The Immigration Of The United States

Immigration has always been a complex issue in the United States. Previous and current administrations have had great difficulties in setting policies and programs in place to address this problem. During the course of American history, laws were enacted to address such issues. There were numerous legislative milestones in regards to immigration in the United States. In order to understand the current issues regarding immigration, we have to look back at the policies that were in place along with the goals that they intended to serve. According to (Barusch, 2012), the United States had an open immigration policy; which means that anyone could relocate to this country. As a result of this policy, the government had to redefine

Globally, the United States has been known as "a nation of immigrants" almost from its inception. Beginning in the 1600s with English Puritans and continuing today, America is a melting pot of culture and ethnicity. In fact, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, immigration was the major source of U.S. population growth. Looking over our 200+ years we find that to clearly be true, with approximately 1 million immigrants coming to America during the 17th and 18th century. Almost 3 million arrived during the 1860s, and another 3 million in the 1870s. In the next four decades, the number of immigrants rose to over 25 million people, most from various European nations, most arriving in New York or one of the Eastern seaports (Damon, 1981). Despite the politicization, as of 2006, the United States actually was the number one country globally to accept legal immigrants into the country, with a current immigrant population of almost 40 million (Terrazas and Batalova, 2009). In fact, the peak of immigration was 1907, when over 1.2 million Europeans entered the country beginning a push towards legislation limiting immigration in the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1924 and the 1921 Congressional Quota Act. These immigrants came for two sociological reasons: the push factor (wars, famine, persecution and overpopulation) and the pull factors (jobs and the promise of freedom). Most came by ship, and a passage often cost the equivalent of an entire life's savings causing many

The United States is a country that was built on immigration. The first settlers, Native Americans, represent less than 2% of the total population; the remaining 98% of the population are immigrants or decedents of immigrants. Today, the US still has the highest immigration rate in the world with 757,434 naturalizations in the 2012 fiscal year only (US Naturalizations 2012, Department of Homeland security). People try to immigrate to the United States for many reasons. Some people immigrate because they have been granted a refugee status or asylum and other people immigrate to fulfill their dreams. Immigration has an effect on the American society and economy. The US cannot survive without immigrants.

Since its founding, the United States has attracted immigrants from all over the world and consists of a variety of different cultures. Immigration has had an enormous impact on American society and economy and shaped the country remarkably.

Immigration is both a domestic issue and global concern. It involves economics, politics, and culture. Unlike other current issues, it has been at the center of the American experience for hundreds of years (Tirman, John). Every year, hundreds of thousands of immigrants from around the world, come to the United States. These immigrants have many different motivations as to why they leave their home country; but as currents events indicate, it is injustice, poverty, and violence in their own country that generally make people move to save themselves and to ensure a better future for their families. Many of these people believe the United States is the best place to go, because there is more freedom, protection, and benefits,

Immigration has and still a dilemma for the United States. Immigration has shaped the United States as a nation since the first newcomers arrived over 400 years ago. Immigrants contribute deeply to many of the economic, social, and political processes that are foundational to the United States as a nation. Millions of immigrants are deported every year. The ethnicity of immigrants living in the United States come from all around. Mexico has the largest population of immigrants coming to America. “The number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States is estimated to 11.2 million, the majority of whom are from Mexico” (Boehm, 32). Some immigrants entered the United States illegally (by crossing the U.S. Border) and some through a visit visa.

Immigrants are part of a very important role in our American community. And it is that the historical roots of the United States can not be explained without immigration. Since its independence in the late eighteenth century, the country has experienced several waves of migration. For many years, the presidents of the United States have tried to end immigration no matter the damage or problems they can cause to immigrant families and the country. Immigration from the United States is made up of people from all over the world, people from different countries, races and, colors. Over time, groups of people in the United States government have created programs to help immigrants

Immigration has become an extremely debatable topic in the United States over the past 15 years. The United States has earned the term "the melting pot of the world" due to the country 's history as an immigrant nation. The United States was founded by immigrants seeking a better life from the foreign countries they once called home. Over the past two-hundred years Ellis Island and Angel Island have been open doorways for countless immigrants entering the country. Often the glories of America 's long and rich history of immigration cover up the struggles and problems that immigrants faced and the burden it places on everyday citizens in society. Today citizens must face numerous challenges and obstacles brought on by both legal and

