WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_favicon' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_favicon', 'Favicon', 'Paste the full URL for your favicon image from here if you wish to show it in browsers. <a href="http://www.favicon.cc/">Create one here</a>', 'upload', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_show_blog_title' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_show_blog_title', 'Choose Blog Title over Logo', 'This option will overwrite your logo selection above - You can <a href="options-general.php">change your settings here</a>', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_feedburner_url' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_feedburner_url', 'Syndication / Feed URL', 'Enter RSS URL (if you are using Feedburner, else leave this blank)', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_tweet_button' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_tweet_button', '"Tweet" button', 'Show "Tweet" button on post detail page', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_facebook_button' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_facebook_button', '"Facebook Like" button', 'Show "Facebook Like" button on post detail page', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_date_format' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_date_format', 'Date Format', 'Enter date format Ex. d/m/Y OR M j, Y', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'pttheme_contact_email' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('pttheme_contact_email', 'Contact Form Email', 'Enter your Email address for Contact Form', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_breadcrumbs' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_breadcrumbs', 'Breadcrumbs Navigation', 'Display Breadcrumbs navigation. i.e. Home > Blog > Title - <a href=options-general.php?page=yoast-breadcrumbs.php">Change options here</a>', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_auto_install' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_auto_install', 'Disable Auto Install', 'Want to disable Auto Install ?', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_postcontent_full' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_postcontent_full', 'Content Display', 'Instead of default Post excerpts display Full Post Content in Category Listing', 'radio', 'Full Content,Excerpt')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_content_excerpt_count' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_content_excerpt_count', 'Content Excerpt Word Count', 'Enter Content Excerpt Word Count.', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_content_excerpt_readmore' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_content_excerpt_readmore', 'Content Excerpt \"Read More\" Link Text', 'Enter Content Excerpt \"Read More\" Link Text', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'navigation_settings' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('navigation_settings', 'Navigation Settings', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_top_pages_nav_enable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_top_pages_nav_enable', 'Top Header Navigation Settings', 'Wish to activate Top Header Navigation?', 'radio', 'Activate,Deactivate')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_top_pages_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_top_pages_nav', 'Top Header Navigation Pages', 'Select Pages which you wish to show in Top Navigation', 'pages', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_category_top_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_category_top_nav', 'Top Header Navigation Article Category', 'Select Categories which you wish to show in Top Navigation', 'categories', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_main_pages_nav_enable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_main_pages_nav_enable', 'Main Header Navigation Settings', 'Wish to activate Main Header Navigation?', 'radio', 'Activate,Deactivate')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_include_main_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_include_main_nav', 'Main Navigation Pages', 'Select Pages which you wish to show in Main Navigation', 'pages', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_category_main_nav' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_category_main_nav', 'Main Navigation Article Category', 'Select Categories which you wish to show in Main Navigation', 'categories', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_top_home_links' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_top_home_links', 'Top Navigation Home Links', 'Display home link in top navigation', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_main_nav_home_links' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_main_nav_home_links', 'Main Navigation Home Links', 'Display home link in main navigation', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'header_footer_scripts' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('header_footer_scripts', 'Add Scripts', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_scripts_header' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_scripts_header', 'Header Scripts', 'If you need to add scripts to your header (like <a href="http://haveamint.com/">Mint</a> tracking code), do so here.', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_scripts_footer' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_scripts_footer', 'Footer Scripts', 'If you need to add scripts to your footer (like <a href="http://www.google.com/analytics/">Google Analytics</a> tracking code), do so here.', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'seo_options' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('seo_options', 'SEO Options', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_title_seo' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_title_seo', 'Home Title', 'Home Title for SEO', 'textarea', '3')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_desc_seo' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_desc_seo', 'Home Description', 'Home description for SEO', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_keyword_seo' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_keyword_seo', 'Home Keywords', 'Home keywords for SEO (comma separated)', 'textarea', '10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_category_noindex' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_category_noindex', 'Use noindex for Categories', 'Check this box for excluding category pages from being crawled', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_archives_noindex' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_archives_noindex', 'Use noindex for Archives', 'Do you want to index Archives ? This helps in removing duplicate content from being indexed', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_tag_archives_noindex' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_tag_archives_noindex', 'Use noindex for Tag Archives', 'Do you want to index Tags ? This helps in removing duplicate content from being indexed', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'pttheme_seo_hide_fields' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('pttheme_seo_hide_fields', 'Hide SEO Custom Fields', 'Check this to hide the custom SEO fields created in post and page screens', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_use_third_party_data' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_use_third_party_data', 'Use Third Party SEO Plugin', 'Data added to custom fields in post & pages will be used where applicable', 'radio', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_notification_type' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_notification_type', 'Email Notifications Type', 'select Email Notifications options', 'radio', 'PHP Mail, WP SMTP Mail')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'post_settings' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('post_settings', 'Posts', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_home_page' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_home_page', 