INTRODUCTION
In the era of cultural diversity and unprecedented levels of migration, the role of citizenship is gradually becoming somewhat contentious. In the face of increasing migration flows, neither can it remain excessively tied to individual’s nationality, nor to the place of birth. Nowadays, citizens are the ones who ‘should be treated justly by the courts, they should be able to participate as fully as they wish in the political process; they should be able to take advantage of the educational, employment, welfare and health opportunities and provisions of their state’ (Heater). In the context of immigrant integration, the essence of citizenship lies in the principle of equality and commitment. Hence, my discussion regarding the importance of citizenship will concentrate on the economic, political and psychological aspects of citizenship acquisition that strengthen immigrant integration,
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Given that these approaches are different in their very nature, the policy implications also vary significantly depending on a chosen ‘path’. In the first model, where naturalization is seen as a part of a wider and multi-dimensional process that facilitates cohesion, it is obvious that the access to citizenship is supposed to be broad and flexible (Pastor and Scoggins, 2012). A good empirical example of this approach can be found in the Canadian context primarily because the naturalization rates in this country are incredibly high and policies based on multicultural model are already in place. For instance, the residence criteria in Canada, which is only 3 years during 4 continuous years, is relatively easy to fulfill as compared to Austria’s requirement to reside in a state for at least 10 years usually without any possibility to gain dual citizenship which, conversely, is being fairly smoothly recognized in the Canadian citizenship regulations.
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.
In the U. S today, the approximated population of undocumented immigrants stands at averagely 11 million. Therefore, this has created a hot debate in Congress about the action to take over the undocumented immigrants. Those opposed to illegal immigrants suggest that, their stay in the United States effects U.S citizens on the job market negatively . In addition, illegal immigrants are viewed in certain quarters as takers in the sense that illegal immigrants benefit more from public resources than the american-born citizens of the U.S. However, the reality is that immigrants contribute positively to the U.S economy and pay significantly into the system compared to what they send back home. In addition, the contributions associated with undocumented immigrants involve sustaining the solvency of the SSTF (Social Security Trust Fund). In this sense, the use of cost benefit analysis by those supporting immigration restrictions are unfounded and do not reflect the facts on the ground (Nadadur 1037). The opponents of undocumented immigrants believe that having more undocumented immigrants in the U.S is costly; however, there are no solid reasons to prove that undocumented immigrants are a burden to the treasury. Instead, the undocumented immigrants play an important role in boosting the economy and in particular by taking up jobs those citizens perceive as demeaning because the money they earn goes back to the economy through taxes resulting from consumer spending when they send money back home.
The policies implemented by the United States to strengthen the border and enforce immigration policies have led to the abuse and profiling of undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants live in constant fear of deportation and are subjected to multiple human rights violations as they are abused, exploited and discriminated against. Immigrants are racialized and stereotyped. The US government has passed laws that discriminate against undocumented immigrants, making it harder for them to live and survive in America. These laws are due to the perception that undocumented immigrants are a burden on the US economy, but on the contrary undocumented immigrants provide an economic benefit to the US, and due to the benefit they provide society
During the 1900’s through 1950’s the United States experienced an influx of immigrants coming in from Mexico seeking employment opportunities, as many of them wanted to avoid the Mexican Revolution occurring from 1910 to 1920. Methods for arriving in the United States varied for each individual’s preference of the destination, but the means of transportation had been constant throughout. These methods of transportation consisted of contractors seeking unskilled workers willing to partake in hard labor in steel, railroad, or agriculture companies. Contractors traveled to towns close to Mexico’s boarder such as Laredo or El Paso seeking Mexicans citizens for labors. In some instances, immigrants traveled on their own will based on the advice
Immigrants were first welcomed in the late 1700s. European explorers like Walter Raleigh, Lord Baltimore, Roger William, William Penn, Francis Drake, John Smith, and others explored to the New World for religious purposes and industrial growth. The first European settlers that settled in the late 1700s were the Pilgrims. After the Pilgrims first settled in Virginia, the expansion of immigrants started. Then in 1860 to 1915, America was growing with its industries, technology, and education. America’s growing empire attracted many people from Europe. The factors that attracted many people to the American cities where job opportunities with higher income, better education, and factory production growth. As the population grew in the American
We don’t realize how hard it is for immigrant parents to get their children education, and we judge and hate on something we have never been through. I guess it’s true you never know someone’s pain unless you go through it. Not everyone has the same privileges as others, some have to work twice as hard to try to give their children an opportunity towards an education on the contrary some American families have it simpler. I not blaming people who have families who were born here or say it’s wrong, but many people tend to affront children of immigrant parents and feel like they have the equitableness to say they aren’t suitable to receive public education.
