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1 1 (October 2016)

handle is hein.amenin/aeiaapv0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Key Points * Although illegal immigration remains one of the country's top issues, much focus is placed only on its economic aspect while its security aspect is often lost in debate. * Because of the uncertain number of illegal immigrants in the country, Washington cannot create a permanent solution without first ensuring border security, enhancing interior enforcement, and establishing an efficient visa and naturalization system. * Over the next year and with the instatement of a new presidential administration and Congress, we must make these reforms to secure America's borders, cities, jobs, and citizenship. No issue generates more passion in voters today than illegal immigration. Because of the focus on the economic aspect of illegal immigration, the security aspect is often lost in the debate. It is axiomatic, however, that if 11 million illegal immigrants looking for work can cross America's porous borders or overstay visas, then a handful of terrorists certainly can, too. This reality, therefore, requires us to determine who is here, who is coming, and who is going. Until now, the federal government has acted without giving proper thought to the incentives or disincentives related to illegal immigration. This history makes it all the more important that Washington fixes the problem by enforcing existing laws, providing additional authorities for border and interior enforcement where needed, and reforming America's counterproductive visa and naturalization system. Washington can create a permanent solution for the remaining illegal immigrants here that all Americans will support only once America's borders are secure, foreign visitors cannot overstay their visas, and employers can fill their hiring needs with legal rather than illegal workers. Until then, any amnesty proposal is premature because of the uncertain number of remaining illegal immigrants. TheThree-Legged Stool of Immigration To identify a way forward, it is useful to view immigration as a stool built on three legs and recognize that a weakness in one leg creates structural pressure on the other legs, thereby risking the collapse of the stool itself. Immigration is largely a classic supply-and-demand problem: there is a readily available supply of labor for employers and, given America's traditionally low unemployment figures, a demand for that labor. The first leg is ensuring border security. If America cannot secure its border and significantly slow or stop the flow of illegal immigrants, it will be a Sisyphean task to locate, detain, and remove illegal immigrants once they are inside the country. Increasing the transactional cost for illegal immigrants and human traffickers will reduce the supply of illegal immigrants. A more secure border will make it harder to get across, thereby driving AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE

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