The Immigration And Naturalization Act For The United States

The United States of America, being a country founded by immigrants, is known all over the world as the land of great opportunities. People from all walks of life travelled across the globe, taking a chance to find a better life for them and their family. Over the years, the population of immigrants has grown immensely, resulting in the currently controversial issue of illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants are the people who have overstayed the time granted on their US, visa or those who have broken the federal law by crossing the border illegally. Matt O’Brien stated in his article “The government thinks that 10.8 million illegal immigrants lived in the country in January 2009, down from a peak of nearly 12 million in 2007.”(Para, 2)

Throughout the history of the United States immigration has become apart of our country’s fabric which, began centuries ago. Only to become a hot topic in the US in recent years with its primary focus being illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration is when people enter a country without government permission. As of 2008 the Center for Immigration Studies estimated that there are 11 million illegal immigrants in the US which is down from 2007‘s 12.5 million people. Although the Center for Immigration Studies estimates are very different from other estimates that range from 7 to 20 million. While the Pew Hispanic Center estimated in March of 2009 there are 11.1 million illegal immigrants and that number is from March 2007’s peak of 12

This paper explores the United States, Immigration Policy from an historical, fair and factual perspective. The Immigration Act of 1990 States limited “unskilled workers to 10,000 a year. Skilled labor requirements and immediate family reunification were major goals. The Act continued to promote the nuclear family model, foreign-born in the US was 7%”. This paper will also explore the demographics and diversity, of immigrants, throughout the U.S. This paper includes an article form the website of the Washington, D.C., Immigration Policy Center, and American Immigration Council. This paper will examines significant research data from the Pew Research web site on Hispanic trends and immigration, around the United States. This paper will also cover numbers, facts and trends which shape the immigration policy. This paper will also include five different books written by authors concerning the immigration policy and public issues which most concern Americans. This paper will cover topics of history of social problems and the policies that address immigration, special interest groups advocacy groups, political party and supporters, social justice and ethical issues, policy outcomes of illegal immigrants and how other countries compare to the United States when dealing with immigration.

“According to estimates from the 2013 ACS, the U.S. immigrant population stood at more than 41.3 million, or 13 percent, of the total U.S. population of 316.1 million. Between 2012 and 2013, the foreign-born population increased by about 523,000, or 1.3 percent. U.S. immigrants and their U.S.-born children now number approximately 80 million persons, or one-quarter of the overall U.S. population.”People for in other countries that come to America are known as immigrants. They can be categorized as illegal or legal immigrants. Recently there has been a case (Texas v. United States) which corresponds with immigration in the United States of America. Now, it is seen as inhumane to break up families in the United sates, It’s illegal for states to sue the U.S., and the general public does not need time to react to the new program in motion.

As the number of illegal immigrants entering the United States begins to increase once more, the issue of allowing or prohibiting immigrants to gain temporary status in order to obtain work continues to create national problems. According to a report given by the Department of Homeland Security, it is estimated that the number of immigrants entering the U.S. is at about 1.1 million people per year. (Hanson Par. 1) These individuals come into the United States in search of better living conditions and opportunities. However, these immigrants face challenges when it comes to work and other types of living.

The subject of illegal immigration coupled with the concern of the growing number of illegal immigrants in the United States has been a long standing national debate. A single finite definition of the term “illegal immigrant” has proven difficult to specify. For the purposes of this paper, I will use the term “undocumented immigrant” defined as an individual who has “entered the United States illegally or violated the terms of their residency status” (Chan, Scott, Krishel, Bramwell, and Clark, 2006).

Bill Clinton passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act in 1996 in America. The original purpose behind this act was an effort by Congress to improve and strengthen U.S. immigration laws through improving border control (LII, 2010). This act gives the government the ability to deport any immigrants who have resided in the United States unlawfully for less than 365 days or who have committed a crime. According to LII, this act also established regulations for employment eligibility with sanctions on both the employee and employer. If a business was caught employing without eligibility verification in agreement to these guidelines they received a high pension and immigrants were detained for deportation.

