1. The Great Immigration Debate

2. An estimated 12 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, with about 7 million from Mexico.
While there are illegal immigrants in every state, they are concentrated in California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Arizona.

3. Path to Legalization?
Nearly every one agrees that America’s immigration system is broken; but what they don’t agree on is how to fix it.
Conservatives: tightening border security
some want to deport illegal immigrants
Liberals: pushing for a path toward legalization
pay fines, learn English, and wait their turn

4. Politics
Hispanic voters, are a growing force in big states like California, Florida, Texas and New York. Neither conservatives nor liberals want to alienate them. They would like to see illegal immigrants given a chance to become legal, as would employers who rely on immigrants to take jobs they say Americans no longer want.

5. Politics cont.
But many voters see immigrants as threats to their jobs and wage levels. They also believe they are a drain on services like schools, police and health care.

6. Finding work
Occupations with the highest percentage of illegal immigrants
Farming 25%
Ground keeping & maintenance 19%
Construction 17%
Food preparation & serving 12%
Manufacturing & food processing 7%

7. Daca
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, launched by President Obama’s administration, is aimed at undocumented immigrants between the ages of who came to the U.S. as children and who are in school or have graduated from high school.
They may apply and if accepted, do not have to fear deportation, if they do not break the law. The Migration Policy Institute estimate there are 1.9 million undocumented immigrants who could be eligible for deferred action.

8. Unaccompanied minors
The number of unaccompanied minors crossing the border from Mexico grew by 77% between Oct. 1, 2013-Sept. 30, A total of 68,541 minors were detained. Many of the children are coming from Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Talking points: Why are they coming to the U.S.?
What are the problems for unaccompanied minors?
What are the problems for the United States?