Immigration Essay, Research Paper

Immigration

I am driving my car and trying to get to Miami. I get lost. I stop at a gas station because I need someone to direct me in the right direction. I end up in a city called Hialeah where there are very few English speaking people. The people that are there only speak Spanish. What do I do? This scenario happens to many people everyday. How do we deal with situations like this one? The city of Hialeah is a major example of immigration. According to Webster’s College dictionary, the meaning of immigration is coming into a country or region to live. Immigrants come from all over the world to live in America. Why is that? The main reason that everybody wants to go to the United States is because if they would go somewhere like France or Japan, although they would get higher wages, there is a much greater chance of getting harassed, arrested or deported in those countries, as opposed to the United States (Bergen 1). I lived in South Florida for fifteen years. Throughout that time, I was exposed to different situations that involved immigration. I feel that it should definitely

be restricted.

United States immigration policy in recent decades has not provided for strong, effective measures to reduce illegal immigration, and at the same time, explicitly authorizes high levels of legal immigration (Delaet 3). Therefore, there have been high levels of immigration in this country since the 1960s, which actually reflect the basic provisions of United States immigration policy. Since the 1960s there have been few acts that have been passed. For example, the Immigration Act of 1990 had a major impact on the United States. In 1980 public polls indicated that a majority of the United States public favors establishing current legal immigration levels had a large amount of people preferred a reduction in legal immigration to this country (Wilson 25).

Upon signing the Immigration Act of 1990 into law, President Bush hailed the benefits of this legislation for the nation, saying, “This act recognizes the fundamental importance and historic contributions of immigrants to our country,” and “is good for families, good for business, good for crime fighting, and good for America” (Delaet 91).

During a signing for an immigration quota law in 1924, President Coolidge states, “America must be kept American”(Bergen 7). Unfortunately, in this day-and-age, America is not being kept American. Many immigrants have come into the United States and have changed the way things work. When one reads a sign in public, for example, it is most likely to not only having the phrase written in English but also in another language such as Spanish. Along with many other Americans, I believe that immigrants displace United States workers, burden social welfare systems, and threaten American culture. Some of the effects that immigrants have put on our economy are the growth rate, inflation, per capita income, income redistribution, and balance of payments (Wilson 74). The only way to stop these economic problems is to stop immigration. FAIR is an interest group that favors stronger restrictions on legal immigration. FAIR states, “Today a wide-open door is an invitation to national disaster” (Bergen 7). It is a fact that many problems that America faces today such as drug issues come from immigrants that are sometimes even illegal immigrants. Border policies are not being enforced as much as they should be. For example, once immigrants come into the United States they are in for good and the government tries to come about ways and excuses to keep them in.

On the other hand, immigration has given the United States some positive factors. As Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Remember, remember always, that all of us? are descended from immigrants and revolutionists” (Cornelius 197), which is definitely true, because if we were not here the United States would not be as prosperous as it is now. Immigration also gives legal immigrants opportunities for employment as normal Americans, providing that they know English. Although these facts are true, I still feel that immigration should be restricted.

In conclusion, there are many problems that the United States is facing today, being that immigration is one of them. Right now, at this time, bills are pending that will dramatically restrict legal immigration for years to come. Though some immigrants come to work in America, half of them do not even get a job and somehow end up on welfare. They claim that they want to live in the United States because it is a “free country,” as far as morals are concerned, but the right to live in another country involves a belief in the moral and judicial rights of that nation.

Cornelius, Wayne A., et al. Controlling Immigration: A Global

Perspective

Decaet, Debra. U.S. immigration Policy in age of Rights.

London: Praeger, 2000.

Wilson, Charles., et al. Economic Issues in Immigration.

London: The Institute of Economic Affairs, 1970.