Category: Immigration

Abstract

The issues of immigration to the USA, either legal or illegal are of great significance for the US government. The financial, social, and political factors of immigration have reasoned disagreement arguing on the matters of ethnicity, religion, financial advantages, job availability, settlement matters, influence on social mobility, criminality, nationalities, moral values, and work practices. Thus, in 2007, the number of immigrants totaled 37.5 million (Anrig, 2004).

Introduction

Since the 1990s, lots of academic researches have tried to charge the extent to which immigration impacts the wages of U.S. workers. Even though the results of those researches differ extensively  some distinguish no impact whatever while others conclude that immigration essentially and negatively hurts inhabitants  an agreement has started emerging that the truth is located somewhere in between. It turns to be gradually more likely that immigration has fairly decreased the wages of native-born employees, with less-talented and less-trained persons practicing the most essential refuses.

The most widespread research of this matter discharged to date is an August 2003 report by Pia M. Orrenius and Madeline Zavodny, canvassers at the Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Atlanta, correspondingly. For overhaul-related and specialized workers, immigration has had little influence on salary. If anything, increases in the amount of newly arriving immigrants really have slightly optimistic results. For physical employees, augments in the share of newly disembarked immigrants have no statistically essential negative influence on wages; but augments in the division of settlers who adjust their immigration grade after they have been in the United States  for instance, from student or tourist entry permissions (which do not allow employment) to green cards  have a small downbeat impact. The annual salaries of low-skilled native workers are about 2.4 percent below where they would be or else as a consequence of the admittance of immigrant employees. (Addison, Worswick, 2006, p.68).

Issues of Immigration

Most of Americas immigrants dwell in the following six states: California, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. Applying data from California and New Jersey, the panel guessed how much immigrant families  those led by foreign-born people  cost state and domestic taxpayers. This was analyzed by deducting the charges of services those households application  such as public education, police and fire services, welfare, and public health  from the sum of taxes they pay yearly. These values were made before new laws eradicated welfare profits for legal immigrants who are not U.S. citizens.

In California, for instance, where lots of new immigrants live, each native family is paying about $1,178 a year in state and local taxes to cover services utilized by immigrant households. In New Jersey, where there is a more stable immigrant population, the estimation is about $232 a year. Nevertheless, annual approximations of immigrants force on state and local taxpayers may be increased and should not be applied to forecast the long-term charges of admitting new immigrants, the panel said. These calculations do not designate how much immigrants will pay in taxes or how they will utilize public overhauls over their durations. (Addison, Worswick, 2006, p.68).

The urban uprisings of the 1990s strengthened white horrors that all young black males are innate drive-by-shooters, band bangers, drug traders, are sluggish, have foul approaches, are chronic underachievers, and everlasting dangers to the community. When some young blacks joined gangs, started using guns and drugs, and terrified their communities that stirred terrible apparitions of the boys-in-the-hoods bearing for suburban neighborhoods. That also strengthened the hypothesis among lots of companies that all young blacks must be unlawful and dilapidated, and that its risky commerce to hire them.

During the previous couple of years, state and centralized curtails in job training and skills agendas, and the denial of many companies to employ those with illegal records has sled-hammered black societies. In the late 1990s, long previous to the key surge in unlawful immigration, the California Assembly Commission on the Status of the African-American Males accounted that four out of 10 offenders entering California prisons were young black males. (Addison, Worswick, 2006, p.69).

The huge amount of miserably failing inner-city public schools also intensifies the joblessness crisis. They have turned thousands of blacks into instructive cripples. These learners are greatly unequipped to knob the quickly evolving and challenging technical and proficient skills in the communal sector and the business world of the 21st century. The enlightening reduction has leaked into the colleges. In accordance with an American Council of Education report, in the previous decade Latino, Asian, and black female student staffing has ascended while black male staffing has decreased.

A University of Wisconsin research stated that black men without an illegal record are less probable to find a job than white men with illegal records. The image is even grimmer for young black males. In accordance with Labor Department reports, in 2005 nearly 40 percent of young black males 16 to 19 were jobless. In actual numbers, more than a quarter-million blacks in this age category were out of work. In general, nearly 2 million blacks were unemployed. In spite of the fact that Bush administrations brag that its tax cut and financial policies have outlined in the formation of more than 100,000 new workplaces, black joblessness still stayed the uppermost of any group in America. In innumerable researches and surveys held during the past three decades, sociologists and canvassers determined that companies apply endless moves to avoid anti-discrimination regulations. In a seven-month inclusive university study of the hiring practices of hundreds of Chicago district companies, many top company bureaucrats when interviewed completely said they were tremendously unenthusiastic to hire blacks. (Chiswick, 2002, p.3).

Immigrants Effect on the Wages of US Citizens

Despite different studies, no strict evidence has been discerned to show that there are immigrants have a direct impact on the wages of United States Citizens. There may be some accounts but they are not sufficient to hold the assumption. The truth therefore may lie in between the two arguments (Anrig, et.al, 2004).

The issue ensued when it was being observed increasingly that immigration has been causing the wages of native-born workers, especially those who are less-skilled and less-experienced comparatively. It was concluded in a study by Orrenius and Zavodny in 2003 that immigrants have quite an insignificant impact on the wages of those in the service-related and professional workers (Anrig, et.al, 2004).

In contrast, the number of newly arriving immigrants even has a positive effect on the area. Immigrants also have no statistically significant impact on the wages of the manual laborers, but only when they newly arrived in the country. But when they changed their status, obtain a green card, and then a negative impact ensues for the manual workers. But, for those low-skilled native workers, these immigrants are a great burden because their wages are reduced by about 2.4 percent because (Anrig, et.al, 2004).

Later on, another study by George Borjas, an economist and quite an outspoken supporter of restrictive immigration policy, presented a study that shows stronger evidence of the negative impact of immigrants on the wages of the American workforce. He concluded that between 1980 and 2000, the labor force increased because of the immigrants, of an actual 11 percent. This increase is paralleled by the reduction of the average annual wage of native workers by around 3.2 percent. Annual wages decreased variedly among workers of different levels of skills and knowledge, i.e. their educational attainments (Anrig, 2004).

