Perhaps the most controversial issue in American politics today is whether amnesty should be granted to those who entered the country illegally the country to work or who work after overstaying in the country. -work visa. Amnesty would mean these residents would have the same rights and protections as U.S. citizens and would not be deported. Black's Law Dictionary defines amnesty as “a pardon granted by the government to a group or class of people, usually for a political offense; the act of a sovereign power officially pardoning certain categories of persons who are subject to trial but who have not yet been convicted” (Black's Law Dictionary: “Amnesty”, p. 99). For those present in the country illegally, amnesty would mean they would no longer be subject to deportation and could be prosecuted or eligible for prosecution, while also making them eligible for work and public assistance. Opponents of a blanket amnesty for illegal residents will also mention how it sets a bad precedent that encourages more illegal immigration and also another bad precedent: a very public signal to those who have profited from breaking our laws simply for political purposes. that the new eligibility for government benefits constitutes a key argument against granting such an amnesty. A Heritage Foundation study estimated that people granted amnesty would pay about $3 trillion in taxes over their lifetime, but would then receive more than $9 trillion in benefits from the government – a difference of more than $6 trillion (Rector & Richwine, 2014). ). . This deficit will be financed by other American taxpayers – the rest of us. Considering the federal deficit is expected to reach...... middle of paper ...... Again. Washington Post. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/14/AR2006091401179.html Paletta, D. (April 14, 2014). CBO estimates U.S. deficit will decline more than expected in 2014. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303887804579501563800875216Plumer, B. (January 30, 2013). Congress tried to fix immigration in 1986. Why did it fail? Washington Post: Wonkblog. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/01/30/in-1986-congress-tried-to-solve-immigration-why-didnt-it-work/Rector, R ., Richwine, J. (2013) Heritage Foundation Special Report No. 133 on Immigration: The Fiscal Cost of Illegal Immigrants and Amnesty to the American Taxpayer. ^ http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/05/the-fiscal-cost-of-unlawful-immigrants-and-amnesty-to-the-us-taxpayer