Illegal immigration to the United States
Illegal immigration or undocumented immigration to the United States includes both unlawful entry of foreign nationals into the United States and remaining in the country after the expiration of their entry visa or parole documents. [1] After the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on national origin, [2] the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 abolished quotas imposed by earlier acts, but kept other limits in place. The debate over illegal immigration has continued since the 1980s, as illustrated by the ongoing controversy surrounding Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico. Research shows that illegal immigrants increase the size of the U.S. economy, contribute to economic growth, enhance the welfare of natives, contribute more in tax revenue than they collect, reduce American firms' incentives to offshore jobs and import foreign-produced goods, and benefit consumers by reducing the prices of goods and services. [3] [4] [5]