The Obama administration seems to have made up its mind that the current immigration scenario is just not acceptable, and is willing to do whatever it takes to change the scenario to a more desirable one. There has been a steady inflow of illegal immigrants entering the country for some years now, and authorities have finally realized that this can become a major threat to homeland security, and needs to be addressed with a conflicting action immediately. At the same time, US authorities have decided to track the illegal immigrant population already on US ground, and legalize those who do not hold criminal records.

At the same time, there have been a few gains in the enforcement of some of the above said norms, in recent years. The US-Mexico border has seen considerable activity with over 600 miles of fence having been built to curb the illegal immigration menace. The border patrols have recruited over 20000 officers to tighten security in this region. Also, the introduction of the e-verify system has encouraged employers to become actively involved in homeland security concerns, by allowing them to verify the credentials of their employees using an online process.  

The results of these efforts have been alarming to say the least. Border arrests have reduced by 23%, which is a sure indicator in the reduction of numbers of people trying to illegally enter US territory. To add a feather to the US cap, many of the illegal immigrants already on US soil have begun to leave the US voluntarily. Studies show that the illegal immigrant population in the US has reduced by a good 1.3 million in recent times. However, while enforcement is a big part of why this change has taken place, the recession is probably an even bigger reason. The primary reason why a worker may try to enter the US illegally is to find work. The reduction in work opportunities thanks to the recession has directly influenced the illegal immigration problem, and that is definitely a welcome sign to US authorities.  Another factor that has resulted in lower numbers of illegal workers can be the fact that US employers have been forced to follow strict employing practices, again a direct result of the Obama administration’s stand on illegal immigration.

The US government seems to have done well in dealing with the difficult problem of illegal workers in the country. While some may believe that the only true solution would be to round up the entire illegal population and deport them, the government has set itself much more realistic goals, and is handling the problem with determination and in a systematic logical manner.