1. If I came to the U.S as a child and found out I was never an American citizen when I turned 18, I would do everything in my power to try to get my citizenship. Following the devastating news, I would feel betrayed and unwanted. I would also feel as if I have nobody to turn to since all my friends wouldn't be able to relate because they are naturally born citizens. However, I would still attempt to go to college and get a profession. I have always felt that the best way to gain the respect of others is to be well educated and have a professional career. The DREAM Act would be a reform that would help me in this situation because it would allow me to continue my education without fear of deportation. Especially since I would have been less than the age of 16 when I got to the United States and have graduated high school, which are requirements of the DREAM Act. Although, current immigration debates would possibly make my search for a profession tough because the DREAM Act doesn't guarantee citizenship (Module 3, p.11). Thus, many jobs prefer a potential candidate for a job to have a United States citizenship.
2. Historically, it was typically only the white males or people who could pass as having white physical features that could claim citizenship. “Citizenship was determined by gender and by the
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The concept of “citizenship” is a social construction because everyone in our society plays a part of defining citizenship. One may refer to citizenship as being a naturally born citizen or and immigrant who got their citizenship papers. Social media, news outlets, and even our family may change our perception of citizenship. Citizenship is usually tied in with immigration and how we think of immigrants. Thus, it would have never existed without society’s help of shaping the meaning and norms. Therefore, this has formed bills, debates, and independent opinions. These include the I-Word Campaign, the DREAM Act, Anti-Immigrant Movement,
Every person, or group of persons, has an identity and a culture tied to them from the country in which they grew up. An identity is the image someone present to the rest of the world, and culture is the image which one has of his/herself. Countries are similar to a person; over its history of being influenced by other countries, it has formed an identity and culture for itself. It has been stated that the worst act performed by others on another is to take away their identity, and deny them of their culture. Immigrants in America experience the loss of cultural norms/ values, cultural practices/ traits, adjustment to a new culture and changes in identity and concept of self. It is important to note that most immigrants are from minority groups.
“In its first words on the subject of citizenship, Congress in 1790 restricted naturalization to “white persons.” Though the requirements for naturalization changed frequently thereafter, this racial prerequisite to citizenship endure for over a century and a half, remaining in force until 1952” (López, 1). As persons from other countries migrated to the United States and attempted to acquire citizenship, the question of whiteness, specifically who and why an individual was white, arose; “whether one was “white,” however, was often no easy question” (López, 1).
The presidency of 44th US President Barak Obama has been marked with rather prominent and significant shifts in policy, reverberating throughout many areas of the country. One of the president’s most controversial proposals that has yet to be fully acted upon is providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States. Supporters of the legislation point to a variety of moral and economic reasons to justify their position while opponents retaliate with their own concerns about the “fairness” of this policy action. For many against this pathway, citizenship is a delicate conceptual idea that already has a clearly defined pathway within the United States. Citizenship is often a rather subjective
Undocumented Americans are like any other Americans, but with limited freedoms and opportunities as their other American peers. In the United States, undocumented Americans number about 2.1 million, and almost half of them are now adults (Friedman, November 10th, 2016). Many of these undocumented Americans were born in Mexico, moved to the United States and began their lives as American since they were young. This particular group of immigrant youths face uncertain futures clouded by fear and frustration due to the lack of rights, opportunities, and supports from both the general publics and the government. Many undocumented Americans do not fully realize the constraints of their status until they become young adults. Undocumented Americans’
Since the inception of this country, we as a nation of immigrants have struggled with the question of who should be a citizen and who should not. It is no surprise that illegal immigration greatly affects our nation and is now one of the leading debates our country faces, polarizing our society on many levels. This paper addresses the debate over the ‘Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act’, (DREAM Act 2011, 2011); a proposal purported to be the solution for innocent victims of illegal immigration. It discusses possible consequences of ‘The DREAM Act’ and how it may play a negative role in our society, legal system, and moral standards.
have you ever wonder how it is to be an immigrant? Traveling over the border to actually be free? To have better job opportunities, to let your children be able to receive the education. Tuesday, November 8. Karla Rodriguez, a senior high school. Shes a regular citizen. On election day, a day to choose our president. Karla was ready. She was ready to go through what was expected. Karla got dressed on a Tuesday morning, getting ready for school. As she left her room, she went downstairs for breakfast. As she stumble down the stairs, her brothers son started crying. She went back upstairs to go check on the baby. After she was done with the baby, she went downstairs and heard yelling in the kitchen. She heard her abuela and mom fighting over
Traditionally immigrants are faced numerous challenges on a daily basis. America is known as the place where there is a chances to succeed, a place where you can be free. Numerous Immigrants came to America with the goal that they could have a more noteworthy plausibility at prevailing in life. Settlers went out on a limb a when coming to America, for some it worked out well however for others they had a troublesome time here. Regardless of the battles that the outsiders experienced, for example, emerging from others, being isolated from their families, and breaking their way of life, the settlers are as yet thankful to be in America since they were in preferable conditions over they were in their country.
