U.S. Policy Reforms and Solutions to Illegal Immigration

The article reviews the burdensome problem posed by the arrival in the United States of large number of refugees and migrants from countries politically unstable or with little economic opportunities. The migration problem has long existed in the US near the border with Mexico and along the Florida coasts. The article differentiates the issues of migrants (for economic reasons) and refugees (humanitarian grounds). It is especially the first category which currently poses huge challenges to the United States. Most of the policies proposed in the US to address the problem of the migrants have not been embraced by both the executive and the legislative branches of the government where different political parties prevail. The polarization of this problem makes it difficult to implement an enforceable policy. The article suggests some policy initiatives that could solve or at least control the present chaos, disorder, and uncertainty created by the arrival of the large number of illegal immigrants. It also suggests some opportunities that might diminish the uneven global development without creating an unsustainable economic and political challenge to the US.