Final answer:
Undocumented immigrants in the U.S. lack legal status, face economic limitations, and risk deportation, whereas legal immigrants can live, work, and pursue advancement with far fewer hurdles. While both groups contribute to the U.S. workforce, their experiences and opportunities differ significantly, highlighting the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
Step-by-step explanation:
Undocumented immigrants and legal immigrants experience very distinct realities within the United States, with access to rights, opportunities, and pathways to assimilation being significantly different for each group. Undocumented immigrants, estimated to be around 11.7 million people, often find themselves in legal limbo, facing challenges such as inability to advance economically, the threat of deportation, and barriers to civic involvement. They typically hold low-wage jobs with few opportunities for improvement without risking exposure and deportation. Despite their legal responsibilities—like paying taxes and obeying the law—undocumented immigrants have fewer protections and face greater risks.
In contrast, legal immigrants, including those sponsored by employers for their talents and education, account for 15 percent of all legal immigrants. This group is often supported by the U.S. population and seen as contributors to economic growth, generally facing fewer barriers to advancement and accessing government services. Legal immigrants are able to live and work in the United States without the constant threat of deportation, allowing for a greater chance of economic and civic assimilation. However, both groups still face hardship such as discrimination and the effects of political debates surrounding immigration policy.
The differences in the experiences of undocumented and legal immigrants underscore the complexity of the immigration issue in the United States, with major policy adjustments being called for by citizens and immigrants alike. These adjustments include proposals for providing undocumented immigrants with a path to citizenship, reflecting the country's recognition of the need for humanitarian and practical reform in the face of ongoing immigration challenges.