Overall, it is generalized that immigrants do have an impact on the wages of the American citizens workforce. But the impact varies depending on the skills and education of the workforce. Those who have little education and are less skilled, less experienced would be most negatively impacted by the immigrants working in the US, with their pays being significantly reduced. But for those with enough skills, knowledge, and higher educational attainment, the immigrants working in their country has little or no impact at all (Anrig, 2004).

Job Issues

Regular with most preceding researches of immigration to the US a great majority of the immigrants was employed before starting their immigration. Only 12 percent had been jobless before leaving their birthplace, even though underemployment was a matter for some of these people. It is noteworthy that studying in school was the motive for unemployment among 80 percent of this group. Studying into their late teens entails that one came from a family that was capable to relinquish the probable income of transferring their kid to work and that they were capable to permit personal education and school supplies. While this may be completely accepted from an American perspective, it is essential in the states, the immigrants come from, as educational expenditures can effortlessly guzzle a significant share of a working-class familys non-refundable revenue. (Briggs, 2003, p.325).

Conditions and constancy of employment assorted essentially among the respondents. Some were capable to protect reliable work for twelve months a year; while others criticized that the order for their labor was extremely changeable. In some examples, the discrepancy stated was the consequence of regular requirements in the agricultural sphere, while others underwent low claims for their services in local trades. The highest weekly recompense rate stated was $600.00, received twelve months a year by a twenty-nine-year-old who had been working as a security guard in Toluca, Mexico.

Most immigrants work in specific spheres of the financial structure such as the industrialized and service productions and struggle mainly for jobs with each other and with Americans who do not have high school qualification papers. During this struggle, the salary of these native-born Americans may have decreased some 5 percent over the past 15 years. Yet, still, in local labor markets with high rates of new immigrants, the general job possibilities and wages for the native-born are not essentially impacted by immigration. The results may be lesser due to natives who contend directly with immigrants may be moving to other territories, and immigration brings total financial advantages to the majority of Americans. (Briggs, 2001, p. 371).

Language Barrier

Arguing on the matters of language barriers, it is necessary to point out, that the rush in immigration over the previous few years has made Hispanics the biggest minority group in the USA. And while discussions about language and immigration matters may rage, more and more emergency staff is choosing to take a practical advance to face the trouble  by studying the Spanish language.

Nevertheless, full appointment in school and smooth transition to working life could be recovered by a schooling advance which initiates more original measures in tutoring services. In particular, best perform has shown that escalating parent entailment in this procedure can essentially improve the educational achievement and employment views of ethnic minorities. This has been the instance where curriculum groups and after-school maintenance for parents and their kids have entailed parents in the everyday school life of their children. Achievements studied here could also be pertinent to advancing academic achievement among older undergraduates of other ethnicities and easing their changeover to working life. Employing a zero-tolerance policy on racial annoyance and harassment in schools is also significant. Discrimination in the education structure can obstruct the achievement of all groups and clear processes should be attained, to guarantee that racist occurrence, racial discrimination, and racial harassment are linked constantly, rapidly, and solidly. (Anrig, 2004).

There are a valued 40,000 immigrant farmworkers in Colorado throughout the growing season and nearly 60% are unregistered. Lots of them live in inferior housing and endure changeable extents of chemical and organic exposure. Due to the questionable immigration rank, language barriers, and/or lack of skills taking into account ecological and health directives, immigrant workers generally are ignorant.

Actually, the Latino population challenges greater troubles addressing the healthcare system because of language barriers, cultural differences, immigration status, and a lack of awareness of services. For Latinas who became casualties of local violence, these barriers are augmented by the segregation that is prevalent to being a local violence casualty. To further obscure troubles, other general tactics by abusers such as hazards of exile, use of children, and financial abuse hamper the capability of battered Latinas to admit services. (Chiswick, 2002, p.1).

Cultural differences

Despite the fact, immigration offers one of the most multicolored parts in the history of the USA; it has also provided whales with troubles that have not been so effortlessly determined. For instance, cultural differences and language blockades among various ethnic groups have regularly given the increased hostilities among them. Also, immigrants inabilities to rapidly incorporate themselves to the standards of mainstream American social life have often averted them from comprehending the financial achievement they sought when they left their fatherlands. Additionally, today the nations market has reached a tip of maturity, and ways for the quick financial and territorial increase have mainly been closed. It is not the least bit obvious that it can be offered steady service for the huge number of settlers who go on arriving in the USA with the expectation of attaining better lives for themselves. From a cultural variety viewpoint, the conflict on both sides of the immigration matter creates hazards for companies that hire illegal employees as well as organizations where the client base includes ethnic groups or territories from which illegal employees originate.

Conclusion

The United States has conventionally described itself as a land of possibility, a refuge from harassment, and a country of immigrants. Today, more people than ever are attempting to enter this country. While most Americans suggest that, traditionally, immigration has empowered the U.S., lots of people now query whether immigration is still profitable for the country. Some Americans feature immigrants as vigorous, strong-minded, and devoted to the work ethic; others see immigrants as an exhaust on public reserves. As immigrants from gradually more and more diverse states come, the national character is a matter of change; some Americans state this makes hazards for traditional ideals; others greet the great diversity. As Americans reconsider immigration regulations, people are facing a dilemma: How to defend the humanitarian features while defending the attentions of current U.S. citizens?

The elevated extent of illegal immigration in and of itself comprises a primary breakdown of public regulations. Leaving aside the poignant political disagreements that feature the discussion over immigration reform, restoring the structure is a compound challenge with no easy replies. To the extent that the profits of low-skilled native workers may be decreased due to immigration, a wide choice of policy alternatives is obtainable to help them, entailing tax decreases, subsidies, wage maintenance, education, job placement, the earned income tax credit, and transfer programs. Moreover, the federal government could do more to alleviate the states and districts of the financial lumbers connected with immigration.

