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'''Illegal immigration''' is when people without legal permission from a country cross the border and proceed to dwell there. Therefore, illegal immigration is the act of immigrating to a country without having the right to do so.  

'''Illegal immigration''' is when people without legal permission from a country cross the border and proceed to dwell there. Therefore, illegal immigration is the act of immigrating to a country without having the right to do so.  

This has become a major issue in the [[United States]], because of foreigners living in the U.S. illegally. Many illegal immigrants do not pay taxes and but still use services, such as health care and schools. It is estimated that over 21 million illegal immigrants live in the United States.<ref>http://immigrationcounters.com/</ref> However, many are afraid to use available services, such as domestic violence shelters, out of fear of deportation. Many illegals cannot speak [[English]]. Illegal immigrations is defended, saying that they are simply coming to find work and are a valuable part of the US labor force.  Some come illegally to escape political oppression, as legal channels are not open to them.<ref>http://www.immigration-usa.com/george_weissinger.html immigration Usa</ref><ref>www.uscis.gov Immigration and Naturalization Services</ref><ref>www.dhs.gov Department of Homeland Security</ref>  Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically gain one citizenship.  When Army Spc. Alex Jimenez was captured by terrorists in [[Iraq]], his wife was almost deported by the government.  Strong public opinion allowed her to stay.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/20/national/main2956093.shtml Missing Soldier's Wife Faces Deportation]</ref>

This has become a major issue in the [[United States]], because of foreigners living in the U.S. illegally. Many illegal immigrants do not pay taxes and but still use services, such as health care and schools. It is estimated that over 21 million illegal immigrants live in the United States.<ref>http://immigrationcounters.com/</ref> However, many are afraid to use available services, such as domestic violence shelters, out of fear of deportation. Many illegals cannot speak [[English]]. Illegal immigrations is defended, saying that they are simply coming to find work and are a valuable part of the US labor force.  Some come illegally to escape political oppression, as legal channels are not open to them.<ref>http://www.immigration-usa.com/george_weissinger.html immigration Usa</ref><ref>www.uscis.gov Immigration and Naturalization Services</ref><ref>www.dhs.gov Department of Homeland Security</ref>  Marriage to a U.S. citizen does not automatically gain one citizenship.  When Army Spc. Alex Jimenez was captured by terrorists in [[Iraq]], his wife was almost deported by the government.  Strong public opinion allowed her to stay.<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/20/national/main2956093.shtml Missing Soldier's Wife Faces Deportation]</ref>

As the [[Bible]] exhorts people to be compassionate towards illegal immigrants (Exodus 23:9 and Leviticus 19:34), and as more Americans are [[Christian]] than any other religion, many Americans feel compelled by their religion to show compassion and caring for illegal immigrants, many of whom are trying to escape tyranny or poverty in their homelands.  

As the [[Bible]] exhorts people to be compassionate towards illegal immigrants (Exodus 23:9 and Leviticus 19:34), and as more Americans are [[Christian]] than any other religion, many Americans feel compelled by their religion to show compassion and caring for illegal immigrants, many of whom are trying to escape tyranny or poverty in their homelands.  

Conservatives oppose illegal immigration because it allows for immigrants to fall between the cracks of society thus making them more likely to commit crime or experience poverty. Illegal immigration is also damaging to countries because "illegals" will often work illegally for below minimum wage, resulting in job loss for legal citizens.

Some conservatives oppose illegal immigration because it allows for immigrants to fall between the cracks of society thus making them more likely to commit crime or experience poverty. Other conservatives view illegal immigation as an exercise in a basic [[individualism|individual]] [[human rights|human right]] to pursue happiness.  Illegal immigration is also damaging to countries because "illegals" will often work illegally for below minimum wage, resulting in job loss for legal citizens.

   

   

==Statistics==

==Statistics==