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The Impact of Illegal Immigration on California
America is a nation of immigrants. ... Today, the great port of immigration entry has moved 3000 miles across the country to Los Angeles, California. Unfortunately, this enormous city has also become the capital receiver of illegal immigrants. According to the Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), 52% of all illegal immigrants settle in California (Johnson 4). ... In California, the undocumented immigrants comprise about 4 percent of the state’s population.
According to the Census Bureaus Current Population Survey (CPS), it was estimated in November of 1997 that the state of California was residence to over 32,268,000 people. ... Thus, the illegal immigration population of California exceeds 2 million as well. ...
The people of California is among the most diverse and complex populations anywhere in the world, let alone the country. No other developed region of the world the size of California has sustained such rapid and tremendous population growth. As recently as 1950, California was home to only 10 million people, or about one out of every 15 United States residents. ... Yet, the composition and demographics of the California population is what is astounding. ...
Consequently, this explosion of immigration has tremendous repercussions and influence on the states economy, society, politics, and way of life. ... However, 86 percent of the Californians surveyed say illegal immigration is a problem. A majority (54 percent) favor changing the law so children of illegal immigrants born here are not automatically US citizens (under the 14th Amendment), whereas 40 percent are opposed. Yet, most Californians (53 percent) would not bar illegal immigrants from attending public schools (41 percent would bar them).
There are various causes of illegal immigration: ranging from economic disparities, underdevelopment, political turmoil, oppression, population pressures, and environmental destruction. ... Illegal immigration is an act done both by choice and by necessity. The trickle of illegal immigrants, mostly Hispanic, who entered the United States in the 1950s and 1960s have turned into a flood in the past 30 years. Spurred by Central Americas uncertain and volatile politics, violation of human rights, troubled economics, and rapidly expanding labor force, as many as 2 million will illegally cross the US border this year --- and more than half will arrive in California. In all, approximately 60 percent of all illegal immigrants are from Mexico and close to 85 percent hail from Central America. ... In September of 1994, California voters approved Proposition 187, legislation that bars illegal (undocumented) immigrants and their children from receiving certain public services such as education, health care, and welfare. Many claim that Proposition 187 will stop illegal immigration and save the state of California billions of dollars a year.
Approximate Word count = 2174
Approximate Pages = 8.7
(250 words per page double spaced)
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