'Home Page', 'Enter Number of post in home page', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_cat_page' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_cat_page', 'Archive Page', 'Enter Number of post in Archive Page', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_search_page' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_search_page', 'Search Page', 'Enter Number of post in search page', 'input', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_date' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_date', 'Listing Post Date', 'Display post date in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_tags' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_tags', 'Listing Post Tags', 'Display post tags in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_category' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_category', 'Listing Post Category', 'Display post category in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_comment' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_comment', 'Listing Post Comment', 'Display post comment in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_listing_author' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_listing_author', 'Listing Post Author', 'Display post author in listing pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_date' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_date', 'Detail Post Date', 'Display post date in detail page', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_tags' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_tags', 'Detail Post Tags', 'Display post tags in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_category' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_category', 'Detail Post Category', 'Display post category in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_comment' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_comment', 'Detail Post Comment', 'Display post comment in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_details_author' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_details_author', 'Detail Post Author', 'Display post author in detail pages', 'select', 'Yes,No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_pagination' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_pagination', 'Pagination', '', 'radio', 'Default + WP Page-Navi support, AJAX-fetching posts')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_common_settings' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_common_settings', 'Style & Color Settings', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_fonts' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_fonts', 'Fonts', 'Choose your site fonts', 'select', 'Verdana, Geneva, sans-serif, Arial, Arial Black, Trebuchet MS, Helvetica, sans-serif, Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif,')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_body_background_color' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_body_background_color', 'Body Background Color', 'Choose your site background color', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_body_background_image' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_body_background_image', 'Body Background Image', 'Upload background image from here', 'upload', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_body_bg_postions' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_body_bg_postions', 'Body Background Image Postions', 'Select body background image postion', 'select', 'no-repeat,repeat,repeat-x,repeat-y,repeat-y center top,repeat-y left top')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_link_color_normal' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_link_color_normal', 'Link Color Normal', 'Select link color normal', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_link_color_hover' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_link_color_hover', 'Link Color Hover', 'Select Hover link color', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_main_title_color' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_main_title_color', 'Main Title Color', 'Select main title color', 'colorpicker', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_customcss' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_customcss', 'Use Custom Stylesheet', 'If you want to make custom design changes using CSS enable this and <a href="theme-editor.php">edit custom.css file here</a>', 'radio', 'Activate, Deactivate')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_page_layouts' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_page_layouts', 'Page Layout', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_page_layout' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_page_layout', 'Page Layout', 'Select page layout', 'select', 'Full Page, Page 2 column - Right Sidebar, Page 2 column - Left Sidebar, Page 3 column - Fixed, Page 3 column - Right Sidebar, Page 3 column - Left Sidebar')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_bottom_options' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_bottom_options', 'Select footer top', 'select bottom section options', 'select', 'Two Column - Right(one third), Two Column - Left(one third), Equal Column, Three Column, Fourth Column, Full Width')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_article_setting' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_article_setting', 'Article Settings', '', 'heading', '')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_expiry_disable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_expiry_disable', 'Disable Article Expiry ', 'Wish to disable article expiry process? If you disable the option, none of article will expire in future.', 'radio', 'Yes, No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_disable' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_disable', 'Disable Article Expiry Email Notification', 'Wish to disable article pre expiry notification to author? If you disable the option, pre expiry email notification will stop.', 'radio', 'Yes, No')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_days' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_preexpiry_notice_days', 'Number of days Before Pre Expiry', 'Enter number of days before pre expiry notification Email will be sent.', 'select', '1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlelisting_ex_status' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlelisting_ex_status', 'Article Expiry Status', 'Select the article status after the article expires..', 'select', 'draft, publish, trash')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_article_status' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_article_status', 'Article Status', 'Select the article status for the article submit..', 'select', 'draft, publish, trash')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_articlecategory_dislay' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_articlecategory_dislay', 'Add Article page Settings', 'Category display settings', 'select', 'checkbox, radio, select')
WordPress database error: [Duplicate entry 'ptthemes_addarticle_captcha' for key 'item_id']INSERT INTO `wp_option_tree` (`item_id`, `item_title`, `item_desc`, `item_type`, `item_options`) VALUES ('ptthemes_addarticle_captcha', 'Captcha', 'Captcha Validation on Add Article Page', 'radio', 'Yes, No')
While the main goal of the following discussion about illegal immigration is concerned with revealing the ways illegal immigrants enter the United States, the underlying concern rests also with the notion that there are thousands who put their lives at risk to come to the United States. Those who are desperate enough to try to come into the United States illegally obviously have compelling reasons to do so and in order to best explore such causes, motivating factors will be given considered. Finally, a conclusive element to the following discussion about illegal immigration will touch on policy and the future of immigration in the United States and will reflect on the issues of risk, reasons driving migration, and how the United States is prepared to handle this issue as it continues.