From the financial position, the confirmation seems obvious that draconian gauges such as enormous banishments or major decreases in legal immigration levels would be counterproductive to the United States and its citizens. Nevertheless, a great deal more can be made to help counterbalance the charges to native employees, particularly those with low skills that the addition of foreign-born employees inflicts on them.

But, not only are the unhelpful statements about immigration are confirmed to be rather incorrect, immigration offers the US financial system growth a considerable advance. Immigration provides a leftover in the form of extra profits to familial factors of construction. Immigration augments the supply of employment, and thus increases the efficiency of factors that are balancing to labor. More workers permit US capital, land, and natural resources to be utilized more professionally. These gains in efficiency result in profits gain to proprietors of these factors. Thats why US business interests maintain immigration.

References

Addison, T., & Worswick, C. (2006). The Impact of Immigration on the Earnings of Natives: Evidence from American Micro Data. Economic Record, 78(240), 68

Anrig, Greg (2004). Immigration, Jobs, and the American Economy. Immigration Online. 2008. Web.

Briggs, V. M. (2001). Immigration Policy and the U.S. Economy: An Institutional Perspective. Journal of Economic Issues, 30(2), 371.

Briggs, V. M. (2003). Immigration and Poverty Reduction: Policy Making on a Squirrel Wheel. Journal of Economic Issues, 37(2), 325.

Bush Calls for Changes on Illegal Workers (2004). CNN News. 2008. Web.

Chiswick, B. R. (Ed.). (2002). The Gateway: U.S. Immigration Issues and Policies. Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute.

Introduction to the Problem

Definition of the Issue

Global economic inequalities and the growing demand for highly skilled workers and the demographic decline in the industrial democracies have led to wide range of economic opportunities for migrants in the industrially advanced nations. This has opened up the movement of foreign nationals in to the United States like any other country where there are more opportunities for earning a decent living. However, the migration of people needs to be controlled by the US government like any other transnational economic activity such as trade or investment through proper legislator measures (Ueda, 2006).

While formulating the legislation the US government has to take a number of issues into consideration like the economic relations with other countries, civic and other amenities to the migrants and above all the issue of illegal immigrants. The action required to be taken to protect the borders in the form of recruitment of more immigration law enforcement officers and improving the border protection technology still remain very ambiguous deterring any concrete action from the government side to control this problem. The uncertainties and ambiguities surrounding the illegal immigrants make the problem a typical open-ended one.

Factors contributing to Uncertainties or Ambiguities

The scope of the problem of illegal immigration in the United States has remained undefined due to the vagueness of the immigration policies. Since the issue is one of highly political nature there has never been well-defined legislative approach to the immigration issues in the US.

Secondly there is no way the number and size of the illegal immigrants in the US can be estimated precisely. This also adds to the ambiguity of the problem.

Discussion and Critical Evaluation of the Evidence

Supporting Evidence

One of the evidences is the empirical data on the flow of immigrants both legal and illegal into the United States. The number of immigrants has been estimated at 1,000,000 legally and 300,000 to 500,000 illegally every year. According to Settles (2001) this figure has increased from 14,000 about 60 years ago to the magnitude indicated.

The second piece of evidence is the employment status among African Americans and Hispanics. Cohen (200) points out in 1983, African Americans held 280,000 more manufacturing jobs than Hispanics. While Hispanic employment grew to 139,000 jobs between 1983 and 1995, African American employment only grew by about 5,000 jobs.

Strengths and Weaknesses of the Evidences

Strengths

The first evidence provides a basis for assuming the magnitude of the issue of illegal immigrants

The strength of the second evidence is that it provides the basis for studying the ethnicity of the issue of immigration.

Weaknesses

The first evidence suffers from the weakness of being unreliable as the empirical data has the character of being a mere estimation. There is no authority or official figures to back up the number of illegal immigrants stated to be between 300,000 and 500,000. Any statistical information cannot have a variation of 200,000 between the upper and lower boundary levels.

The second evidence suffers from the weakness of being biased and lacking any authority behind the stated figures. This evidence also is outdated to the current issue and hence cannot be accepted as valid evidence.

Bias/Assumption underlying the Perspectives

The first assumption is that the immigration policy should be hard-headed and there should be a guest worker program developed to deal with illegal immigrants issue.

The second assumption underlying the immigration issue is that entrusting the responsibility of protecting the borders, if left with the military, it might lead to undesirable consequences, as the military has not been trained to meet the challenges of civil issues. The other assumption is that it is possible for the military to deal with the civil problems only by use of lethal force, because the training, which makes the soldiers outstanding warriors, also makes them dangerous as cops.

Evaluation of the Evidences

The problem with the first evidence is that it is not possible to precisely estimate the number of illegal immigrants in the country and whatever figures reported can at best be an estimate. Therefore this evidence lacks validity.

The second evidence provides outdated statistical information. There might have been changes in the periods after the figures indicated as evidence. Moreover any statistics relied on as evidence without the backing of the official source or authority has to be considered as weak and it will not substantiate the findings of the study.

Conclusion including Solutions and Limitations

Solutions to the Problem

1. The immigration polices can be amended to include humanitarian considerations and the issue of national worker identification cards. There should be a restriction on the chain immigration restricting the entry to spouse and children, in addition to drastic reduction in the job-skills based immigration (Honey & Barry, 1997).
2. The number of immigration officers can be increased so that there can be better protection of the borders from the immigrants entering the country illegally.

Limitations to the Problems

1. The immigration issue always had a political bias. Therefore there is no guarantee that the government would introduce sweeping changes with respect to its immigration policies. Secondly, there will be the question of human rights involved when a distinction is made between people selected for immigration and it will be a cumbersome process to identify whether the person actually possesses the required skill to be granted immigration.
2. The mere increase in the number of immigration officers cannot solve the problem as there will be still the problems relating to the existing illegal immigrants and their families. A second limitation of this solution is that this solution cannot prevent the people arriving with valid documents and overstaying as illegal immigrants. A physical crack down on the illegal immigrants every now and then is a virtual impossibility using these additional officers.