The United States has been the land of opportunity for immigrants. It is a place where immigrants from all over the world come to build a better dream and future for their families and leave from poverty, they come with nothing but determination. One thing that every immigrant brings with them is their culture. A person's culture is strongly tied to the country where they grew up. It is tied to their relationship with their family. Many people come to America from so many different places all over the world. For this reason, people call America a melting pot of cultures immigrants are striving for a better future even though when they migrate to the USA they don’t know the consequences they will face and struggle to be successful living in the United States.
There was a loud bang on the door. I sat up right away along with the other 13 people in my room. A soldier dress in head to toe with his uniform along with a winter jacket. He threw five pieces of bread on the floor and told us to go to work before leaving. The bread only got split upon nine of us; I was one of those nine. I had noticed a young boy did not get a piece so I gave him mine. The boy looked at me with a blank stare and took the bread from my frangile bonny fingers. I stood up, buttoned my shirt and adjusted my shorts. Under that slats of wood I slept on, I hid a scarve that I stole from a dead woman. I pulled it out and tucked it in my shirt so no one would notice. As I stepped out the door frame I felt a chilling breeze up my
Is America really a land of opportunity? The United States experienced major waves of immigration during the colonial area from the 1880s to the 1920s. Many immigrants Came to America seeking greater economic opportunity, while some others such as the pilgrims in the early 1600s arrived in search of religious freedom. The first significant federal legislation restricting immigration was the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Throughout history America has been a land of opportunity but also a land of struggle because yes there were many jobs opportunities and freedom from deportation but people struggled with living conditions and unfair treatment.
what is considered to be an immigrant to the united states? It 's a person that crosses the border illegally and that isn 't allowed to be part of the unites states unless they have permission to be here with a Visa. Society has given these people so many racial labels that 's beyond hurtful names they 're referred as wetbacks, Alien, and illegally immigrant, but what 's the right way to call these people without referring to them with all these racial characteristic and names that society has given them over the years. Society shouldn 't be labeling someone with racial names no human is an illegally. Yes, many of these people have come to the united states illegally. On a daily basis, these people have crossed the united states border illegally. During that process, they put their lives in danger by crossing rivers, walking dessert, underground tunnels etc.The reason why these people and families come to the united states. Is because they are trying to improve their economic situation, to have a better future for their children, and to escape corruption and violence from their country.
Leng had a difficult time while growing up. He struggled as a slave to his aunt and uncle as an orphan. The feeling of being unloved and unwanted made his life unbearable. But that never stopped him from being who he is today. He spent his whole childhood growing up in a refugee camp with his aunt and uncles. It wasn’t long until he was able to immigrant to the United States with his sister Houa, and her husband. He had hoped for a better life here, but only found it to be more difficult.
Employment continues to be one of the fastest growing industries. Employment can be found about in any occupations. Jobs vary from a business setting, to Production Company, to small organizations and more. Above all, employment comes with requirements and knowledge’s that employers seek to satisfy their needs. If one does not meet the requirement nor have the qualifications it is a competitive industry that continues to impact many job seekers and had impacted my parents. My mother who migrated to America over thirty years ago had experienced several of employment opportunities. An American born, I understand that my work experience may be different to my mother. To compare and contrast it will allow me to evaluate the different work experiences
Growing up the child of an immigrant has given me a unique perspective on life that a majority of kids my age will never have. In my home, I am surrounded by the Ethiopian culture and language, but when I step across the threshold, I am greeted by a culture foreign to my own. I was challenged with learning two more languages than most kids, Amharic and Tigrinya, which classified me as a student who needed ESL (English Second Language) classes. My mom always said, “Ewedeshalo yenekonjo”, meaning I love you, my beautiful. I was immersed in two different communities, and had the impression of living in two different countries. I was faced with the difficulty of not knowing where I fit in since I am one of a few kids who have this reality. Balancing
Before discussing Joppke's theory in greater detail, it is useful to at least acknowledge that the concept of citizenship as it is commonly considered today did not arise until relatively recently. Though notions of citizenship explicitly tied to a particular nation-state can be traced