We live in the 90's the age where scandalous and controversial topics cover the news
headlines. Such subject matters as homosexuality, A.I.D.S, and abortion are fiercely
debated upon. Sides are always taken, with the conservatives battling the liberals.
One such argument that has always been debated upon since the founding of this nation has
been immigration. The fact that it has been argued over for so long makes it seem
ironic. A country founded by immigrants perpetually arguing over immigration. The basis
of this dispute runs deep and that is what will be discussed in this following paper.
Anti-immigrant sentiments have been circulating since the Alien Act of June 25, 1798 .
The Act was the first federal legislation that dealt with the expulsion of aliens in the
United States. Another landmark case was the notorious Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
That clause revoked all Chinese immigrants to emigrate to the States for a period of ten
years. It is so infamous due to the fact that it was the first bill that discriminated
against any one particular race. Restrictions on immigration may seem to have been
eradicated from current history but that is an oversight. Even in the "politically
correct" society we live in today allows for these discrepancies, for in the Immigration
Act of 1990 which brought up controls for immigration.
Behind all these legal documents there are reasons that spurred these causes. Certain
prejudices against certain races or religion. The prejudices were not always a color
issue as the current immigration problems are. In the beginning it was primarily
Europeans. In particular the Irish and German were thought of negatively. The percentage
of the Irish in the Mid-Atlantic went from 45.9% in 1870 to 48.5 in 1930. Germans in
1870 went from 31.4% to 35.6% in 1930 . The common belief was that the two races were
against assimilation. They lived in their own communities and refused to learn the
English language. But that belief like all others were false based. After the Germans
and Irish started to finally assimilate we needed a new scapegoat. The next were the
Italians and Jews, following them were the Catholics. Throughout history there were
always someone who got the blame put on them. Lately the blame has been put upon
Middle-Eastern, Asians and Hispanics.
Now that the basics has been laid out it is time to argue the two sides of immigration.
The Anti-immigrant argument is that immigrants were taking away jobs. With the incoming
immigrants they do take away jobs that could have been taken by Americans. But most of
the jobs that some of the immigrants take are the unwanted ones. The incoming immigrants
also overcrowd the cities and start to overpopulate in the States in Taking Sides they
state that approximately fifteen to eighteen million are expected to arrive in the states
within the next ten years . Another valid point is that with the arrival of so many
different types of people that we lose a sense of nationality. Every race starts to
clique together and tries to shut out the rest of the neighboring societies. But that
was similar of past races, its just a matter of time. The biggest immigration problem is
illegal or undocumented immigrants. They arrive on great numbers (though less than half
of all of the immigrants arriving in America). The only problem with curbing the numbers
of illegal immigrants is it is often difficult to put a control on them.
The pro-immigration stance on the arrival of settlers from abroad mostly take what the
anti-immigrant stand says and rationale it out. With the arrival of immigrants the truth
is that they don't take jobs away they create more. With an entrepreneur mentality the
newcomers open their own small businesses therefore creating much more dire needed jobs.
Another advantage to having a diversity of people is there is no stagnation. There
always is a new influx of people creating new technology and new ideas. In the past most
of the greatest accomplishments from Americans has been from foreign born researchers. A
prime example is Albert Einstein one of the foremost mathematician of all time. He
contributed the equation E=mc^2 and various other formulas. The list though doesn't end
here it goes onencompassing the likes of Ted Koppel, Henry Kissinger, and the likes of
many other prominent "citizens".
Immigrants are also not a burden on our tax dollars but a blessing. They provide us with
much needed tax dollars. The other fear that the undocumented immigrants using benefits
that are only given out to citizens are mistaken, for they are all ineligible. But on
the flipside the illegal immigrants by paying taxes and payroll end up paying for those
programs that they are unqualified for. The estimated amount that they paid in 1990 for
those services was about 2.7 billion, and which they can not touch even a cent of. The
stereotype that immigrants are dumb uncooperative people are allayed by those who fear
cultures different from theirs. As a result, it has become more difficult for foreigners
to commence the life that they had intended to live in the so-called "New World". Their
purpose for migrating to America is not to invade the original culture that was first
brought over by the English. Instead, these outsiders leave their old country behind to
travel to a new country they believe will provide them the opportunity to lead a better
life. Immigrants also by arriving to America they pass on knowledge of their own culture
to help unify all the humans. Also by sharing their culture we are able to expand
business further into other foreign countries. With the motivation and talent that they
possess immigrants are the backbone for the continued growth of our country.
My stand on immigration is probably lucid. I am pro-immigration. Being an immigrant
myself I have personally felt the hardships and prejudices held against me, simply based
on skin color. Immigrants that arrive here usually come with a goal in life - to succeed
on it. With that kind of mentality I share the same view as Stephen Moore. Even the
undocumented immigrants that seem to be numerous is false, they only constitute roughly
1-1.5% a very small margin to say the least. This country was founded by immigrants,
built by immigrants and flourishes because of immigrants. It seems only in dire times
that America tries to find a scapegoat to use as a justification of why they are failing,
when the truth of the matter is that the fact that we have to blame someone else we have
a much more serious problem than we think.
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