage-earning minorities, women, and youth. Equally disturbing is the creation and institutionalization of a permanent subclass of rightless persons within American society that unauthorized residence here fosters. What follows is a discussion of the issue of illegal immigration, its causes, its social and economic ramifications and the need for a multifaceted, comprehensive policy. It is only through such a complete policy that we can hope to control the problem.