Examining the Adequacy and Enforcement of Our Nation’s Immigration Laws

Testimony of Marc R. Rosenblum, Deputy Director, U.S. Immigration Program, before the House Judiciary Committee.

"Chairman Goodlatte, Ranking Member Conyers, and Members of the Committee:

Good morning. My name is Marc Rosenblum, and I am deputy director of the U.S. immigration program at the Migration Policy Institute, an independent, non-partisan think tank in Washington, DC that analyzes U.S. and international migration trends and policies. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.

In any immigration system, illegal immigration depends on three factors: 1) the economic, social and demographic drivers of migration; 2) laws that define who may enter legally; and 3) immigration control measures to enforce these rules. When the drivers of migration produce a larger flow than the law permits, the result is illegal immigration, unless adequate enforcement measures are in place to prevent it. [...]"