Illegal Immigration in California

Illegal Immigration Research Proposal
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Introduction
Research Hook
Research indicates that approximately 2.3 million unauthorized immigrants were residing in California in 2019, positioning it among the states with many illegal immigrants (Johnson et al., 2021). California has more than 2 million illegal immigrants. However, the population of unauthorized immigrants in California has been on the decline as their numbers dropped from 2.9 million in 2010 to 2.3 million in 2019 (Johnson et al., 2021). In addition, it should be noted that the number of immigrants in California surpasses any other state (Johnson et al., 2021). The counties of Barbara and Ventura alone accommodate the largest number of illegal immigrants amounting to 9% of the total population (Mendez et al., 2020). Such statistics demonstrate the critical effect of unauthorized immigration on the state's economy. Exploring such a phenomenon's economic implications is vital to comprehend its opportunities and challenges for the state's residents, policymakers, and businesses. This research proposal examines the economic implications of illegal immigration in California, with a special focus on the labor market and employment dynamics, growth and sustainability of the economy, fiscal impacts, and wage levels and patterns.
Introduction to the Topic and Its Larger Context
Illegal immigration has proved to be a multifaceted and complex issue presenting critical implications for the state economy. The interrelation between unauthorized immigrants and the economy warrants comprehensive research and debates to understand the dynamics and implications of such a phenomenon. Understanding illegal immigration's economic implications is vital in California, considering its status as attracting immigrants looking for job opportunities and improved life quality. Considering that the state accommodates 2.6 million illegal immigrants, it is vital to understand the economic effects of such immigrants to develop effective strategies and policies (Mendez et al., 2020).
Statement of the Problem and Context
The research addresses the question: what are the specific economic implications of illegal immigration in California? Although researchers have studied this area, the current literature presents distinct and conflicting findings. Thus, it is significant to conduct an extensive study that considers and analyzes the existing knowledge to clearly comprehend the economic effects of illegal immigration in the state in question. Through evaluating labor market and employment dynamics, growth and sustainability of the economy, fiscal impacts, and wage levels and patterns, this study aims to address the gaps in the existing literature and contribute to the current body of knowledge.
Background and Contextual Material
Alterations in immigrants' settlement patterns in the U.S. continue to place California at the center of the discourse about unauthorized immigration issues. Although the undocumented immigrant population has been on the decline since 2010, California still contains the highest number of immigrants in the country in terms of real numbers and the share of the aggregate state population. This implies that illegal immigration should be at the heart of California's political discourse concerning the community's sustainability and economic development (Johnson et al., 2021). California's status of hosting the largest population of illegal immigrants presents it as a suitable case study for evaluating the economic impacts of such a phenomenon. The discourse on the delivery of immigrant social services and associated costs has triggered the need for additional research into the economic implications of authorized immigration on government expenditures and revenues (Johnson et al., 2021). California has a diverse economy, from technology to agriculture, and thus provides a rich context to investigate the multifaceted implications of unauthorized immigration in various sectors (Mendez et al., 2020). The comprehension of such implications is significant for policymakers as they strive to formulate effective policies that balance the rule of law, social inclusion, and economic growth. Also, considering the ongoing debate on immigration reforms, the research on the economic effects of illegal immigration in California will offer significant insights into the pertinent issue.
Purpose Statement
This study aims to offer an extensive analysis of the economic implications of illegal immigration, specifically focusing on California. There is scarce research concerning unauthorized immigrants' contributions to their state's finances and economy, including the local community. Like other residents, undocumented immigrants work, shop, and pay taxes. It is estimated that the U.S. unauthorized immigrant population is estimated at 11 million people who pay roughly $12 billion every year in local and state taxes (Williams et al., 2019). For example, the collected revenues could increase to approximately $14 billion in a scenario where these immigrants achieved citizenship (Williams et al., 2019). Illegal immigrants also contribute to their extended communities and families just like other U.S. residents, particularly through routine activities, including mentoring young folks, volunteering, and visiting places of worship. Despite unauthorized immigrants having greater potential to positively contribute to the country's economic development, there is a paucity of research focusing on their lack of access to economic opportunities due to state-perpetrated barriers. Therefore, this research will offer policymakers insights into including all immigrants in the mainstream economic system to enable them to achieve better remuneration, support local businesses, and contribute to the tax revenues collected. This is central to achieving sustainable economic development and having a strong economy (Williams et al., 2019).