For centuries, migrating has been a life changing decision for people that choose to enter the United States in search of a better future. Therefore, immigration is the permanent residency of people that choose to move to a new country. There are debates concerning the immigrants who enter the United Stated illegally and as the daughter of immigrant parents, I am fortunate to be born in this country.
“I am not the ‘Illegal’ you think I am, and immigration is not what you think it is” Why do people cross the line illegally? there are many reasons for undocumented immigrants to cross to the united states do to the poverty in the country, high level of education in the united states, and the better opportunity of jobs. Many immigrants decide to emigrate from their country of birth to seek a new opportunity for all the family but analyze the information is not only one culture a lot of different cultures immigrant to have a better life in the united states. Undocumented immigration is a big issue in the united states because many immigrants come to live the “ American Dream”. Immigrants from all around the different country
Some countries of Latin America such as Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Panama have been experienced economic problems the past years. Since there is no way to solve that problems, people have to migrate to another country such as the US because they are looking for a better life. They pick the United States because it is one of the most stable, well organized and safe country in the world. For those reason Latinos decided to move to the US, however, moving to the US is not an easy decision to make because Americans are not familiar with Latino immigrants due to problems that they have been had with Mexicans, so Americans established many rules that make immigrants get in troubles if they do something stupid when they try to enter in
Immigrants have always been an important part of United States’ population. Each year, there are hundreds of thousands of immigrants, from all around the world, including legal and illegal, come into the United States for job opportunities, new life, or the American Dream. “Immigrants have contributed significantly to the development of the United States. During the Lincoln administration, immigrants were actually encouraged to come to America, as they were considered valuable to the development of the country.” (Soylu & Buchanan, 2013). They believe that the US will give them more freedom, protection, and opportunities, which sometimes it becomes the major issues for immigrants. That’s why “the U.S. population is becoming more racially and
Immigration has been a topic that has caused multiple discussions on why people migrate from one country to another, also how it affects both the migraters and the lands they go. Immigration is the movement from one location to another to live there permanently. This topic has been usually been associated with sociology to better explain how it affects people, cultures and societies. Sociology has three forms of thinking that are used to describe and analyze this topic. There are three forms of thinking that are used to tell and describe immigration to society; structural functionalist, symbolic interactionist, and conflict theory. Each of these theories uses different forms of thinking and rationality to describe and explain socio topics.
Today, in most cases, people don’t spend very much time thinking about why the society we live in presently, is the way it is. Most people would actually be surprised about all that has happened throughout America’s history. Many factors have influenced America and it’s society today, but one of the most profound ways was the way the “Old Immigrants” and “New Immigrants” came to America in the early to mid 1800s. The “Old Immigrants were categorized as the ones who came before 1860 and the “New Immigrants” being the ones who came between 1865 and 1920. The immigrants came to the United States, not only seeking freedom, but also education. Many immigrants also wanted to practice their religion without hindrance. What happened after the immigrants
Immigration has always been a large conflict people have faced all across the world. There are plenty of reasons why people migrate to a country, whether it may be the United States or any other particular one. Many people often come in an attempt to escape poverty, crime, or to simply have a better opportunity to better their lifestyle. Although there are people who migrate and commit severe crimes, there are others who sacrifice themselves in order to live a better life. In addition to that, I believe the government should approve new immigration laws in favor of immigrants who come to better their life and achieve their dreams.
Being able to identify with a certain group has been an issue that individuals hesitate with daily. Am I Black, are you a girl, what religion do you practice? These are all common questions that society has forced individuals to concentrate on. Should an individual have to pick a side or is it relevant to the human race to identify with any group? One may believe not, but for others having and knowing one’s own identity is important, because it is something that they have been developing their entire life. Along with how their identity influenced their life chances and their self-esteem. This can also affect how society interact with whatever identity an individual chooses to live. Which is why it was important to recognize how identifying
U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much uncertainty as to how it works. The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), the body of law governing current immigration policy, provides for an annual worldwide limit of 675,000 permanent immigrants, with certain exceptions for close family members ("How the United States Immigration System Works: A Fact Sheet"). Around the world there are so many immigrants/refugees who are in the hunt for a fitter life. Some come from places where civil war occurs or some suffer economically trying to support their family. Knowing the fact that they are desperate to seek for a better life, the best option is to migrate to the U.S, the land of opportunities. The problem lies in the migration to the U.S. What are the quotas for new immigrants arriving to the U.S? What are the eligibility requirements to becoming a permanent citizen in the U.S? With much inquiry, this topic has become very intriguing. What people must understand is that