Problem
Past policies of deterrence have not been successful at preventing some Mexicans from crossing the border illegally. Brad Plumer, in his article “Congress tried to fix immigration back in 1986. Why did it fail?,” examines the inefficiency of immigration reform by Ronald Reagan:
The law was supposed to put a stop to illegal immigration into the United States once and for all. Instead, the exact opposite happened. The number of unauthorized immigrants living in the country soared, from an estimated 5 million in 1986 to 11.1 million today” (Plumer para. 2).
Reagan’s plan allowed for amnesty to those who entered the United States illegally for the low cost of $185 (para. 3). With the other aspects of the reform aside, guaranteed freedom at a realistically achievable price was a major driving point for several Mexicans to cross the border. Additions like these are what make attempts at stopping illegal immigration ineffective. Therefore, future policies should propose severe consequences against illegal immigrants from Mexico as an act of deterrence. Examples of such could include sending them back after paying a hefty fee, longer jail-time, and denial from legal entry if caught.