One of the first thoughts that come to mind when someone mentions the topic of illegal immigration into the United States is the entry through the U.S. and Mexico border. This most prominent relationship many make to illegal immigrations exists because the vast majority of illegal immigrants already in the country are those of Mexican nationality. According to data from 2008, “an estimated 600,000 illegal immigrants enter the United States each year, the vast majority along the border with Mexico” (Gathmann 1927). Undocumented workers and residents who are here illegally come from many other countries and find entry into the United States in much different ways. In addition to crossing the border by being smuggled in or otherwise sneaking across the border, there are a few less dangerous modes of entrance into the United States, at least physically. The majority of other illegal immigrants remain in the country after the legal period for their stay has passed—something that happens most frequently with foreign students (Edmonston 21) and another way is by visiting the country as a tourist but never leaving or attempting to gain official citizenship. While these processes of illegal entrance into the United States all come with risks of deportation, the most pressing issue surrounding many contemporary debates about illegal immigration concerns those who are willing to risk their lives to get into the United States and who come at great peril.
The U.S. and Mexico border is one of the most dangerous and risky crossing zones in the United States due to the harsh conditions of the dry desert and the long fence that seals it off from the border of the United States. Estimates concerning the number of deaths that occur due the extreme heat of the day in this region are quite inconsistent and difficult to find with any regularity in the projected numbers (Edmonston 107). Still, it is known that many Mexicans succumb to the heat and lack of water during their trip and that at night, the temperatures can drop below freezing in the very same area. Mexican citizens with enough money and who are female, have children along with them, or are otherwise unwilling or unable to make the dangerous trek across the desert often hire smugglers at great cost to get them through border security and in the United States. These smugglers pack as many immigrants into one small space as possible at one time to make their risk worth it and this is also a leading cause of death among illegal immigrants crossing the border. There are many things that can go wrong when being smuggled and there have been reports throughout the years of car crashes in which immigrants were found dead in mangled vans and other reports of smuggled immigrants suffocating due to a lack of oxygen in their containers. This is indeed one of the riskiest journeys, but is not the only dangerous physical border crossing.
In addition to the border with Mexico and the high risks involved with illegal border crossing there, other countries contribute vastly to the population of illegal immigrants in the United States. “Two Caribbean countries, Cuba and the Dominican Republic, today stand as among the top ten countries of origin of foreign-born residents of the United States. The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) estimates that 105,000 Haitians, 75,000 Dominicans, and 50,000 Jamaicans reside in the United States without legal authorization” (Haines 273). While Haines and other scholars note that of illegal immigrants from non-European nations, those from Caribbean nations are more likely to have stayed over working Visas, there are still a large number who cross into port cities such as Miami, Florida on small and dangerous boats, some of which are handmade and not seaworthy. “In one case, forty Dominicans died as their vessel was flooded and captains familiar with illegal immigration routes talk of human bones littering the shoals and inlets between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and the United States” (Haines 350).
While those illegal immigrants who overstay their Visas or continue to live in the country after their legal ability to do so has expired face possible short jail time and oftentimes certain deportation, this is a much less risky form of illegal immigration. The most deadly and personally risky efforts to enter the United States illegally involve physical attempts to cross into borders. “Subsequent to U.S. Border Patrol efforts to control illegal immigration throughout the 1990s, concern arose over an apparent increase in deaths of illegal migrants as they began to take more treacherous routes to enter the United States” (Guerette 245). These deaths continue, especially now as immigration, particularly as it exists in Texas, Arizona, California, and other border states grows even more strict.
