Immigration Policies in America The United States immigration system is broken. The current policies we have are no longer working effectively. Many natural born Americans do not even understand the system. As American citizens, we need to be informed of not only the immigration policies we currently have, but we need to be informed about all of the policies our country has in place. Regardless of how we earned our citizenship, immigration policies still affect us. We must be aware of the problems that lie within the current system in order to improve the system in the future. 2016 is an election year, and it is vital for voting citizens to be aware of the immigration system, as it is a substantial issue among the candidates. While some characterize …show more content…
The first is the preference system; the preference system is the system of annual quotas and preferences that governs how relatives of US citizens and lawful permanent residents immigrate. This system forces immigrants to face a dilemma: follow the law and wait years until the family can be reunited or find a way to be together, even if it means breaking the law. The second major structural problem is the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA). This highly restrictive policy framework established by IIRIRA treats immigration as a liability rather than as an asset that offers mutual opportunity. Rational and realistic immigration reforms cannot be achieved without dismantling this punitive policy foundation. The final structural problem within the immigration policy is the treatment of it as purely a domestic issue. The United States persists in regarding immigration as a matter for domestic regulation, with no regard for the realities of global and regional integration. Human migration is driven by intertwined factors that include armed conflicts, environmental degradation, economic supply and demand, and cultural integration. A policy approach that recognizes the root causes of migration will lead the U.S. and its allies around the world to a truly humane way of managing human migration flows in the …show more content…
Radical Islam is a substantial issue in our world today, and the fear is realistic for American people. It is not only terrorists that pose a threat, it is also drug lords. Drugs are becoming an epidemic in America. Smugglers bring deadly drugs into our country everyday. Along with that, illegal immigrants come into our country and commit crimes. When that happens, the court systems have to decide how to treat the criminal. If an illegal immigrant comes into our country and commits a crime, they should not be treated as an American citizen. If they are a citizen of another country, they should be treated how they would be in that country. They do not get the automatic rights we Americans are so fortunate to have. If they are not an American citizen, why should they be treated like one? Ultimately, the immigration system is beyond repair. The current system hurts families, communities and our economy. Congress needs to adopt a reform policy that secures borders and provides a path to citizenship for the millions of people who dream of becoming an American citizen. Hopefully, the new president, whoever that may be, will bring a new immigration plan that will secure America's borders once again and bring back the attainable American
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.
Illegal immigration has been an ongoing problem in America for many decades. The form of law that currently governs the immigration process is, the Immigration and Naturalization Act, and it has been broken for many years as immigrants still continue to pour into the states illegally. The immigration acts enacted in the past that have been continuously modified leads up to the current policy that falls under the Incrementalism model. However, it is important to note that the current American Immigration system is broken and is in dire need of reform. There are 11 million people living in the dark and too many employers cheating the system by hiring undocumented workers in exchange for offering lesser pay. The current system is hurting the economy and bringing down our country as a whole.
“What makes someone American isn’t just blood or birth but allegiance to our founding principles and faith in the idea that anyone from anywhere can write the next chapter of our story.” - President Barack Obama. The United States is the melting pot of the world. The great country of American was built on immigration. Look around, so many people have ancestor that risked everything to come to the United States to make something of their lives, and the lives of their children. If it weren’t for immigration, we may not be where we are today. Immigration reform is the term used in political discussion regarding changes to current immigration policy of a country (Immigration Reform, para. 2). In 2013 the Senate passed the immigration reform bill that would give a path to citizenship to the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. If the government passed Immigration Reform there would be many benefits to our economy, and to the individuals looking for a better future. For example, immigration increases the efficiency of the U.S. economy, it enables entrepreneurs to come to America, it brings increased national security, and immigration reform can reduce the deficit (Furchtgott-Roth, 4
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...
Immigrating to the United States in not a simple process. Millions immigrate to America but many millions more are denied a visa or forced to cross the border illegally because of the limited number of applicants that the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, now a department of Homeland Security, provides as well as the extremely stringent process that is imposed upon migrating applicants. Even getting a simple tourist visa can be a tiring ordeal and beyond reach of most foreign citizens who are not wealthy. This results in numbers of people who are forced to look for other means such as resorting to coyotes, people who smuggle people into America, or corporate coyotes, "executives who would sanction the smuggling of illegal immigrants" (Talton). In the last decade the attitude towards migration, especially in the Southwest, has worsened as many Americans blame illegal immigrants for causing economic hardships and fear diversification to American culture. "Immigrants, particularly so-called 'illegal' immigrants and their children, were represented as depleting both California's fiscal and natural resources" (Lindsley p. 176). The downside is that many Americans have required that fewer immigrants be admitted as well as imposing a more stringent application process and a return to a quota system based on one's national origins. The current system, after the Immigration Reform Act of 1965, created a process where visas are issued on a first come, first served basis that promotes allowing the immigration of family members (Small p. 52).
“They are willing to sell themselves in order to find a better life for themselves or
There are currently 11.7 million immigrants living in the U.S. The United States is now again being named the land of immigrants. The new century has been introduced to the illegal immigrant. They are desperate to get into the American culture and are forced to disobey the laws of government to assimilate themselves in America. People come over because they have family, jobs or want a better life. This may cause some problems for Americans. Certain Americans believe immigration will cause the economy to drop, drop to wages, and job loss due to cheap labor, etc. But no one has thought of a solution for immigration that will work effectively.
