U.S citizenship has a meaning much deeper than just the legal permission to live in this country; it is challenging to achieve and defines a dream of safety, opportunity, and privilege.
Due to lack of food, medicine, safety and economic stability in many countries, it can be extremely difficult to immigrate to the U.S., much less become a citizen. An article posted by the American Immigration Council states that “Immigration to the United States on a temporary or permanent basis is generally limited to three different routes: employment, family reunification, or humanitarian protection.” These three options can prove to be very difficult to access if the individual does not already have an employment opportunity or family in the U.S. Also,
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Because of this system, the people who would most desperately need to immigrate completely lack the resources to do so.
For my father’s girlfriend Isabelle and many others, U.S citizenship most predominantly means safety and refuge. Her and her son fled Mexico five years ago due to death threats from the cartel after they had murdered her husband and all the men in her family. Quickly, she went from being the daughter of a wealthy family living a privileged life, to working twelve-hour shifts below minimum wage to support her 16-year-old son. Conversations with them were inspiring to say the least -- her son managed to maintain beyond a 4.0 GPA and aspired to become a doctor, and his mother worked so hard even when she no promise of a future for the both them. Unfortunately, they were forced back to where they fled from after Isabelle got caught paying a man to marry her for their citizenship and working under a fake identity. Her son will never be able to pursue his dream and go to college, and his mother still can’t return to her home in fear of safety for the both of them. For them, U.S citizenship had been a concept they desperately held onto when in reality it was never going to become anything beyond an unachievable dream.
My father is the classic example of the famous American Dream and most would definitely define U.S citizenship as a chance of work and opportunity. He came here with my mother in hopes to provide his future family with
Most of immigration occurs due to the living condition of these travelers in their native country. Like Savant mentions in his essay “the issue boils down to legal conformity versus possible starvation” (Savant 374). Employment in the U.S. is the prime reason for entering the country illegally, leaving their towns and often families to pursue the American dream. With heart filled with hope and dreams they embark on a journey to reach the land that will allow them to have a stable job with better pay. With a family living in poverty and the fact that the U.S. provides for “some of their country-men to earn more in a day than he/she does in a month” (Savant 374) breaking
When I think of America I think of freedom and citizenship. The right to vote or the right of free speech are aspects that, as citizens, we posses. Being born in America automatically gives you these rights and many more, and most importantly, you become a citizen. Now, with citizenship comes responsibility such as obeying the law and paying taxes. So if you follow these simple rules does this make you an effective citizen? This question, in my opinion, is almost impossible to answer for a number of reasons, which will be addressed in the following paper. It was extremely hard to come up with a clear cut answer as to what an effective citizen entails. I grappled with this term through many drafts and in
Many mornings i would wake up to the mouth watering smell of Sancocho, a traditional latin hot stew with chicken, carrots, plantains, corn and potatoes.Loud Bachata would be playing in the kitchen as my mother cooked. The warm,rolled and cascading sounds of the guitar filled the house . “Llora guitarra llora!!” my silly father would say scream off the top of his lungs, enjoying the music as he read the morning paper and family would all laugh at the comment.
Becoming a citizen of the United States is a very lengthy process. Not just anyone can become a citizen of the United States. There are many requirements and responsibilities to becoming a citizen, whether it is of the United States or any other country. Being a citizen of the United States is a very special privilege. The people who do become a citizen should be very lucky and proud to be the citizen of the United States. Even though they do become citizens of the United States they shouldn't forget about their own country either, but share the joyfulness.
Citizenship can be defined as the position or status of being a citizen in a particular country (Oxford Dictionaries, 2016). This definition is not very broad, nor does it cover the many aspects of citizenship that exist in the 21st century. It is not only about being a legal citizen of a particular country, it is also about being a social citizen. You can be a citizen of Australia but choose to live elsewhere for the majority of your life. In terms of citizenship it is relevant on a political and social level. If you are actively contributing to the country in which you live in some ways you are fulfilling your duties as a citizen.