In the United States, citizens are very familiar and concerned about the topic of the Immigration Reform. Based on the research report from Senior Research Associate Pew Hispanic Center, Jeffrey S. Passel predicted around 11 million or more undocumented immigrants in the US in March 2005, which existed more than 6.5 million undocumented Mexicans, up to 57% of the total undocumented population and the Latin American countries are occupied by another 24%. (Passel, 2005) Furthermore, there are 9% in Asia, 6% of Canada and Europe, and the 4% rest for the others. (Passel, 2005) However, up to September 2006, there was nearly 13 million of the illegal immigrants but almost one-sixth of total, around 2.0 million undocumented

Undocumented immigrants refer to “people who presently possess no proof of any right to be present in the United States, whether or not they have been declared deportable by the US government (and the vast majority have not)” (Lyon, 2004, p581). According to the United States Census Bureau there are approximately eight to eleven million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States (Porter, 2006). Each year, approximately 500,000 more arrive without legal documentation. The number of undocumented immigrants now exceeds the number of documented immigrant arrivals. The majority of the undocumented immigrants arrive from Mexico (57 to 70%) and Latin America (23 to 24%), with a smaller number from Europe and Canada (5 to 6 %

In the present day United States, we face many disputes. One of the big issues is immigration. Although many oppose so it, the historical experience of legalization under the 1986 immigration reform and control act, has indicated that a comprehensive immigration reform would raise wages, increase consumption, create jobs, and generate additional tax revenue, therefore in actuality really beneficial to the to the U.S.(Hinojosa-Ojeda). The fact is that nearly all unauthorized migrants still eventually succeed in entering the U.S despite tens billions of dollars spent to reinforce borders, which has caused commotion(Hinojosa-Ojeda). Decisions taken by the government upon this issue have not been handled well. The economic analysis in

With the recent presidential change the U.S. immigration policies and effectiveness are being spotlighted. One of the rather tough issues is how to handle current illegal immigrants and how to put an end to illegal immigration (Schaefer, 2015). Immigrants that come to the United States are looking for the American dream or just for a better life for themselves or their families. Although, the stigma society insinuates is that of all immigrants bring terrorism, drug problems, and employment with them (Schaefer, 2015). Since the problems have been linked to immigrants, Americans have developed a prejudice towards people of Hispanic and Asian descent. Due to this prejudice towards immigrants both illegal and legal immigrants struggle to find employment (Schaefer, 2015).

A battered spouse or child a U.S. citizen or permanent resident may file for an immigrant visa petition under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). A battered parent may file if their son or daughter is a U.S. citizen. The filing of the petition is without the abuser’s knowledge, who will never be notified about the filing, and allows the victim to gain safety and independence from the abuser. The VAWA provisions apply equally to women and men and are permanently within the INA without need for congressional reauthorization.

For ages, the United States has seemed to be the country where people seek to move to for a better life. The United States was built on immigrants. People have always migrated to the United States both legally and illegally. The main problem the country has face with immigrants is the amount that trespass the border illegally. Illegal immigration is the unlawful act of crossing a national border(Illegal Immigration Pros and Cons). The illegal immigrant population keeps growing at an annual average of about 300,000 people(Currie 10). In the recent year of 2014, there were about 11.3 million undocumented people living in the United States(Krogstad). Many have asked what harm they do to both the economy and the American citizen. Although there are many arguments as to how much harm they cause, there are as many arguments stating illegal immigration benefits the United States. Illegal immigration has a positive impact in the United States within the consumers, the working class, and the overall economy.

The term illegal immigration refers to the diversity between whom the United States will accept as an immigrants and the desire of foreign nationals to live and work in this country. About 90% of the illegal immigrants in the United States are of Mexican nationals. Throughout the history, the United States has been raised to be the shelter for immigrants all around the world. Foreign nationals have flocked to its shores, slaving for the American freedom and its economic opportunities (Chiswick, 1988). As these immigrants are suffering from poverty, unemployment and lack of education. It is also seems to be attractive for low skilled workers that cannot afford the expenses of legal immigration and tend to be illegal aliens to fill jobs in agriculture

American is built on immigration. Immigration has occurred throughout American History. Hundreds year ago the same dream of freedom and opportunity inspired people to cross the ocean to America today. Immigration brings the talents, youth and global connections, and immigration has a fundamental transformation of the American economy (A New Chapter). Immigration gives the United States an economic edge in the world economy (Daniel). Immigrants work in all types of occupations. They are teachers, scientists, engineers, and construction workers. Immigrants have been a constant source of economic activity. They are taxpayers, entrepreneurs, job creators and consumers. Daniel stated that successive waves of immigrants have kept our country demographically young, enriched our culture and added to our production capacity as a nation enhancing our influence in the world (Daniel). Countless families across the U.S. trace their heritage to immigrants—many of whom arrived under the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of illegal immigrants in the United States now exceeds 11 million. But wherever they come from, immigrants make the trek to the United States for the same reason: to make a better life for themselves and their children (Solis). However, illegal immigration creates great problems to the security and economy of America.