In all of the policy-making and large amounts of funding that goes into erecting physical border markers and deterrents that prevent illegal immigration, the one element is ignored is the reasoning behind such great personal risks simply to move to another country. It has been suggested that “The numerous deaths of immigrants are ostensibly by-products of the inability of administrators to understand the complexity of economic destabilization that forces people to migrate across barren deserts” (Bejarano 269). As it stands, economic reasons are one of the main reasons cited by most scholars for why those, especially from Latin American nations, risk their lives. They are often coming to the United States to work in unskilled labor positions for minimum (or under) wage. This is because the economy of Mexico is so disproportionate to that of its northern neighbor that for one Mexican illegal immigrant to make it, get a job, and work for week—the same amount of money for the same amount work could take almost six months to generate in Mexico (Bejarano 271). In short, the main motivator is simple economic need. While social and political freedoms are also a reason cited by illegal immigrants who enter because they are oppressed in their home country and are seeking relative freedom from polical or social persecution, this is not the majority of reasons cited, although is certainly worth noting.
Some whom have argued against current policies in the United States suggest that the only way to prevent deaths incurred during illegal crossing is “through liberalization of immigration policy and relaxing of border security” (Guerette 246) but that this is becoming more impossible because of still-heightened concerns following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2006. There needs to be more agreement on a balanced solution that integrates notions of national security with basic human compassion but with two sides that are so diametrically opposed to one another, this seems impossible. Until greater awareness of how risk and reason are related and drive so many to undergo perilous journeys for reasons most Americans have a difficult time relating to, the current situation of thousands dying in boats or in deserts will continue just as others will be deported.
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References
Bejarano, Cynthia L. “Senseless deaths and holding the line. Criminology 6.2 (2007), 267-274.
Edmonston, Barry, and National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on National Statistics, National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Population. Statistics on U.S. Immigration: An Assessment of Data Needs for Future Research. Washington D.C.: National Academies Press, 1996.
Gathmann, Christina. “Effects of enforcement on illegal markets: Evidence from migrant smuggling along the southwestern border.” Journal of Public Economics 92.10-11 (2008), 1926-1941
Guerette, Rob T. “Immigration policy, border security, and migrant deaths: an impact evaluation of life-saving efforts under the border safety initiative. Criminology & Public Policy [No Volume/Issue] (2007), 245-266.
Haines, David, and Karen Elaine Rosenblum. Illegal Immigration in the United States. New York: Greenwood Publishing, 2005.
]]>It is often said that America is a nation of immigrants (Public Agenda n.p.), and that the common thread that binds Americans together is the fact of their diverse ancestry. From the earliest days of the nation, people from other lands overcame obstacles and dangers to leave the countries of their birth and to make a new home here. Over time, however, as the nation became populated, the rate of migration continued unabated and the generations of people who were born here and who called themselves Americans began to grow concerned about immigration policy. First and second generation Americans clamored for the imposition of policies that would control the flow of immigration so that resources would not be depleted (Daniels 45).
Quotas began to be introduced and policies for determining priority immigrant groups were developed and implemented (Daniels 45). As the United States developed a more selective schema for determining immigrants’ eligibility for admissions as temporary residents on a path to permanent residency of citizenship, the incidence of illegal immigration increased exponentially (Green & Ciobannu 1203), creating new problems in the phenomenon of migration and relocation. Today, Americans are sharply divided in their opinions about immigration, but regardless of the positions they advocate, most Americans agree that immigration reform is needed (Massey 113).
Americans acknowledge that the history of the country revolves around stories of immigration and even the most staunch opinions support this. Many Americans are proud of the country’s diversity and its willingness to hold open the “golden doorway” of opportunity to the people of the world (Daniels 3). As more foreigners took advantage of the invitation to pass the threshold of the golden doorway, however, immigration policy became more restrictive and those who once had a more or less open license to enter the United States were finding it increasingly difficult to do so because of ever-mounting bureaucratic restrictions. By 1882, an increasingly narrow policy of “successive exclusions” criteria were applied, followed by the determination of quotas, which were intended to control the flow of immigrants (Daniels 3). The policies were also intended to manage the kinds of immigrants who were entering the country so that people deemed “inferior” or otherwise incapable of self-reliance would be screened out, thereby preventing an excessive burden on the American social welfare system (Daniels 3). The increased control did not diminish immigrants’ desire to pass through the golden door, however. By the turn of the century, a steady stream of immigrants was devising ways to enter the country illegally (Daniels 17). The immigration debate was in full swing, as Americans and immigrants who gained legal admission to the country began to complain that illegal entrants circumvented proper legal channels, thereby depriving others of their rightful opportunities (Haerens 22).