I believe that the ability to understand the world around you can tremendously influence a person. I have had the honors to experience many situations that broadened my perspectives in life. When I immigrated to America in 2006, I had no clue how greatly my education will be affected. Because my parents did not know any English, I had to accomplish all the work by myself. I understood their struggles of trying to put dinner on the table so I tried not to complain. They had given up their old life in Vietnam to give me a better education and opportunities, I did not want their effort to go in vain. Through my whole academic career, I pushed myself to do everything to my fullest potential because I have been given the opportunity that many other
Another controversial assumption made by advocates who want to see a change in birthright citizenship is that unauthorized immigrants and their U.S. born children place a drain on many social resources. When an unauthorized immigrant has a child born in the U.S., that child has access to all the social resources that U.S. children born to legal citizens are entitled to. It is believed that undocumented immigrants do not pay taxes and come to America with the sole intentions of living on welfare. Evidence provided by the Social Security Administration, contends that there are taxes that cannot be matched to workers’ names and social security numbers. This is also known as a “suspense file” and it has grown by twenty billion dollars in recent years. Migrants and undocumented immigrants contribute more in taxes and social contributions than they will ever receive in individual benefits (Van Hook and Fix 2010). Immigrants earn about $240 billion a year, they pay about $90 billion a year in taxes but only use roughly $5 billion in public benefits (Van Hook and Fix 2010). In
If you were to buy a fresh pair of Nike's from a street vendor and when you get home, the `N' falls off uncovering an `S', do you still consider them Nike's? Honestly, look at what they really are. They are Sike's. No matter how hard they try to be Nike's, they will always be Sike's. You can cover the `S' with an `N' but can you ever really replace the `S'? No, you can not, so why should an illegal immigrant gain American citizenship rights just because they were born in America?
Every year people from all over the world, leaving their homes and moving to the United States. These people are willing to sacrifice themselves in the hope to start a new life, to find an opportunity for financial support for their families, to give a chance for their children have a better future in the safe country. Some of them immigrate in order to find freedom or relief from political and religious persecution. Each of these brave persons has a big reason to leave a Homeland, family, friends, work and all elements of a human’s life without even a possibility to come back home one day. According to recent changes in the immigration law of the U.S., not everyone, who is
Immigration has developed into an onerous and exhausting process. Generally, to apply for a green card or visa they would have to fall under one of four categories; employment, certain family ties, refugee or asylum processing, and diversity lottery. Each group has its own limitations on how many visas they can give out and many immigrants do not qualify under any of these categories, therefore they cannot obtain a visa.(immigrationpolicy.org) Under the current limitations of how many visas each country receives, many countries like Mexico and China are “oversubscribed”, meaning any petitions received after the cutoff date are not assigned a visa number. This creates unreasonable wait times for some to be reunited
From its origin the United States has been called a nation of immigrants. It is a melting pot for countless cultures, religions, and races. Our immigrant past has helped create a national character. Our country attracts the most brilliant people from all around the world from the highly educated to the hardworking immigrants. Unfortunately, due to the broken immigration system it is extremely difficult for anyone to obtain a visa or green card to enter the United States legally. The Immigration Policy Center says that most undocumented immigrants do not posses the required family relationship to apply for legal entry. However, those who do have a family relationship face years or even decades waiting for a visa.
I believe the value of my US citizenship is big. Majority of the world knows about the United States, and have an opinion. I have met so many International students from my University that wish they could have a US citizenship, mainly due to the freedom that comes with being American. Most of the International students I have met are from Japan, or other Asian countries, which are countries that are more collective. This means that everyone has to filter the way they act, so it benefits the society. These countries also have major status separation with status. If someone of higher status be it age or career, asks for something from a subordinate, they are required to do it. There is also big part of society in these countries that are unwritten and unspoken, but is known by society. America puts an emphasis on being individuals. If a superior asked a subordinate something unreasonable, the subordinate can reject the request, under certain circumstances. Both countries have pros and cons when it involves with society, this particular part reminds me why I value my US citizenship.
Today the Society is split into three separately minded groups. In no specific ordering, the first is determined to believe that any one person born in the United States is a citizen and which means their parents should become citizens along with them. These are the ones whom obtain “birthright citizenship” (Raul). The second are firm believers in the only ones that should be citizens are the ones who go through the proper process of becoming a citizen and according to the article in “USA today,” it states that illegal immigrants are “having babies as a way to obtain citizenship,” which too many Americans “cheapens the whole idea of being American”. The last group is the “other” the ones whom are completely neutral or believe in the
Current events in the world today has us facing some of the same challenges that post World War II citizens had to go through. For example there are millions of refuges fleeing war torn countries such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and parts of Africa. Many countries have stopped accepting most of these immigrants because
So what does citizenship means to me? Is it just a piece of paper that says you are a citizen of a country or does it mean something more in a deeper level. When I was just a little boy my mother always talks about that when we move to the United States we should apply for citizenship immediately. As I was growing up here in the United States I slowly understand what citizenship means to me. Being a citizen for me is fulfilling my obligations toward my country, Living a lifestyle that benefits myself and my community and having good sense of patriotism.