The United States of America is one of the most advanced countries around the world. It is a country full of opportunities where most of its citizens have a high standard of living unlike many other countries around the world. It is a country that ensures its citizens with “the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The qualities of this country are the leading cause for the increase in immigration. People from Mexico, Asia, Europe, South America and the rest of the world immigrate to the U. S. for reasons, such as freedom and the desire of a better life. Immigration is not a recent issue. There were thousands of immigrants coming into this country years ago. Immigration waves mostly began in the nineteenth century. However,

Immigration is a major factor that is greatly contributing to the unprecedented demographic changes that are presently occurring in the United States. Limited literature exists concerning the psychosocial and mental health problems experienced by immigrants as a result of immigrating and subsequent adjustments. Undocumented immigrants have no legal rights and are often emotionally, physically, and economically abused. Without the right to vote and stay in the U.S. legally, immigrants have little power to change oppressive social structures. Given the dramatically growing immigrant population in the U.S., multicultural social justice counselors are confronted with a challenge to provide culturally responsive services for this population

A native of Mexico, Gonzalez came to the United States using a visa, to visit family members and in 1994, police convicted Gonzalez of the abduction and rape of a Waukegan, Illinois woman. During his conviction his attorney, Vanessa Potkin, addressed that at twenty years old, Gonzalez spoke very little English, had no criminal record, and yet the police wanted to pin the crime on him. Twenty years later, DNA from the crime cleared him of both charges, and Gonzalez is now threatened with deportation. Situations such as this occur often in the United States with immigrants subjected to being accused of crimes because of their inability to speak proper English and lay victim to stereotypical views. Americans have the misconception that all immigrants pose a threat to the United States and that immigrants entering the United States have the intent to perform terrorist attacks. This way of thinking continually perpetuates the stereotype that immigrants are dangerous. Although terrorists may be immigrants, not all immigrants could be terrorists, terrorists and immigrants posses many differences. Domestic terrorists or terrorists, who enter the country, have the intent of using violent acts to achieve a political goal. To further prove this argument, Sharon Bass, an Immigration Service Officer at the US Department of Homeland Security, addresses that “the average immigrant migrates to the United States to better their lives or their family’s lives, seek employment or reunite with

Many immigrant children are coming from different countries to the US and entering schools here that do not provide them with the support they need in order to be successful. Schools in America that accept these immigrant children in their school should provide more support to them. Newcomers should have a counselor that could help them with problems in school such as Bullying and discrimination. Also school districts should invest money in special programs that could focus on these children to help them succeed academically in school.

In order, for immigrants who come to the United State to work they must have documents in order to prove to their employers they are eligible to work. If they are not able to prove that they are eligible to work in the United States, they must take in a cash only paycheck where they have the possibility of being mistreated as workers and are being paid under federal minimum wage. The major key, in order to work in the United States is to have a Social Security number or have a work visa. If those immigrants have neither of those things they have to find a way to get the documents they need in order to work, even if it means that they have to get illegal and fake documents to provide for their family. As the tightening of the United States border has continued over the years. It has been getting harder and harder to prove that fake documents are the real deal, and many immigrants are trying to find documents that are allowing them to work as well not getting caught by the United States government. “A decade ago one could purchase simply ‘identify kits’- a driver’s license, a green card, and social security card-for only $100, but since the United States sealed it borders undocumented residents are willing to pay up to $5,000 for the mandatory national ID cards implemented by the DHS last year and hailed as a breakthrough in surveillance technology” (Romero, 2008). As the more and more things, the United States does to tighten up the border from illegal immigrants. The prices

Immigration quickly began with the idea of achieving the American dream. It brought men, women, and families from all over the world to America, in search for life, liberty and happiness. Those early immigrants brought with them their own cultures, traditions and languages. Most of us currently living in the United States of America recognize our history derives from these early immigrants. This has made America a wonderfully diverse country. However, for years, illegal immigrants and legal immigrants has become a dominant issue. Mary Sanchez states her opinion in her article, “Immigration and U.S. Borders”, by saying “America needs to return to the country it once was and welcome with open arms all immigrants who come here with the purpose of having a better life.” I agree America should get back to fully accepting legal immigrants.

Immigration is one of the most heated topics in the U.S. political and social agenda and usually evokes strong polar opinions in the American society, in part due to its complex composition of peoples and cultures. It is precisely due to this fact, that the interpreters and translators working in the field of Immigration must be familiar not only with the basic types of immigration hearings, but have an understanding of the history of Immigration in the United States, different types of visas and statuses as well as paths to Permanent Residency and Citizenship.