Other countries see the United States as a land of opportunity and freedom. Because of this, Americans should be honored and willing to share their concept of freedom and equality with others. Instead, immigrants are forced to jump through hoops and struggle with red tape in hopes of experiencing American life. Currently, this hyped preconception is causing the immigration rate to become out of hand. With the illegal immigrate population growing by over 300,000 annually, it has developed into a national controversy. Like pouring sugar into a cup of coffee: some people don’t want any at all, while others think “the more the merrier”. This rift between parties will only be bridged by implementing a new, reformed immigration policy that incorporates the best of both worlds. With a controlled and balanced inflow of people, immigration can be an important asset to the American workforce. With this in mind, it’s arrogant to think that the greatest minds of the world were born with U.S. citizenship, and even more so to believe that the induction of those people into the proper positions would not boost America’s economy. However, the current state of the country …show more content…
In a like manner, it’s helpful to turn the water off before replacing a busted pipe. With this intention, the Department of Homeland Security should implement techniques that would give them a sense of situational awareness concerning illegal activity around the border (H.R. 15). Further, this would continue to aid in the oversight of immigration even once the incorporation of immigrates into American society has been restored. In addition, borders and ports should utilize an accurate entry-exit system to restrict access to unauthorized people trying to enter the country (H.R. 15). Moreover, the system’s strict admittance procedure would further diminish the likelihood of a domestic terrorist
The United States’ government instilled a closed door policy with the creation of many immigration laws in an effort to make America a melting pot of similar ethnicities. However, the prejudice of American society that was enforced by immigration policy forced immigrants to form their own communities for the purpose of survival and protection, turning America into a mosaic of different cultures. The Burlingame Treaty of 1868 and Naturalization Act of 1870 both created a false image of acceptance for immigrants while simultaneously restricting immigration. The United States’ government only began clearly restricting immigration with the Page Act of 1875 and Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
The United States of America has the largest foreign-born population in the world. With nearly thirteen percent of the total population being foreign-born, one may find it hard to imagine an immigrant-free country (U.S. Bureau of the Census). Immigration has been an integral part of the United States’ overall success and the country’s economy since it was established and without it, would have never been founded at all. Although there are some negative issues associated with immigration and many native-born Americans believe to be more of a problem than a solution, overall it actually has a positive effect. Immigrants in America, among other things, fill jobs where native-born Americans may not want to work or cannot work, they contribute to Social Services and Medicaid through taxes and they help provide the backbone of America, especially by working jobs that natives may have not even considered.
It has been nearly three decades since the last time Congress reformed our immigration system. From the Reagan era to the Obama administration, the country has undergone financial, social and political changes yet our immigration policies continue to be the same. Since the implementation of the last immigration reform in 1986, the United States government has spent nearly $187 billion ($220 billion when adjusted to 2013 dollars) in immigration enforcement agencies and programs alone (Meissner, Kerwin, Muzaffar & Bergeron, 2013). The high costs and the increasing public concern has led Americans to recognize the brokenness of our current immigration system and how it has not kept up with changing times. Research has shown 71% of Americans say undocumented immigrants should have a pathway to remain in the country legally (Pew Research Center, 2013). Although Congress and the White House have had numerous failed attempts to pass immigration reform in the past, H.R. 15 proposes an updated bipartisan system that can further secure the borders and solve problems surrounding immigration (Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, 2013.
Did you know that according to the American Community Survey, that the immigrant population was more than 43.3 million in 2015? Many people come to the United States to pursue in a life of liberty, opportunity, equality, rights, and democracy. Throughout history, the United States has done a poor job in living up to these five ideals. Today, we still have trouble in upholding these ideals that our nation was founded on.
Immigration has always and will always be an essential part of America’s demographic and cultural diversity. Our country was founded on the immigration of Europeans to the New World; without them our nation would not be as advanced as it is today. Over the past three centuries, America’s immigration policies have evolved, both positively and negatively. Although we are moving forward, several episodes in our country’s immigration policy have targeted and attacked certain ethnic or cultural groups. Throughout America there is disparity regarding attitudes toward immigrants. Policies fluctuate throughout the entire country, different states, and even major cities. As the United States moves forth, it is vital that we remember how crucial immigrants
The United States cannot afford to lose the economic gains that come from immigrant labor. The economy would be suffering a greater loss if it weren’t for immigrants and their labor contributions, especially during the 2008 U.S. recession. The U.S. economy would most likely worsen if it weren’t for the strong labor force immigrants have provided this country. Despite the mostly negative views native-born Americans have towards immigrants and the economy, their strong representation in the labor forces continues today. Immigrants aren’t taking “American” jobs, they are taking the jobs that Americans don’t want (Delener & Ventilato, 2008). Immigrants contribute to various aspects of the economy, including brining valuable skills to their jobs, contributing to the cost of living through taxes, and the lacked use of welfare, healthcare, and social security when compared to native-born Americans, showing that the United States cannot afford to lose the contribution immigrants bring into the economy.
Most of the United States (U.S) is comprised of immigrants—including those who have migrated to the States from another country and those whose ancestors freely travelled to the States in search of a fresh start. Every year, the U.S. grants a limited number of people around the world the opportunity to immigrate to the States each year. As a result of the restriction, citizens from neighboring countries cross the border illegally. According to an article by Jens Manuel Krogstad, 11.3 million unauthorized immigrants reside in the U.S. in 2014. This whopping number has stirred controversy both politically and economically for America’s government officials. As a result, many people argue whether illegal immigrants should or should not be aided
For over ten years, efforts to make changes to the United States immigration system have been put aside due to wars, attacks within our homeland and even worldwide financial crisis but it seems as though this being brought up more and more often. The history of the US immigration policy was more concerned with immigration enforcement over immigration reform. It was not until a few years ago that the US citizens voted they were tired of enforcement-only immigration policies and the pain they caused on immigrant families. So most feel now is the time to draw up new immigration laws that reflect American values and beliefs, and it ne...