An ideal solution to the issue would be to punish the employers providing employment to illegal immigrants, by making them responsible for checking whether all the people employed by them possess valid immigration documents.

References

Cohen, S. (2006) Deportation Is Freedom! The Orwellian World of Immigration Controls. London: Jessica Kingsley.

Honey, M., & Barry, T. (1997). In Focus: The Immigration Debate. Web.

Settles, B. H. (2001) Being at Home in a Global Society: A Model for Families Mobility and Immigration Decisions Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 32(4), 627.

Ueda, R. (2006). A Companion to American Immigration. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.

Reflections on the Outline

In the outline I considered the present status of the immigration globally and the reasons for the people to migrate to different countries. In the next section I propose to consider different issues concerning the immigration polices of any country. The impact of immigration on the US economy and the society in general will be considered under the section impact of immigration. Issues relating to illegal immigration will be discussed in the next section as these issues form the major part of the immigration policies. Suggestions on tackling immigration issues form part of the next section of the essay.

Introduction

Texas is characterized by immigration that is pushing the population growth of the state. Texas occupies the second position in terms of population figures in the United States, according to the Census Bureau, and that it has occupied that position since 1994 after overtaking New York. This aspect of immigration to Texas can be attributed to the good hospitality that immigrants receive from the Texans. The natives of Texas State were quite excited with what their area offered to the new settlers but little did they know that as the conditions of their area changed so too were the costs and benefits that were related to the increase in the size of the population. In the last 10 years almost three point nine million (3.9m) absolutely new residents came and settled in Texas State. It is estimated that almost thirty-six percent (36%) of these new residents were actually immigrants. The high population growth rate brought about negative effects like traffic congestion, pollution of the environment, straining of institution facilities because of high enrolment and there were also shortages of housing facilities resulting in a gradual decrease in living standards and further straining of the available natural resources, Timothy (2001).

The period between 200 and 2006 saw the population of the foreign-born in the Texas state increase by twenty-four percent and it was during this same period that the state gained over 650,000 immigrants bringing the number of residents of foreign-born origin increase to over 3.4 million people. The foreign-born population in Texas is composed mainly of immigrants from Latin America. As per the statistics taken in 2007 about the foreign-born population, 3.1% were from Africa, 4.3% from Europe, 75.1% from Latin America, 1.1% from North America and 0.3% from Oceania. In the year 2007, the total number of the immigrant population that represented females was slightly over 47% and that of males was slightly over 52% compared to 50% female and 49% male among the indigenous people. In 2007 Texass immigrants were composed of more than1% being young children, the percentage size of the youth was 6.5% while the percentage that comprised of working-age adults between the years 18 and 54 was 22%, and the last 14% comprised of immigrants that were 55 years old and above.

During the same period, the Hispanic or Latino of foreign-born was 73% compared to 28% of the indigenous born, Timothy (200).

Texas State is a land of immigrants for the reason that in the early days before the Europeans settled, through the contemporary period the land of Texas had been traversed by people coming from different parts of the world. Quite a larger number of the native people are said to have migrated to that state over a period of time, believed to have originated from various corners of the continent. In addition, some people from that state voluntarily migrated or were forcibly driven out of the territory.

Eventually, the Native Americans, unlike most immigrants were almost holistically driven out of the Texas state, Patrick (1998).

The American Natives, after settling in the Texas territory were followed over a period of time by other groups and these were namely the Spanish, French, African, Anglo American, and others.

During the period after the 2nd world war, the Texas state population and economy had grown at an accelerated rate in comparison to the preceding decades. This rapid growth in the population and economy was catalyzed and in turn, brought about the increasing diversity in the economy and population. The social and economic systems that prevailed in the Texas state in the mid of twentieth brought about great changes throughout the period. During this period Texas experienced larger and quite new waves of immigrants, including people from different states who originated from northern and parts of eastern regions of the US.

The contemporary period has been characterized by an influx of immigrants in Texas from Mexico, Caribbean Island, Central America, Asia, and even America that is people coming from other parts of American states, Patrick (1998).

It is argued that the solid movement of people from other parts of America like the northern states in the early periods of the 1950s and 1960s propelled to come to Texas because of its economic expansion and diversification ironically reinforced the social and business conservatism of the Texas state and furthermore transformed the political party system of the state. The immigrants who lived in Texas during that time supported the Republican Party and opposed the conservative democrats making the Republican Party dominate in the politics of the Texas state until the end of the Reconstruction period, Timothy (200).

The poor immigrants who belonged to the extreme end of the social echelon believed to have come from developing countries like Mexico, Central America and parts of Asia settled in huge numbers in Texas in the past decades.

The high birth rates among the minority ethnic groups contributed significantly to the rapid growth of the population in the state of Texas. Thus by 2004, the high levels of immigration and high birth rates in relation to the non-Hispanic white population made the state of Texas to be in the fourth position in which the non-Hispanic whites account for less than 50% of the total population.

Positive Effects of Immigrants

The immigrant workers work towards complementing rather than substituting native workers with respect to their levels in education and skill. In addition, the immigrants increase the productivity and therefore the natives wages. Immigration will act as a driving force behind the housing market and in the process increase the demand for housing. The increased demand for housing will push the rents for houses up leading to more profits for house owners. Immigrants also have some positive effects in that some are endowed with entrepreneurship skills which are essential for business. Entrepreneurship skills will bring about the creation of jobs for the local natives. Jobs created will improve the living standards of the locals so will be the increase in their bargaining power. Migration of people to the state results in a huge pool of labor force who can effectively and efficiently work in the state. The immigrants come with skills and professions that are hard to find in Texas.

