With over 11 million immigrants in the United States illegally (as of 2012), the issue of illegal immigration continues to divide Americans.
Some people say that illegal immigration benefits the US economy through additional tax revenue, expansion of the low-cost labor pool, and increased money in circulation. They contend that immigrants bring good values, have motivations consistent with the American dream, perform jobs that Americans won’t take, and that opposition to immigration stems from racism.
Opponents of illegal immigration say that people who break the law by crossing the US border without proper documentation or by overstaying their visas should be deported and not rewarded with a path to citizenship and access to social services. They argue that people in the country illegally are criminals and social and economic burdens to law-abiding, tax-paying Americans.
Related Coverage
AllSides Picks
Headline Roundup
Trump Administration Weighs Visa Revocations for Foreigners Who Apply for Asylum
August 25th, 2026
Headline Roundup
Unauthorized Migrant Murders VA Woman, Outlets Split on Significance of Immigration Status
August 20th, 2026
News
Tracking Trump’s Campaign Promises
AllSides Staff
August 13th, 2026
Recommended Reading
Courts, Crackdowns, and Civil Right Violations: 6 New Stories You Probably Haven’t Seen
Malayna J. Bizier
August 5th, 2026