The United States has often been referred to as a global “melting pot” due to its assimilation of diverse cultures, nationalities, and ethnicities. In today’s society, this metaphor may be an understatement. Between 1990 and 2010, the number of foreign born United States residents nearly doubled from 20 million to 40 million, increasing the U.S. population from almost 250 million to 350 million people. With U.S. born children and grandchildren of immigrants, immigration contributed to half of this population growth. These immigrants, consisting of mostly Asian and Hispanic backgrounds, have drastically changed the composition of the U.S. population. In 2010, Asians and Hispanics made up 20 percent of the U.S. population, in contrast to a 6 percent share of Asians and Hispanics in 1970. It is predicted that by 2050, the share of immigrants in the United States will increase to one half of the entire population. With this rapid increase in diversity, many citizens have opposing views on its impact on the United States. In my opinion, an increase in immigration does contain both positive and negatives effects, but in general it provides an overriding positive influence on America’s society (“Population”).
Immigration is the greatest part of American history. In the beginning, Immigrants brought a vast variety of cultures and beliefs and turned America in to the beauty it is today. Immigrants are still doing this. However, the issue with immigration can be it 's illegal status. Many undocumented immigrants are entering this country causing questions among the American citizens. Rather than asking if this is right or wrong, a solution can be found. Illegal immigrants come here for a purpose and can be helped with this purpose. Most come fleeing persecution, although some come here for more demented reasons. Those, illegal immigrants will be done away with. However, Those immigrants who come here for pure reasons need to be taken Care of in proper
...e private sector to find new growth opportunities and create new jobs. Furthermore, America always has been, and always will be a country of immigrants. Despite that rich tradition, Congress has not updated the country’s immigration policies in three decades. However, Congress now has an opportunity to fix the immigration system and improve the economic well-being of all Americans. Failure to address the issue will have severe consequences for America’s future and well-being, and that is why how America reforms the immigration system will determine its future. The current immigration system is outdated, broken, and reveals that Comprehensive Immigration Reform is urgently needed, and is good for America’s workers and the economy. Despite the claims, complaints and the resistance of many, Americans should welcome, accept and support Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants, legal and illegal, from around the world, come to the United States. These immigrants come because they want a chance at a better life; others are refugees, escaping persecution and civil wars in their home country. Many people believe the United States is the best place to go. There is more freedom, protection, and benefits, which seems like a good deal to immigrants. But the large number of immigration is affecting the current citizens of the United States. Taxpayers are forced to pay for the welfare and schooling for many of these immigrants, some who are illegal aliens. Some citizens believe that immigration can be hazardous to the environment. Others blame crime, poverty, and overpopulation on immigration. About sixty-eight million immigrants have been added to the United States since 1970, and it is estimated that 130 million people will be added over the next fifty years. The government has tried somewhat to restrict immigration but the laws are still too lenient. Nearly every other advanced country in the world is moving quickly towards stabilized population or has already achieved it. The United States is moving towards it very slowly. This country would have to reduce immigration down to 255,000 a year to do this (Beck 1). If nothing is done to stabilize the immigration to this country, what will become of population in the next decade? The population will continue to grow even faster - not due to births, but to massive immigration to this country. Immigration can become a serious problem to this country if the government does not produce stricter laws.
Illegal immigration was an issue in the past and is a pressing problem in the present. The U.S. Government has been trying to find a resolution to this issue for years. The United States approved the Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986, which allowed the American Government to punish American companies that consciously employed illegal immigrants (Nadadur 1037-1052). The United States’ Government Immigration Reform and Control Act has been unsuccessful in controlling illegal immigration. It is estimated that illegal immigration into the U.S. has a yearly interval of three hundred fifty thousand people (Rousmaniere 24-25). It is apparent that the 1986 act was not able to keep a handle on illegal immigration. Illegal immigration continues due to the fact that immigrants only take the jobs available to them, which in turn helps support the United States’ economy, so measures should not be taken to halt immigration.
From the beginning of the United States, immigrants have always played an integral role. The nation itself was built on immigration, whether to escape persecution or war; however, the United States, as it progressed has had instances where immigrant groups have had issues assimilating into society whether due to the political wave running through the nation or from an economic depression. One group, that has been experiencing this difficulty assimilating into society has been Mexicans who have, since the beginning of the 1960’s, have been coming over in droves to escape the poverty, corruption, and drugs that run rampant in Mexico. So, although the United States was established on immigration, the United States has had an issue with the incoming
Immigration is a very hot topic in the United States right now because many people believe that the immigration system is broken and needs fixing. On November 20th 2014 President Obama announced his executive action to fix our broken immigration system. The executive action will have two key components. The first is it would offer a legal reprieve to undocumented parents of United States citizens who have been in the country for at least five years. This would remove any threat that they have for deportation and could also allow them to get work permits. The second key component is it will expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that allows immigrants who are under the age of 30 who arrived in the United States as a
However, with such a large number of foreigners who want to be an American, the rules and regulations have intensified since our great grandparents. There are two different types of illegal immigrants, and knowing these two distinctively different types of illegal immigrants is of great importance. First, are immigrants that travel to our country legally with a visa or green card but stay as their visas expire. The other illegal immigrant is when a person illegally trespasses our border without asking for permission from the government and lives here. The first type of immigrants are much easier to track and incarcerate because of the fact that the government already knows that they are in the country.