These skills and professions are significant to bringing about the economic growth of the state. Thus companies in Texas will be able to access the labor force cheaply ending up reducing the costs of productions. Locals who lack those crucial skills will force the company to send them abroad for further training but with the presence of immigrants with those skills and qualifications, the costs of sending the locals abroad for training will reduce thus saving a company lot of money. The presence of immigrants in Texas is also important in that it will increase the market demand for products in the region. These will act as an incentive for companies in the region for they will be forced to expand their production and of course they will have a guaranteed market for their products. This will have a positive impact on the locals for they have access to jobs thus increasing their bargaining power and standards of living. Taxes coming from immigrants can be quite a reliable source of income to the governing state. Taxes are sources of revenue for an increase in revenue will induce the state to increase their expenditure base thus improving the living standards of the region, Undocumented immigrants of Texas (2009).

References

Timothy Egan, Near Vast Bodies of Water, Land Lays Parched New York Times, 2001.

Patrick Barta, A New Way of Looking at Texas: One Big City, Texas Journal, 1998.

Undocumented immigrants of Texas. 2009. Web.

Immigration has remained a major human phenomenon for centuries. People have always moved from one region to another in an effort to transform their experiences or escape foreseeable challenges. Canadas immigration history has resulted in diverse cultural groups that continue to reshape and inform the decisions different citizens make. This discussion gives a personal perspective and outlines the insights on immigration and ethnicity gained in the Canadian context.

Immigration and Ethnicity

New Perspectives

The completed class readings have presented diverse ideas regarding the position of immigrants in Canada. Firstly, I have realized that majority of these individuals encounter diverse challenges or obstacles when pursuing new opportunities. For instance, some job openings tend to be available to the dominant majority. Immigrants with additional skills might take long before being recognized (Statistics Canada, n.d.). Many people who have appreciated this reality take it into consideration when following their career and economic objectives.

Secondly, racial stereotyping remains a common issue in North America. In Canada, many citizens view the Japanese, Arabs, Jews, and African Americans negatively. This mindset has created a scenario whereby majority of the people find it hard to be involved in various social functions (Historica Canada, n.d.). Consequently, members of these racial groups have been keen to develop new or unique identities that can make it easier for them to emerge successful.

Thirdly, I have gained a new form of perspective on the whole issue of immigration and race relations. For instance, the first Europeans to settle in North America began to try new ideas aimed at promoting their original ideologies. With the acquisition of adequate resources, a new malpractice emerged whereby the aboriginals faced different forms of discrimination and even lived as inferior citizens. This became a worrisome trend for Canadas future race relationships (Abella, 2012). Such a reality will continue to influence and affect the life outcomes of the greatest number of Canadian citizens with diverse backgrounds in the future.

Fourthly, the class materials have presented new terms and ideas to me, such as ethnic retailing. This is a concept whereby people tend to act and promote specific practices that appear to be informed by the notions of race and ethnicity. Individuals from minority groups tend to be on the receiving end since most of the implemented projects and policies fail to meet their demands (Bauder & Shields, 2015). Such citizens will receive less support and been be unable to get additional opportunities. Most of these victims have found it hard to lead better lives and record meaningful upward mobilities in their lives.

These trends and issues have complicated race relations in Canada. Many immigrants have to grapple with diverse obstacles when tying to pursue their goals. The existing social support systems are incapable of fulfilling their needs (Bauder & Shields, 2015). The outstanding lesson from the past is that such groups should develop superior perspectives to survive and overcome most of the challenges they have to experience in their respective communities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, racism remains a major malpractice that many people promote in different parts of North America, including Canada. This malpractice makes it impossible for immigrants and their descendants to achieve their social and economic goals. A new way of thinking is essential if such individuals are to transform their experiences and consider additional ways to improve their future lives.

References

Abella, I. (2012). Anti-Semitism in Canada.The Canadian Encyclopaedia. Web.

Bauder, H. & Shields, J. (Eds.). (2015). Immigrant experiences in North America. Canadian Scholars Press.

Historica Canada. (n.d.). Immigration in Canada. Web.

Statistics Canada. (n.d.). 150 years of immigration in Canada. Web.

The representatives of the Democratic and the Republican Parties of the United States have opposite viewpoints on immigration-related issues. In fact, 78 percent of Republicans regard immigration-restricting measures as playing a key role in the security of the country (Kagura). At the same time, 36 percent of Democrats argue that it is necessary to support incomers and increase legal immigration (Kagura). The purpose of this paper is to examine the political debate about necessary immigration reforms.

The representatives of the Republican Party regard increasing immigration as dangerous. According to them, allowing millions of unidentified persons to enter and remain in this country poses grave risks (Kagura). In Republicans viewpoint, it is the major ground for the prevalence of drug dealing, terrorism, and criminality in the US. Therefore, Republicans think that it is necessary to implement strict control and prosecution policies over immigrants including the deportation of criminals (Kagura). Besides, they are opposed to legalizing amnesty programs and believe that US safety can be secured through completing the border fence.

Democrats, on the contrary, regard immigration as beneficial because it can renew and enrich the American Community. They remind people of the fact that from a historical viewpoint, immigration is the key aspect of the formation of the US (Kagura). That is why the representatives of the Democratic Party think that it is necessary to implement a comprehensive reform on immigration (Kagura). Although they admit the necessity of securing the borders, Democrats are for the amnesty programs and against criminals deportation. The members of the party want the government to take measures aimed at making the process of incomers becoming permanent residents of the US easier. In conclusion, the views of Democrats and Republicans on immigration are completely different. The only aspect of the immigration policies that they agree upon is the need to secure the US borders.

References

Kagurara, Craig. Republicans and Democrats in Different Worlds on Immigration. The Chicago Council, 2019. Web.