This research also seeks to contribute to the current body of knowledge and offer insights into policy discussions by evaluating fiscal effects, wage levels and patterns, labor market and employment dynamics, and economic growth and sustainability. Through addressing the existing literature gaps, this study will offer a nuanced comprehension of the economic effects of illegal immigration, enhancing evidence-based policy formulations and fostering immigrants' and native-born residents' socio-economic well-being in California. Addressing the extant research gaps is crucial to providing more knowledge on augmenting societal sustainability using inclusive policies.
Theoretical Framework
Summary of the Theory
The theoretical framework acts as the lens to approach the research and comprehend the underlying associations and concepts. This study will incorporate a sociological view in its analysis of the economic implications of illegal immigration in California. Particularly, the study will derive its arguments from social conflict theory, which presents significant insights into social structures, power dynamics, and inequality. Karl Marx is the proponent of social conflict theory, but it was later expounded on by sociologists Ralf Dahrendorf and Max Weber. The theory argues that struggles over resources, socio-status, power, and inherent conflicts characterize a society. It stresses the integral role of inequalities and social structures in modeling people's behaviors and outcomes. Also, the social conflict perspective presents societal conflicts as arising from inequalities in the distribution of such resources as labor, opportunities, and income, which can lead to political, social, and economic tensions. Illegal immigration falls within the social problem subject because ignoring the population's contributions to the nation's economic development can result in the exploitation and disintegration of family systems. The theory argues that the presence of illegal immigrants in the country contributes to fewer job opportunities for citizens, thus leading to a power struggle over limited resources (Ersanilli & Prag, 2023). Such a theoretical framework facilitates understanding different perspectives of illegal immigration in California regarding inequality, power, and economic impacts. The evidence of social change due to social conflict relies on the society's condition in experiencing the change (Siregar & Zulkarnain, 2022). It is vital to highlight the possible conflicts and tensions between the immigrants and native-born workers and the wider effects on the growth and sustainability of California's economy.
Questions the Theory Answers
Social conflict theory applies extensively in sociology in evaluating different social phenomena such as labor market dynamics, economic inequality, and social stratification. In the illegal immigration context, the social conflict theory analyses the implications of undocumented immigration on native-born employees, the labor market sector, and wage differentials and patterns between native-born and immigrant workers. The theory is fundamental in understanding how increased illegal immigration in California may affect the wage levels, labor market dynamics, and opportunities for native-born and immigrant workers in the context of unauthorized immigration. It facilitates the evaluation of the stratification of unlimited resources and the unequal access to economic and social opportunities that may result from societal inequalities (Siregar & Zulkarnain, 2022).
Appropriateness for the Proposed Study
The social conflict theory is appropriate and relevant to studying the economic implications of illegal immigration in California. The theory offers a guideline for analyzing the inequality, power dynamics, and structural elements which model the economic results of native-born workers and immigrants. By incorporating a social conflict perspective in this study, it is possible to examine how illegal immigrants in California's labor market may influence wage levels and patterns, employment prospects, and job availability for various population segments. The theory facilitates a critical analysis of the possible power differentials and conflicts that may emerge due to resource competition and stratification in the labor market. Furthermore, the social conflict theory provides an extensive framework for comprehending the wider socio-economic effects of illegal immigration in California. It is possible to evaluate the possible impacts of economic growth, social cohesion, and sustainability by considering the structural inequalities and power dynamics. Arguably, migration conflicts result from social inequalities, although they are evident as conflicts between native-born workers and immigrants (Grossmann, 2019).
Literature Review
Introduction and Current State of Literature
The literature review is a fundamental research proposal component that offers an extensive overview of the present body of knowledge and research regarding the economic implications of illegal immigrants in California. This section will summarize the overall state of the literature, point out the basic themes and arguments, and deduce research variables and hypotheses from previous the...