Rape case may boost immigration reform

Rockville — underscores the frustration of many US citizens with the nation’s broken immigration system.

Often, immigrants who follow the rules are penalized by strict rules, while those who enterthecountryillegallysimply melt into the community of 11 million illegal migrants.

Proponents of tougher immigration laws say the issue represents a breakdown of law and order, that it is important for the sake of national security to know who is entering the country, and that illegal migrants bring down wages in certain industries, such as construction.

But opponents of Trump’s immigration stance argue that undocumented immigrants provide labor for tough jobs that US citizens do not want to do.

“Trump allies are using the Rockville case to make the argument that undocumented immigrants pose a danger to Americans. They claim this example illustrates broader dangers to America,” said Darrell West, vice-president and directorofgovernancestudies of the Brookings Institution.

“People who worry about immigrant crime already are Trump supporters. It is doubtful this crime will shift undecided voters,” he said.

Still, Trump supporters are outraged about the crime, and that may give leverage to Trump over lawmakers to push his immigration policies through Congress, some analysts said.

Trump has said he would build a wall along the USMexico border to keep illegal migrants out of the country.