Despite its economic, military and cultural power and the concept of an American dream, the US is far from the land of hopes it is portrayed to be. It is notably true for immigrants, many of whom come to America from all over the world in search of a better life for themselves and their families. While some programs for legal and even illegal newcomers exist, it is still hard for these people to build themselves up in the new land. The purpose of this paper is to examine the reality of immigrants in the US.

Possibilities for Immigrants

Farming, construction, computer, and science industries are amongst the top industries employing legal immigrants (Becker). Typically, such businesses search for talent outside America and provide work visas for the workers they choose. However, legal immigrants achieving their status through other means can have trouble finding work that will pay at least minimum wage and span no more than the average 8 hours.

Illegal newcomers can face even more problems due to deportation threats. This is a notable issue for undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children and now have a possibility to return to a country the life in which they have never experienced. For such individuals, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program(DACA) was created which allows these people two years during which they should try to receive a green card through an employer if they do not wish to be deported. However, apart from the existing hardships of finding a job for an undocumented immigrant, the current president, Donald Trump, promised to repeal DACA which will force a lot of young people who call the US their home out of the country (Rappaport). Even sanctuary cities that work towards protecting their residents from such a fate cannot stop this process. Another issue is the drug trafficking organizations that tempt illegal newcomers with money, effectively killing any chance they have of becoming legal citizens.

Conclusion

While the US advertises itself as the land of dreams, many immigrants find the reality to be very different from this concept. Apart from industries that actively provide foreign citizens with green cards, many institutions make it hard for a newcomer to receive even minimum wage which results in many immigrants being deported or resulting in illegal activities such as drug trafficking.

References

1. Becker, Sam. 25 Jobs Employing the Most Immigrants in America. Showbiz CheatSheet, 2017. Web.
2. Rappaport, Nolan. Removal of DACA Recipients Has Begun: It Didnt Take a Crystal Ball to See DACA Would Not End Well. The Hill, 2019. Web.

For ages, people have been migrating on the Earths surface. Resettlement, caused by various reasons from economic to political and cultural ones, has been shaping the countries image and contributing to the development of world society. For the past several centuries the United States of America has been considered as one of the most noticeable migration destinations, with its promise of better opportunities for earning a living and a luring chance of breathing the air of freedom and equality. Each new wave of migration is characterized by its peculiarities, and the late nineteenth-century events constitute no exclusion in that respect.

In the late 19th century, following the stream of the Gold Rush, millions of immigrants entered the United States, most of them attracted by the opportunity to earn easy money and to escape the hardships they suffered in their homelands. A large share in that-time migration pattern to the US belongs to Europe, which became overcrowded, with its population doubling to 400 million within the century and farming lands becoming scarce (Danzer 255). The American job market, compared to that of Europe, seemed to be a much more plentiful scene at that time. Industrial working conditions contributed to the growth and development of the labor movement defending the rights of workers and thus making work in America still more attractive. Moreover, the rebellious and reformative spirit characteristic of Europeans of that time, which found expression in a wave of revolutions striving for constitutional government, caused them to seek understanding and implementation of their freedom-connected dreams in the politically liberal America. A big share of newcomers who arrived in the US was escaping political persecution, such as pogroms of Jewish villages in Russia (Danzer 255). In the second half of the nineteenth century about twenty million Europeans from Italy, Southeastern Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Poland, Germany, Ireland, England, and France left their continent for the East Coast of the US.

Immigration from oriental countries also reached a peak. While only small numbers of Chinese arrived on the West Coast between the 1850s and early 1830s, with the new Japanese law allowing Hawaiian planters to hire Japanese workers immigration rates boosted and were even more reinforced by the annexation of Hawaii in 1898. The southeastern and States appeared an attractive destination for immigrants from West Indies: Jamaican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican inhabitants strove for a secure and prosperous future for themselves, promised by the industrial boom in the US.

Despite its wide-open front door, America did not receive the newcomers with open arms. First, they had to pass a thorough medical and legal examination at immigration stations at Ellis Island in New York for the East Coast migrants and Angel Island in San Francisco Bay for the West Coast ones. Being let out into a completely new cultural environment, foreigners tried to survive by forming closed ethnic communities and cooperating in every sphere of life, together with striving for the preservation of their national identity including language and traditions.

Many native-born Americans disliked the way newcomers failed to integrate into the new society, and a strong anti-immigrant feeling rose, shaping into nativism, which recognized only the British, German, and Scandinavian as desirable migrants (Danzer 258). Religious beliefs of immigrants, especially Catholic and Jewish, were also frowned upon by the Protestant society, and some educational and social institutions were closed for the followers of those religions. In 1897 a bill requesting a literacy test for immigrants was passed by Congress and reflected powerfully the public opinion. The economic depression of the early 1880s resulted in anti-Chinese sentiments, as Chinese workers occupied a large segment of the labor market. The Chinese Exclusion Act adopted by the Congress in 1882, prolonged for another ten years in 1892 and extended indefinitely in 1902, banned the Chinese from entering the United States. This law was renounced only in 1943 (Danzer 259).

Nowadays immigration remains the factor that keeps America growing. However, measures are taken to restrict its rate to more controllable numbers: the 1990 Immigration Act limits the annual number of immigrants to 700,000 with family reunification in addition to employment-related immigration emphasized as the main immigration criteria. Public opinion has considerably sunken after the terroristic attacks of September 11, 2001. Immigrants are widely associated with criminal activities and high costs for the national health system and mortgage situation. One of the strictest anti-illegal immigration laws, Oklahoma House Bill 1804 was passed in 2007, making it a felony even to give a person a ride if they know or have grounds to suspect them of being an illegal immigrant. It also forbids the state from providing education, health care, and many other services to illegal immigrants, including infants (Oklahoma House Bill 1804). As it appears from the FOX23 Online Community forum posts, the reaction of OK citizens turned out to be supportive:

Yes, way to go Oklahoma. Since the federals cannot agree on ANYTHING regarding illegals, it is up to the states to stop the invasion tactics and get this train wreck under control. & I hope this moderate legislation and the implementation of same will be an example to the rest of the U.S.