The problems and debates about illegal immigration have changed little in the century since the exclusion criteria were first implemented (O’Callaghan 1747). Citizens and legal immigrants continue to complain that illegal immigrants threaten the safety and stability of the country because they do not go through proper legal processes in order to validate their residency. Anti-immigration critics contend that illegal immigrants want to enjoy the full benefits of being American without assuming the full responsibilities that are also part of being American. While the argument may be credible, what is problematic is that the argument is often made without evidence provided to substantiate the claim. Instead, opinions are charged by fear, anxiety, and even hatred (Chandler & Tsai 177).
Often, critics of illegal immigration overlook just how integral undocumented migrants have become to the functioning of American society. Far from being a drain on the country’s resources, which are always perceived as limited, undocumented migrants actually perform work that many educated Americans and even unskilled workers are unwilling to perform. Furthermore, by working for lower wages but performing high quality or high volume, it has been argued that undocumented migrants actually stimulate the economy, though the full extent to which they do so may not be able to be measured quantitatively.
Other unsubstantiated allegations abound in the current debate about illegal immigration. One popular argument against illegal immigrants is that these individuals are somehow more prone to violence or social impropriety when compared to legal immigrants or American citizens. Yet one must consider the logical argument that most undocumented individuals do not want to be discovered, for fear of deportation, and thus are actually more inclined to behave in a manner according to the law, lest they lose the opportunities they perceive are available to them in the United States. Another characteristic of the debate about illegal immigration is that many facts that contribute to the phenomenon of illegal border crossing and relocation are simply overlooked altogether.
The debate about illegal immigration often fails to consider the macro reasons why people are crossing the border, and what kind of responsibility the United States may have with respect to correcting larger scale social problems, both here and abroad. It is inconceivable that illegal immigrants cross the border merely because they want to flaunt American laws. Instead, it is far more plausible that people who have been unable to secure immigration legally are crossing to work and have bread on their table and future opportunities for their families in a place better than the developing country they may be coming from. Americans, both those born here and those naturalized as citizens, are fortunate to have enough food, water, and opportunities to advance and fulfill the promise of the pursuit of happiness.
Every country has the right to protect its borders, but in doing so, it can not violate or destroy the fundamental ideals upon which that country was founded. Nor can the country violate human rights in securing its borders. The policies of immigration have become so restrictive that many individuals see no recourse but to enter the country illegally. Immigration policy reform is drastically needed, but the policy remedies must come from within. We can not look east or west or solutions, for no other country was established with the express ideal of being a country of immigrants. Nor can policy be crafted in the intense emotionalism of the current debate.
We must guard ourselves from those emotions that cloud our sense of fairness, emotions which obscure the country’s history and promote anti-immigration sentiment that precludes us from understanding reasons why people migrate. Finally, a fair and just immigration policy must take into account the undocumented immigrants who are already here. These people contribute inestimably to the national economy that to exclude them from a path to citizenship would not only be unfair, but would also threaten the very stability of the country’s economy. In order to deal with illegal immigration in an effective manner, the history of immigration and the contemporary dynamics must be examined in context, with reason and without emotion.
Works Cited
Chandler, Charles R., and Yung-mei Tsai. “Social Factors Influencing Immigration Attitudes: An Analysis of Data from the General Social Survey.” The Social Science Journal 38.2 (2001): 177-188.
Daniels, Roger. Guarding the Golden Door: American Immigration Policy and Immigrants Since 1882. New York: Hill & Wang.
Green, Thomas C., and Ileana M. Ciobanu. “Deputizing—and Then Prosecuting—America’s Businesses in the Fight Against Illegal Immigration.” American Criminal Law Review 43.3 (2006): 1203.
Haerens, Margaret. Illegal Immigration. Chicago: Greenhaven.
Massey, Douglas S. “Would Tighter Border Security Curb Illegal Immigration?” CQ Researcher 18.5 (2008): 113.
O’Callaghan, Erin M. “Expedited Removal and Discrimination in the Asylum Process: The of Humanitarian Aid as a Political Tool.” William and Mary Law Review 43.4 (2002): 1747.
Public Agenda. “Immigration: Discussion Guides.” 3 March 2008 http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/debate.cfm?issue_type=immigration
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