Illegal Immigration - Pop Up to Save America

​Main Question:
How should the U.S. respond to rising tensions surrounding illegal immigration, especially in light of recent unrest like the Los Angeles riots?

​Subquestions:

1. ​Did public anger over illegal immigration play a meaningful role in fueling the LA riots, or is that a political overreach?
   Some protesters cited frustrations with perceived government inaction on border enforcement, especially after the LAPD released statistics showing a 12% rise in arrests of undocumented individuals tied to property crimes in the first quarter of 2025. Conservative media linked this to growing public unrest, though official reports did not identify immigration as the primary cause of the riots.

2. ​Should sanctuary cities reconsider their policies if they contribute to perceived lawlessness or strain on public resources?
   Los Angeles is one of over 100 U.S. sanctuary jurisdictions. Critics argue these policies limit coordination with ICE and contribute to overcrowded shelters and social services — LA reported a 28% rise in emergency housing requests from undocumented migrants over the past year.

3. ​What kind of immigration enforcement — if any — actually reduces violence without inflaming community tensions?
   Studies from the Urban Institute and Cato Foundation have shown that aggressive ICE raids correlate with temporary dips in crime reporting by immigrants, but not long-term drops in crime rates. Some cities have seen success with community policing models that focus on violent offenders, regardless of immigration status.