All-in-all, immigration was and is a defining factor in shaping the image of the United States as the worlds melting pot. However, the attitudes to the newcomers vary depending on the level of integration of the latter into the society that may seem alluring and welcoming from far away, but when examined closely, provides a challenge that is yet to overcome.

Works Cited

Danzer, Gerald A., et al. The Americans: Reconstruction to the 21st Century. CA: McDougal Littell, 2009.

Oklahoma House Bill 1804. Pub. L. 51-1-5519. 2007.

beckey. State Law 1804 (Immigration Bill) Online posting. 2007. FOX23 Online Community.Web.

Introduction

Garrett Hardin looks at the world from an almost dystopian point of view, which seems quite reasonable. The work is written in a straightforward format, leaving inconvenient truth and bare facts to the independent judgment of readers. In an era of tolerance, inclusion, and equality promoting, his reflections may not seem humane enough but deserve awareness. Hardin has a graphic metaphor for the planet as a rescue ship, drifting through economic, resource, immigration, and other crises (Hardin 1). On such a ship, there should be an unspoken discipline and a stern command to keep the course set by the leader. All statistics should be calculated for a certain number of people and resources to avoid failures in the established model of the ships reality. Garrett Hardins reasoning deserves attention, as he raises sensitive social issues and alternative opinions that are usually omitted or hushed up in modern society. It is a fundamentally wrong approach; no opinion should be abandoned. However, his theory does not sufficiently face all principal aspects. It includes the widespread globalization of countries, diverse economic perception of each, and the acute ethical and legal side of the immigration issue.

Consequences of Globalization

Globalization is the growing integration of economies and societies around the world. The world is becoming interconnected due to the exchange of products, information, knowledge, and cultural values. The work of Garett Hardin talks a lot about immigration but does not raise the central phenomenon of globalization, which managed to create a wholesome stronghold. He talks about countries incoherently, constantly putting the States in the very center for some reason (Hardin 2). However, the United States is not the center of the world; there are many developed and developing countries whose citizens have been migrated and established ties over the years. The term globalization itself has acquired a pronounced emotional connotation. Some consider that it is a proficient process, which is of key importance for the development of the world economy. Others are hostile to it, believing that globalization leads to increased inequality between countries, rising unemployment, and lower living standards (Contractor 3). There are echoes of a second opinion in Hardings reflections, but the positive side of the issue should also be regarded. Globalization also unites peoples, economies, cultures, interests, pushing everyone to move in one mutually beneficial direction.

The Attitude of the World to Migration

Some people believe that migration to countries with developed economies can, on the contrary, increase the rate of economic growth. Migration has been at the center of intense political debate in recent years. Most people perceive it positively or indifferently, but they can also experience misconceptions and fears. For example, many may acknowledge that it is an exclusively mass process burdensome for the economy and all resources. This statement was also unintentionally generated while reading Hardings work. In fact, immigration to another country is very pricey, and only a small amount of the population becomes migrants. The process stumbles over geographic and language barriers, economic instability, and the relative proximity of the world in the form of visas (Sackey-Ansah 2). For developed countries recently affected by depopulation, this is an opportunity to gain a workforce and new cultural influences. Here it is vital to strike a proportion and adhere to a well-balanced immigration program. For example, invite young families, specialists with the possibility of retraining at local institutions, students. For a sparsely populated country like Canada, this is a great opportunity to expand its domestic market by attracting promising new minds.

The Ethical Side of the Attitude Towards Immigrants

The magnetic power of the migration idea without borders lies in the fact that the possibility of free movement allows a person to comprehend his right to freedom. For many people, it becomes not a privilege but a matter of surviving, for example, during hostilities at home. Many leave for other countries for temporary work or the duration of their studies, contributing a lot of money to the general state economy (Sackey-Ansah 2). All these cases occupy a decent place in todays global society, and it is challenging to drag them from the human mind. Hardings ideas about limited globalization, immigration, and maintaining the traditional gap between rich and poor are coherent but difficult to implement. From an ethical point of view, this is generally unattainable and inappropriate. Everyone has the freedom to attempt to achieve their full potential and get better faith (Trost et al. 1). Many immigrants still return home and make freeway for new arrivals. As long as a person studies hard, works, and is willing to contribute to the place of residence, all his rights and freedoms must be unconditionally supported and protected.

Conclusion

Given all the arguments above, perhaps the planet is indeed a ship. However, the world needs close cooperation, not a widening gap between countries and nations. Globalization and immigration processes need serious improvement on the part of states. It also requires beneficial cooperation between countries that could agree on mutually advantageous terms. Hardins work paints the future of the world in very gloomy tones, which are quite difficult to refute because of all the current processes taking place in the world. However, this is not a signal for the division of people but rather for unity. Humanity must move together, in one direction, where each performs its specific roles for the common good.

Works Cited

Contractor, Farok J. The world economy will need even more globalization in the post-pandemic 2021 decade. Journal of international business studies, Web.

Hardin, Garrett. (1974). Lifeboat ethics: The case against helping the poor. Psychology Today, 1974.

Sackey-Ansah, Alex. Ethical theories and approaches to immigration in the United States: A focus on undocumented immigrants. Transformation: An International Journal of Holistic Mission Studies, Web.

Trost, Matthias et al. Immigration: analysis, trends and outlook on the global research activity. Journal of global health, Web.

Sometimes, immigration to other countries looks like seeking ways for survival rather than fortune. The Maya people turned out to be forced to leave their home country because Guatemala had nothing to ensure its citizens decent lives. Therefore, each narrative included in the article Maya Youth in Los Angeles by Alicia Ivonne Estrada helps a reader to determine the factors that affected the Maya immigration to the U.S.

Many Mayas got accustomed to migrating, though it did not mean they enjoyed abandoning their country. For instance, Abraham said that Guatemalas social and economic inequalities induced his decision to migrate. Because of this, he could not attend school, and this situation strengthened his attraction to the U.S. The poor access to social serves as the push factor for Abrahams immigration.

On the other hand, the U.S. was known as a state of opportunity and equality, where everyone could find their place. Like many citizens of Guatemala, Abraham heard numerous stories about the American Dream in the media, which only piqued his desire to leave for the land of fortune. Although it could be regarded as the pull factor that attracted immigration to the U.S., the reality in this state was far from ideal. Media always left ideologically justified racial discrimination, criminalization, and inequalities unsaid.

The narrative also gives a hint about a complicated socio-political context that influenced the decision of many Mayas, including Abraham, to migrate to the U.S. The reconstruction period after the war in Guatemala was marked by the failed introduction of the Peace Accords. In addition, signing the Central American Free Trade Agreement deepened the inequalities in the suffering country. Thus, it played an encouraging role in the growing immigration.

To conclude, Abrahams narrative demonstrates how Maya people were forced to leave Guatemala. Poor education and other socio-economic opportunities, on the one hand, and frequent stories about success for every migrant in the U.S., on the other, represent the main factors affecting the immigration expansion from Guatemala. Moreover, the failed peaceful policies added to the aggravated situation and perpetuated migration.

The particulars of Operation Jump Start

Operation Jump Start is the operation that ensures the security of the U.S.  Mexico border. This military operation came to execution in May 2006. It was targeted at the decrease in the number of immigrants that get in the country illegally. The chief of the National Guard Bureau claimed that according to the requirements, the National Guard will send more than 2000 groups along the border (Smith 1).

The Operation Jump Start was undertaken by the initiative of the U.S. President George Bush. It occurred to be one of the steps he was going to make regarding the immigration reform plan approved by the U.S. Senate. It is claimed that the troops task was not to catch and arrest immigrants who entered the country illegally but to support the border patrols and secure the U.S. (Troops start Mexico border duty par. 4). Thus, the operation is to help U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to maintain their responsibility for securing the borders of the United States, preventing terrorists and their weapons from entering the United States, and enforcing hundreds of U.S. trade and immigration laws (Mason 1).

Posse Comitatus Act restricts the military involvement; it forbids utilizing the Armed Forces to perform domestic laws. The only exception is when they are authorized. The memorandum of agreement was maintained to ensure that the National Guard will not participate in overt law enforcement (Smith 2). Title 32 of the U.S. Code provides the funding regarding the activities conducted under the Operation Jump Start to secure the country and define the range of duties (Mason 6). Thus, these documents define and control the actions of the National Guard.

Criteria for Defense Support of Civilian Authorities are reflected

There are several criteria for Defense Support of Civilian Authorities and the Governor, in particular. They deal with the relations between the Supported State and the Supporting one. First of all, the Governor of the Supporting State will retain, for administrative purposes, command and control of Supporting State forces (Memorandum of Agreement 1). Secondly, the costs spent on the defense will not be reimbursed. The army of the Supporting State will act according to the Title 32 of the U.S. Code.

They agree that the terms and conditions of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, P.L. 104-321 (1996), are incorporated herein by reference except those that relate to liability, emergency declaration, and reimbursement (Memorandum of agreement 1). They also are to support the idea that a necessary precondition to the deployment of National Guard forces and the disbursement of Operation Jump Start funds to a Supported State is the agreement of the Governor of the Supported State to use such forces and funds solely for missions that are requested by, coordinated with, and undertaken in support of, USCBP, and that are consistent with USCBPs concept of operations (Memorandum of Agreement 2). It is obligatory that such missions are approved by the civil authority before maintaining. The representatives of the National Guard can be involved in the activities conducted under Operation Jump Start only when they are endorsed by the Secretary of Defense. The tasks presented by civilian law enforcement are managed by the National Guard.

The benefits of this operation to the Guard and the country

It is important that according to the Operation Jump Start, the soldiers from National Guard are not made to enter the troops that secure the border. The governor of the state of Washington claimed that in her state they will be sent only if they came up to such decision (Troops Start Mexico Border Duty par. 8). The absence of pressure and the ability to choose what to do makes this position more attractive. Those who are already working feel this freedom and are likely to make a choice of their position. Doing the things they like, they show better performance. On the same basis, more young Americans will decide to choose this profession.

At the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the President said that the soldiers will have significant training. It means that the country will be better protected. If some problems occur at the borders, no time will be wasted for waiting for the cavalry. There will be enough troops to solve the issue or at least to withstand until it comes. The Border of Patrol will benefit as it gains assistance in supervision and construction of the barriers. Moreover, training is enhanced and streamlined (Civil Support III-5). As the states agreed to support each other, they will be better protected and less likely to face some issues connected with illegal immigrants and wrongdoings conducted by them.

Negative implications of this operation

Even though Operation Jump Start is said to reduce the number of illegal immigrants and secure the borders, it fails to maintain this actions sufficiently. About 750 thousand aliens still enter the country through the southern border, which is not a success. This problem has nothing to do with the professionals; it deals with the operation itself. The aim of the Operation Jump Start was not designed to secure the border; it was designed to create the political illusion that the Administration was moving to secure the border (Jestone par. 9). An average posting of 18 personnel per mile would virtually end illegal immigration across our southern border, Norwood claims. But the Governors do not provide needed funding, which does not allow the troops extend along the whole border. Thus, if no changes are made in future, the immigrants will enter the country, and there will be no sense in this operation. It will only waste the money of taxpayers, and cause complaints.

Works Cited

Civil Support 2007. PDF file. Web.

Jestone 2007, Operation Jump Start: Failure by Design. Human Events. Web.

Mason, Chuck 2013, Securing Americas Borders: The Role of the Military. PDF file. Web.

Memorandum of Agreement. n.d. Web.

Smith, Steven 2010, Operation Jump Start Puts 2,500 Guardsmen on Southern Border in June. U.S. Department of Defense. Web.

Troops Start Mexico Border Duty. 2006. Web.