Borders Divide

Life as an American can be described in many ways depending on race, gender, religion,

or even which part of a city they were born in. With so many factors, considering the country

was founded on immigrants over taking a foreign land, it is easy to misconstrue and create a

clear divide of who is considered American and who is not. This essay aims to tackle how the

argument of open borders has divided opinions when it is clear what needs to be done.

In the news article found in the New American, January 8, 2007, R. Cort Kirkwood

presents the idea that immigration is the major contributor to crime in the United States. “In Los

Angeles in 2004,” Kirkwood writes, “95 percent of the outstanding warrants for murder named

illegal aliens.” (Kirkwood 2007) This line stands out because of the year chosen. In this specific

year alone, crime rates shot up by six times the national average, according to the Los Angeles

Daily News. However, from 2004 to 2010, gang violence as well as homicides dropped

dramatically for seemingly no explainable reason. Simply because illegal aliens committed more

crimes that year does not mean that it was only them and will continue to only be illegal aliens in

the future.

Later in the same section, Kirkwood makes a reference to how “federal bureaucrats” had

“lost some 110,000” immigrant files. Kirkwood also stated that, allegedly, “30,000 citizenship

applications that lacked documentation sailed through the system anyway.” (Kirkwood 2007)

This is interesting because Kirkwood attempts to find the irony in that situation when there is so

much more in his argument. Citizenship is harder to obtain than many think. Even green cards

are a huge process. ABC News describes the first hurdle as the cost of application and

completion. “Most immigration lawyers charge between $5,000 to $7,500 to accompany a client

through the green card process,” Romy Ribitzky reports. “Some cases can cost closer to $15,000
before adding on application fees and any potential family members.” (Ribitzky 2018) Not only

are most people trying to get citizenships poor, but most are fleeing disaster. This means there is

no time for the lengthy process of getting a citizenship. The hope for asylum has fallen along

with nearly half of 2017’s total refugees that will continue to drop according to President Donald

Trump through Vox. Ribitzky, with ABC News, continues with reporting, “one 45-year-old

British-born woman, who asked not to be identified, has been waiting four years for her green

card, and still doesn’t have it.” (Ribitzky 2018)

After taking a look at crime rates and what it takes to get a citizenship in Ribitzky’s

article, it is time to take a look at the article “The Many Assaults on U.S. Sovereignty” produced

by Phyllis Schlafly. Her first words are about how globalists aim “to diminish patriotism and

allegiance to one's country,” stating that, “loyalty cannot be divided.” (Schlafly 2002) Though a

logical idea, patriotism is, as defined by Webster’s dictionary, “love for or devotion to one's

country.” (Merriam Webster Dictionary 11th edition) A family of immigrants looking for

opportunities will find that America is a powerful and independent country. However, they will

also seek the cultural ideas of that of their home country. In the United States, at least, there is a

diversity unlike any other country. In fact, a map created by Dan Keating and Laris Karklis of

the Washington Post gives an insight to how diversity in America is increasing. It is no wonder

why people seeking refuge choose the United States since they can seek opportunities while still

being tied to their own culture.

Another point that Schlafly attempts to make is delegitimizing matricula consulare ID

cards. “Mexico is also trying to legitimize Mexican aliens illegally living in the United States by

giving them special ID cards called ‘matricula consulare,’” She claims. “These Mexican ID cards

are being used to pretend to validate their illegal residence, prevent deportation, and help them to
get U.S. driver's licenses, jobs, taxpayer benefits, and in-state university tuition." (Schlafly 2002)

This statement attempts to dismantle these cards when there is a larger point to be made. If there

is such an opportunity through these cards in the United States, then why don’t all illegal

immigrants just get one of these perfectly legal cards? The situation of illegal immigration is not

a problem of people being let in through legal ways. The fact of the matter is that they are

coming and there is no way to stop them. Making constant arrests and funding such an expensive

wall is too much trouble and money to be put into something that is going to happen regardless.

In the end, it seems that illegal immigrants are causing trouble and aggravating their legal

peers. However, it is not the work of dissolving American culture or contributing to one year of

crime in Los Angeles. This is the work of the American government splitting itself in two over

what is to be done with people looking for opportunities. The nation is divided because of a

major misunderstanding.
 Works Cited

Kirkwood, R. Cort. "Illegal Immigrants Are Dangerous for America." Illegal Immigration, edited by Paul

Hina, Greenhaven Press, 2008. Contemporary Issues Companion. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010535209/OVIC?u=j071909001&sid=OVIC&xid=7e21263e. Accessed 15

Nov. 2018. Originally published as "Crime Wave: As An Illegal-Alien Crime Wave Overtakes America,

Government Officials Do Nothing Because They Either Support Open Borders Or Fear To Anger the Hispanic

Community," New American, 8 Jan. 2007.

Schlafly, Phyllis. "Dual Citizenship Should Be Discouraged." Immigration, edited by Louise I. Gerdes,

Greenhaven Press, 2005. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010362231/OVIC?u=j071909001&sid=OVIC&xid=72584bed. Accessed 15

Nov. 2018. Originally published as "The Many Assaults on U.S. Sovereignty," Phyllis Schlafly Report, vol. 35, June

2002, p. 42.

Reicher, Mike. “Decline in Gang Violence Leads to Dramatic Drop in Los Angeles Homicides.” Daily

News, Daily News, 28 Aug. 2017, www.dailynews.com/2015/01/23/decline-in-gang-violence-leads-to-dramatic-

drop-in-los-angeles-homicides/.

Ribitzky, Romy. “Path to U.S. Citizenship Costly, Tedious.” ABC News, ABC News Network,

abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=87996&page=1.

Lind, Dara. “Trump Slashed Refugee Levels This Year. For 2019, He's Slashing Them Even Further.”

Vox.com, Vox Media, 18 Sept. 2018, www.vox.com/2018/9/17/17871874/refugee-news-record-history-asylum.

Reicher, Mike. “Decline in Gang Violence Leads to Dramatic Drop in Los Angeles Homicides.” Daily News, Daily

News, 28 Aug. 2017, www.dailynews.com/2015/01/23/decline-in-gang-violence-leads-to-dramatic-drop-in-los-

angeles-homicides/. Ribitzky, Romy. “Path to U.S. Citizenship Costly, Tedious.” ABC News, ABC News Network,

3 July 2018, abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=87996&page=1.

“Patriotism.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriotism.