Cause–Effect Pairing:\nI) The United States is contemplating stricter immigration laws.\nII) The unemployment rate in the United States has been rising steadily for many years.

Introduction / Context:
Policy proposals often respond to labor-market conditions. The problem asks whether rising unemployment plausibly drives contemplation of stricter immigration rules.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• II) Unemployment has been rising steadily in recent years.
• I) Policymakers consider tightening immigration law.
• Public debates frequently link labor slack to calls for protective labor and immigration policies.

Concept / Approach:
We evaluate whether II provides a political-economic rationale for I. In many contexts, higher unemployment increases pressure to prioritize domestic employment opportunities, motivating stricter immigration stances.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Identify driver: elevated joblessness → political demand for labor protection.2) Identify response: contemplate stricter immigration to reduce perceived competition for jobs.3) Conclude II → I.

Verification / Alternative check:
Past cycles show immigration discourse intensifies during labor downturns, supporting II as cause.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
(a) reverses causality; (c)/(d) ignore a consistent historical linkage; “None” is not applicable.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing contemplation of policy (proposal stage) with actual outcomes; the causal direction remains from unemployment trends to policy consideration.

Final Answer:
Statement II is the cause; Statement I is its effect.