In 2007, the White House issued this statement in hopes to influence a Congressional debate: “Immigration has a positive effect on the American economy as a whole and on the income of native-born American workers” (Pear). This statement relates to the idea that immigrants actually enhance the productivity of American workers and increase their earnings in a significant amount, estimated at $37 billion a year (Pear). This is just one way in which immigrants support economic development in the United States. Since the U.S. is an i...
However, an increase in the number of immigrants to the United States will actually increase the number of jobs provided for people who need them. This is explained through the idea that jobs are not divided up among people in the form of having a fixed number of jobs specifically balanced to fit the number of American workers. By analyzing the effect of immigrants on the economy over the past two-hundred years, we can see that as the number of immigrants increased, the bigger the economy got, which therefore created more jobs. Immigration reform will boost demand for goods and services, which in return, means more demand for labor and more jobs for American workers. Immigrants are ambitious because they have gone through many hardships and overcome many risks to reach life in the United States. This personality trait is so important to speed up the growth of the economy. Their ambition is also an explanation of why immigrant children are more successful in earning their college degree compared to children who are native-born Americans. Immigrant children are also more likely to have an income higher than the income of their parents. Immigration reform will make it easier for entrepreneurs to come here and start businesses, creating good jobs for American workers. Reform will make it easier for highly skilled immigrants and those educated in the U.S. colleges and universities to work right here in America, developing the new technologies and innovative processes that make our economy more productive and more competitive. A highly skilled workforce in a more productive economy increases the rate of return for businesses and companies who invest in the United States of America, which leads to more investment in the future and a dramatic increase in
Malanga, Steven. How Unskilled Immigrants Hurt Our Economy. 13 May 2006. The Manhattan Institute. 10 May 2010, .
America is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our largely open-door policy toward accepting foreigners pursuing their vision of the American Dream. Recently, there has been a clamor by some politicians and citizens toward creating a predominantly closed-door policy on immigration, arguing that immigrants "threaten" American life by creating unemployment by taking jobs from American workers, using much-needed social services, and encroaching on the "American way of life." While these arguments may seem valid to many, they are almost overwhelmingly false, and more than likely confused with the subject of illegal immigration. In fact, immigrants actually enhance American life by creating, not taking jobs, bolster social service funds through tax payments, and bring valuable technical knowledge and skills to our country. If we are to continue to excel as a nation, the traditionalists who fear an encroachment of foreign-born Americans must learn to accept that we achieved our greatness as a result of being "a nation of immigrants."
In my ENC 1101 class, we were required to go through several of processes to map out the formula of writing our final assignment in our class: a synthesis essay. The most imperative part of our assignment was to choose a synthesis essay question on a list that our professor gave us. The second most vital ingredient in the formula was to choose two texts from our Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing book which would be the backbone of our synthesis essay that we would have to expand on and create our own ideas from. The question that I choose to further my vague knowledge on immigration was: "What should the United States do to make progress in solving the problem of undocumented immigration?" The texts and ideas that I write about to answer my synthesis question are within this essay. Moreover, the two texts I choose to go into depth to seek out possible answers to my synthesis question are 'The Global Immigration Problem' by Victor Davis Hanson, and 'Immigration Frenzy Points out Need for Policy Debate' by Byron Williams. The main subjects of both these articles are of course about immigration which paints the many complexities and sides that the immigration conflict poses. Re-reading and thinking of the authors ideas on the issue have caused my standpoint on immigration to develop into a more credible and deeper opinion, which was my goal as soon as I saw the list of synthesis questions I was required to choose from. Also, due to the fact of living in a community filled with immigrants, my interest in immigration was a no-brainer for me.
America is a federal republic with world’s oldest federation. Immigration has held a major role in shaping this nation. It has been greatly affected by immigration and is still getting affected due to which the country has very strict immigration laws. America is basically represented by English-language-only legislation, whereas the nation has had immigrants from all different countries, most of them couldn’t speak English. Immigration laws has affected the natives as well as immigrants in this country. These strict immigrant laws has major effects on people’s lives and their career (especially on legal immigrants). For people who want to live or do their business in U.S, they become the victims of these laws although they chose the legal and righteous way to do that. Most people aren’t able to make it to the U.S. visa they want. They have to wait for many years sometimes. That suffering is caused to them because of the people who chose wrong path to get settled in America. So, the solution to the problem is that the legal immigrants should not suffer because of the undocumented immigrants and there should be some amendments in the laws so that people choosing impeccable ways to follow their dreams should be given some relaxation. The U.S. immigration laws should be made little bit lenient without jeopardizing the safety of the nation.
While immigration for our country is good, the ability to become a legal citizen has become insanely hard, therefore leading immigrants to illegally cross our border, which negatively impacts our country. Immigration is positive for our country’s economy, although illegal immigration is negatively impacting our country. Resolved to join the American way of life, a large number of outsiders have ventured to this extraordinary land to have an existence based upon “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Determined to join the American lifestyle, thousands of immigrants have journeyed to this great land to have a life based upon “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” This country’s backbone is immigration and it started when this country was made.