Weak Economy has Effect on Illegal Immigration and the Border

According to the L.A. Times, a significantly smaller number of illegal immigrants were apprehended thus far this year, and the levels of apprehensions are dipping to levels not seen since the Seventies. 

The reasons behind the downtrend in illegal immigration, it appears, may be directly linked to the downtrend economy.  Pundits all have their own opinions, including the beefed up security placed at the border during the Bush and early Obama Administrations may have finally worked.  However, the more realistic thought would be that illegal immigrants are thinking the same things as Americans themselves.  The American economy makes living and working in the United States a less than attractive predicament today.

In the past, illegal immigrants have streamed across the border by the millions.  In almost virtually all of these cases, illegal immigrants came to the United States seeking better opportunities, which are directly related to better jobs in the United States.  Now, with even a legally documented worker with experience being unable to find a job in today’s economy, illegal immigrants are understandably and probably correctly assuming not many jobs are available, let alone for illegal workers.  In turn, many potential illegal immigrants have been staying home or considering other options, aside from the United States.

So, the bigger question for lawmakers and the Obama administration now lies in what is going to happen as job availability and the economy eventually begin trickling upward again?  Undoubtedly, the economy will improve over time, and when this time comes, will the United States be prepared for a pent up surge of undocumented, illegal alien workers entering the country?  Without solutions being produced during a rare lull in the problem, lawmakers and the American population as a whole will be facing the same immigration problem as they always have, if not worse than usual.   

Ideally, the Obama Administration will break the ground in addressing this issue as soon as possible.  In the primaries and elections, Obama had continually mentioned doing so; however, as other issues take importance, will he remember?  Obama is slated to speak tomorrow, March 10th, at the Annual Legislative Conference of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in the Washington D.C.  The event would be a perfect platform for soliciting Congressional attention to the outstanding illegal immigration issues, as well as a chance for the Obama White House to take a stronger stance of immigration issues.