Stricter control of the border between the United States and Mexico was implemented to curb illegal immigration, but it also made illegal immigrants more likely to stay in the United States for longer periods of time, because frequent border crossings became both dangerous and costly. The increase in the number of illegal immigrants who stayed permanently or semi-permanently is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A latent function is an unintended consequence of a social institution or action. In this case, the stricter control of the border had the intended manifest function of curbing illegal immigration, but the unintended consequence was that it made it more difficult and costly for illegal immigrants to cross back and forth, leading many to stay in the US for longer periods of time.

Stricter Control of the Border Between the United States and Mexico