Preview

The Immigration Problem Essay Example

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1631 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Immigration Problem Essay Example
The Immigration Problem

The question is have we given up on turning our immigrants into Americans
(Brimelow 30). Undoubtedly, all the hipped-up controversial rhetoric will deter the immigrant population from becoming legal. It has become such a hassle to go through the process that many people choose to cross the border without permission. Before 1960, eighty percent of the immigration to America came from
Europe. Since 1960, however, eighty percent has come from places other than
Europe (Wishard 153). As a result, immigrant laws have become less accepting of the immigrant community. Long ago, European immigrants were given a job, shelter, and food. Soon, the new immigrants were granted citizenship and voting privileges (Hernandez A1). Today, immigrants are lucky to cross the boarder without being shot--God forbid they become citizens.

Contrary to what many believe, many immigrants are not here to become citizens.
Many wish to stay for a short time and then return to their home. In fact, many immigrants are reluctant to become legal. Many harbor hopes and dreams of eventually returning to their friends and family back home. Then there are the distinct few who do not wish to decide, and would like have "dual citizenship."
To be loyal to more than one country, to vote in both countries, and to travel back and forth easily (Limon).

To understand the affects of immigration one must study the state where it is more rampant. California is a magnet for immigrants. As a result, many claim that immigrants are a great economic burden. California does, however, benefit from its porous borders. The succession of immigrant groups has brought the state unparalleled ethnic diversity (Gerston 9). Besides ethnic diversity,
California has one of the most diverse economies in the world. Despite its problems, California prevails in agriculture, mining, manufacture, transportation, communication, electronics, construction, and defense. These industries contain a high percentage of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that 22 percent of construction workers are foreign born, with 2.4 million immigrants working in the sector of construction, the largest source of jobs for immigrant labor. Jerry Howard, CEO of the National Association of Home Builders, estimates that 25 to 30 percent of those working in resident construction are immigrants, though no one knows how many are here legally.…

    • 665 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me; I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Immigration jumped from a low of 3.5 million in 1890 to a high of 9 million in the first decade of the new century. Immigrants went on a journey to America due to escaping religious, racial and political persecution or seeking relief from a lack of economic opportunity or famine pushing many immigrants out of their homelands. Hungarians, Poles, Slovaks, Bohemians and Italians went to find work in a new country such as America. However, the vast majority of immigrants crowded into the growing cities, searching for their chance to make a better life for themselves. Staying in America with my family in Europe, outweigh life in America.…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are thousands of undocumented students from different countries that migrate to the United States of America seeking a better way of life; however, the reality of that being possible is unlikely high. According an activist from the Lulac Association, over three million students graduate from U.S. high schools every year. Most get the opportunity to pursue a college degree, strive for their vocational goals, and reach for their American dream. Unfortunately, there are many students that see their dreams go down the drain for not having the right documentation to obtain a job and/or go to school. That is the main reason why undocumented students who are pursuing a higher education must be able to apply for a visa that can allow them to work on their field of study as well as to get financial aid, pay taxes, and become productive citizens who contribute to this country.…

    • 958 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Immigration Senior Project

    • 1544 Words
    • 7 Pages

    I know like everyone that most immigrants in the United States become immigrant searching a better life for themselves and their families, because here you can find a better future and the percentage of opportunities are higher. And in the last years immigrants are who have increased the United States economy. For that why immigrants cant be citizen more easily.…

    • 1544 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Immigrants are people that choose to migrate to our country and resettle into a new life. Unfortunately, many of these immigrants are denied legal status and are therefore considered, undocumented. Several of them have no choice but to move here because poverty,violence,drugs, abuse etc. become too much to handle, but moving here gives them an opportunity to improve their future and better it for their families. Studies show that around 484,072 legal people migrate to the United States every year. That may seem like a lot, but shockingly, that does not even include the number of illegal immigrants. It's estimated that about 11.5 million illegal immigrants reside here(reference). After years and years…

    • 1176 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mexican Immigration Essay

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Immigration from Mexico to America from the 1900s-1920s is recorded to be the highest number of Mexican immigrant and American born Mexican in the state of Texas in 20 years period. The number of Native Americans began to decrease, following the decrease of Chinese and Japanese labor work. California depended on these people for labor work, but as numbers began to decrease they needed other people to take over. Which led Railroad networks to hire more Mexicans to take over the work, also agricultural work another reason for Mexicans to flee to America, wherever crops grew, Mexicans followed the work. The second major reason beside economic instability was the political issues what caused a lot of Mexicans to immigrate, when Mexico was seized in power of dictator Porfirio Diaz, a lot of people came as refugees trying to abandon the violence and life of Mexico.…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    There are approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States that are spawning from many different countries and continents. (The Washington Post, Jerry Markon) Undocumented immigrants come to America to escape from many different kinds of mistreatment from their home country. As an individual moves they generally become followed by others who encouraged to find a better quality of life. However, as they arrive numerous immigrants feel as if they’re being burdensome, unappreciated, unintelligent, and at wrong for everything due to the language barrier. The journey is very difficult, however going through the worse stages to find a superior quality for your family is everything. Obtaining a citizenship is a strenuous process and difficult to attain because of raising standards, language and education barriers, along with the fear of the United States government and society projecting bias…

