Discuss The Inadequacies Of Immigration Policy

The picture of Lady Liberty with open arms outstretched to the poor and down-trodden throughout the world is an inspiring symbol for conservative and liberal citizens of the United States of America. They are united in the desire to continue living out the Founders’ vision in the modern age. However, they are divided in their interpretation of exactly who is included within that embrace. The terminology of ‘open immigration’ sounds appealing to many residents of the USA. After all, why shouldn’t everyone be able to enter our wonderful homeland?

Not every immigrant get into the country using the legal means. There are those who get into the country on student visas and start working contrary to the visas they hold. There are others who get into the country illegally with no genuine United States visa. The immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 focusses on the matter of illegal immigration through placing major fines on the employers of those immigrants who hire them. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 allowed a number of barriers to immigration. The host family is only able accept an immigrant if it is accorded an income of about 125% of the poverty status. This Act additionally calls for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to ensure

Despite the multiple attempts at creating a well-rounded immigration reform the United States has failed to achieve the full capacity of the reform. The United States first failure at the reform was in 1986 when congress passed the “Immigration Reform and Control Act”. The purpose of this legislation was to amend, revise, and re-assess the status of unauthorized immigrants set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The content of this bill is overwhelming and is divided into many sections such as control of unauthorized immigration, legalization and reform of legal immigration.

“The American story is a story of immigration. I would be the last person who would say immigrants are not important to America.”— Phil Graham, circa 1960. This quote may be from the mid-20th century, but it keeps its significance with the everlasting controversy on immigration and immigration laws. However, this is not the only time that the United States has experienced immigration controversies. Immigration laws have had an impact on the past, as the Chinese Exclusion Act and the National Origins Act are two out of hundreds of laws that were made to limit immigration. Currently, similar laws and actions are taking place with regards to a wall on the southern border of Mexico, and the exclusion of immigration from Middle East countries. With immigration laws playing a huge part in our present, and an even larger part in our past, future laws and disputes are inevitable, and will continue to be hotly contested in the US. However, immigration laws and the discrimination against immigrants needs to change. Immigrants provide this country with an immeasurable number of benefits, and limiting immigration will only leave the United States at a disadvantage to other countries. Immigration laws have also been very controversial about their morality and their actions can outrageously impact families lives forever. The future of immigration laws is unknown, but prohibiting immigration is not the answer the United States needs.

In times such as now, immigration policy is a topic of controversial and emotional discussion. The key in having educational, progressive, and prosperous conversations is understanding the theoretical foundations behind the argument that a person stands for or believes in. Having factual evidence to support ideas on concepts such as: the opportunities that immigrants bring to a country, what the international rules actually are that govern the entry and  exit of people from one country to another, and the causes, trends, and consequences of international immigration. Finding reason and support for these claims can take the discussion behind immigration policy from one of heated and emotional argument to one of educational and beneficial conversation.

The conservative view upon illegal immigration is as follows: “Support legal immigration only. Oppose amnesty for those who enter the U.S. illegally (illegal immigrants). Those who break the law by entering the U.S. illegally do not have the same rights as those who obey the law and enter legally. The borders should be secured before addressing the problem of the illegal immigrants currently in the country. The Federal Government should secure the borders and enforce current immigration law” (Conservative vs. Liberal Beliefs). Overall, conservatives want for there to be repercussions for those who enter illegally, as well as increased border security to try and reduce the great influx of illegal immigrants. Naturally, the conservatives have backed up their arguments with hard, well stated facts.

The essays share the same central focus: immigration. Both authors describe the many benefits of immigration for America. “...we would have to conclude that our history and society would have been vastly different if they (immigrants) had stayed home”(Kennedy pg24). Our country has been monumentally impacted by the creations, choices, and brilliant ideas of immigrants. Immigrants have made significant impacts on all fields of science, revolutionized inventing, and played an essential role in making America into the global superpower that it is today. “It (immigration) has contributed greatly to developing the spirit of personal betterment in American society and to strengthening the national confidence in change and the future”(Kennedy). Immigration has significantly influenced one of the main American priorities; striving for

For decades, immigration has been a problem for the United States. Due to the people traveling from their native lands to the United States seeking a better life for themselves, and more primarily for the family that has come with them. Immigration is the action of settling into a country of which one is not native. Despite the many legal immigrants not every immigrant enters the country with legal documents and most of these illegal immigrants are poor and uneducated. Some undocumented immigrants commit crimes such as drug smuggling, or terrorism. Our policies on illegal immigration can diminish the problem by enforcing immigration laws, revoking birthright autonomy, and demanding proof of citizenship when applying for social services. Immigration has become a major problem in this country and needs to be restricted.

Describe the “New Immigration”, and explain how it differed from the “Old Immigration” and why it aroused opposition from many Native-Born Americans.

In Central America there are high levels of violence, particularly, in regard to gangs who are specifically targeting women. Resulting in families fleeing to the United States through the southern border. In an attempt to stop illegal immigration the current administration has been placing migrants, when caught, in detention centers. This is done as a message to others to not come over, and also as a holding place until they can be sent back to their home country. This becomes more controversial because of who is being held in these centers. Families are migrating together and small children are being held in these detention centers.

As can be seen in documents A-H, from 1880 to 1925, immigration went from being the staple of the American culture to the common enemy of “native” Americans.

The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution assured that people born in The United States are American citizens and individual states cannot deprive them of their constitutional rights. It also assured that all citizens in all states enjoyed not only rights on the federal level, but on the state level, too. In 1866, when the 14th Amendment was ratified, the U.S. was in the midst of Reconstruction, particularly in the south. Because all African-American people freed from slavery, they needed land, housing, jobs, etc, and the Republicans wanted equality to be protected by the Constitution itself, which is where the 14th Amendment came into play. People were unhappy with the fact that President Johnson vetoed the proposal of the 14th Amendment at first. His argument was that federal protection of civil rights would lead to “centralization” of the government. He was also against giving African-Americans full citizenship. The 14th

Beadle, Amanda Peterson. "Top 10 Reasons Why The U.S. Needs Comprehensive Immigration Reform." ThinkProgress. © 2016 - Center for American Progress, 10 Dec. 2012. Web. 7 Nov. 2016.

Each response is influenced by individual race, gender, and ethnicity. Despite immigration’s necessity to this, Jacob G. Hornberger’s “Keep the Borders Open” in which he argues the case of keeping borders always open “for people traveling inside the United States but also for people traveling or moving to the United States” is not correct (Hornberger, Jacob G. 1). Having open borders prohibits unity and dissolves individual identity; it also breeds anarchy within a nation. There must be order within a country and allowing everyone into an area strains resources, while no security creates chaos and mass terror. With open borders and thus overpopulation, a country will be unable to uphold its beliefs and will fall to disparities within social class, old prejudices, and government corruption. However, immigration is important in the American identity. It brings new ideas, opportunities, and individualism to the country which allows it to evolve. Immigrants are part of America and their cultures should not be forgotten under American assimilation. Thus, through having primary standards, people are able to embrace their own culture and unify with others. Immigration provides America with a new identity, but having open borders staunches

Hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants fleeing war or seeking new lives have flooded into Europe. Many countries are struggling to cope with the crisis.