The Neglected Responsibility of Immigration The United States Bureau of Immigration was established by act of Congress on May 28, 1924 in an effort to prevent illegal immigration into the United States United. New laws and policies were adopted, and the first 450 Border Patrol officers were assigned to patrol the U.S. borders along Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Bureau of Immigration, now known as U.S. Customs and Border Protection, has expanded significantly since it was implemented nearly a century ago, much to the inconvenience of both the American people and those seeking to immigrate, primarily along the border between the United States and Mexico. Immigration law has been revisited and revised so many times that the mazes of available information are nearly impossible to sort through and understand; there are over 1,500 immigrant-related bills in the state legislature alone. Lack of understanding about immigration law in the United States has contributed to the wave of illegal immigration which subsequently caused the number of Border Patrol agents to grow to 21,444, nearly 50 times the initial recruitment, in order to increase border protection. Although news organizations and the media at large have focused on the brutality and inhumane practices of the U.S. Border Patrol for decades, modern media has virally disseminated articles and videos about the violent, and sometimes deadly, practices of Border Patrol agents who not only have they instilled a sense of fear and resentment toward the U.S. Border Patrol and the politicians who support them, but it has led many Americans to believe that Mexican and Central American immigrants are violent and a danger to society. Decades of misunderstanding, anger and brutality could have been avoided if the laws regulated... middle of paper... and responsibly voted for or against bills related to them. If the American people can come together and work towards a better solution to immigration, then the areas of government that enforce the law will not have to work so hard. Over time, it may be possible to reduce the number of Border Patrol agents along the U.S.-Mexico border, which would reduce the amount of negative publicity related to their use of physical force. Over time, it may be possible to have a positive view of immigration because the American people have worked together to re-simplify, redefine, and enforce immigration laws and policies. Works Cited "Immigration". CQ Researcher June 15, 2013. Web. May 1, 2014. http://townhall.com/columnists/starparker/2006/04/17/se_habla_entitlement/page/full http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0414-29 .htmhttp://www.cbp.gov/