    • 1331 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Some of the most influential entrepreneurs are immigrants. Based on INC. by Adam Bluestein, Derek Cha, who had arrived in America when he was 12 years old with his parents and three siblings. Derek and his family had immigrated due to poop poverty in their home country, South Korea. Derek’s parents worked as dishwasher, janitor and etc. At age 16, Derek started his first job, working at a McDonald's restaurant. Now at age 49, Derek is the owner of the 350-store chain of Sweetfrog, which has more than $34 million in revenue. It had opened jobs for almost 800 people and still growing. This is one of many stories of immigrants who arrive in America for good reasons and help boost the American economy by opening up businesses and providing jobs…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    What could or would happen if we didn’t have illegal Mexican immigrants? Let’s take a moment to realize how this happened and what caused this to happen. According to the article Mexican Immigrants In The United States, Mexican immigration began during the year of 1900 and it soon became a big deal. Mexican immigrants came to the United States which means that the U.S. is mainly affected by Mexican immigration. Illegal Mexican Immigration is the most discussed topic today and that is why I decided to talk about it.…

    • 1033 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cost Of Immigration

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Everyday immigrants from nations like Mexico escape their crime filled world by braking American laws and being labeled an illegal immigrant. While in search for a better life, they are deprived of rights, capabilities, and are constantly in danger of arrest. On the other hand, there are hundreds of thousands of immigrants coming from the same situations who are waiting through the legal method of entering our nation, and becoming a citizen. Two similar yet very different situations have pushed us to make a decision over their lives that many never wanted to have. What to do with illegal immigrants has been a moral battleground for decades, causing some to say we should integrate them into our society, while others believe that they should…

    • 1001 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    These illegal immigrants have different ways of motivating themselves to enter the U.S. wanting to get a chance to better their living life; others are people who are facing wars in their countries (refugees), others are also fleeing from discrimination and wars in their mother country. Many of these people believe the United States is the best place to go. There is more liberty, safety, and aids, which are the most valuable issues to immigrants. The expanse of illegal immigrants in the U.S. has become continuous increasing in recent years after periods of speedy growth. But…

    • 1007 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    The immigration laws that our country has developed have evolved over time. The purpose of these laws is for the government to control the number of non-citizens who can be in the country. These laws can also deny one’s access to become a citizen, and they can also deport someone back to their home country.…

    • 990 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    There are many negative stereotypes of illegal Mexican immigrants. Many Americans don’t like the idea that illegal immigrants don’t pay many forms of taxes. Because of their undocumented legal status, we don’t have much information about their background. Their presence in the society creates uncertainty. They are seen as a factor of social instability. Many Americans also blame them for the taking over jobs. However, the reality is that California is becoming more and more dependent on its illegal Mexican immigrant population. These illegal immigrants from Mexico are a reliable source of low cost labor for California. They take the low paid, seasonal, menial and physically demanding jobs that the U.S. citizens are not willing to take. They stabilize the economy of California by keeping the labor cost low, thus keeping a lid on the inflation rate. They contribute to the government by paying sales tax directly and income tax at least indirectly. They are not here to enjoy benefits, as they are not eligible for most public assistance. The vast majority of them are here in California for work and better life. They are peaceful being and they work very hard to earn their place. The reality shows that illegal Mexican immigrants bring substantial positive impacts to California not only economically but also culturally. The huge number of illegal Mexican workers shows us their ethic of hard work and the importance of love for family. They teach us about their success by showing us how they build and utilize strong social fabric among each other. As an inseparable part of California, the illegal Mexican immigrants contribute and present their own ways of realizing the Californian Dream. In contrast to a lot of negative public opinions, these illegal Mexican immigrants show us what they are about by transforming California to become a better place.…

    • 2233 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The immigration act of 1924 was really the first permanent limitation on immigration. This limitation was like a quota system that only aloud two percent instead of the three percent of each foreign born group living in the United states in 1890. Like it say in Document A "Under the act of 1924 the number of each nationality who may be admitted annually is limited to two per cent of the population of such nationality resident in the United States according to the census of 1890." Using the 1890 census instead of newer up-to-date ones they excluded a lot of new immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe that came by in resent years (This is shown awfully well in Document B). This acts annual quota changed from 358,000 in 1921 to 164,000 in 1924 and finally changed to 154,000. Their was a couple of reasons that the United States made this an act; people were prejudice such as the KKK, and Americans lost jobs to new coming immigrants. People also felt that they had a sufficient population and wanted to breed pure Americans.…

    • 810 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays