The Melting Pot Analysis

These words by Emma Lazarus, inscribed on a plaque on the Statue of Liberty, strike a chord of yearning for freedom in the minds of suffering yet hopeful people, and invoke a picture of the United States meeting the immigrant with open arms. The United States is often called a nation of immigrants, and yet US history reveals many examples of anti-immigrant sentiment, actions, and legal restrictions. Which is true --that America is a nation of immigrants or that it is a nation that does not support immigration?

In the famous poem The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, America is deemed a land of “world wide welcome” for those who seek a new place to call home. The Statue of Liberty is established early on in the piece as a symbol of freedom and protection, a statue symbolic of the spirit of America. In the piece, Lazarus refers to immigrants as the “poor, huddled masses” to whom the United States offers a pair of open “golden doors.” However, many immigrants today feel far removed from the land of freedom referenced in The New Colossus. The promise of a blue sky with endless possibilities is far from reality for the Americans that the poem calls the huddled masses. It is clear that America’s promise of freedom and opportunity, characterized by the

Attention: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” (Emma Lazarus). This sentence can be found in the poem “The New Colossus,” written by Emma Lazarus in 1883. It can also be found inscribed on the Statue of Liberty towering over the New York Harbor, a bright beacon symbolizing the freedom and democracy we hold so esteemed in America. Immigrants founded the United States and immigrants are arguably who made our nation so great. However, when immigrants do not follow the process to acquire legal citizenship into the United States is when the problems arise.

The topic of Mexican immigration recently made headlines again when republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released a 3 page statement detailing his blunt beliefs on Mexican immigrants. Trump’s blunt statements against Mexican immigration have led many to join the discussion of Mexican immigration. The views on the issue vary, some believe that Mexicans are the route to all of America’s unemployment trouble while others believe Mexican’s simply take jobs American’s refuse to take. Either way, there are nearly twenty four million people of Mexican decent living in the United States that have started their own communities which contribute to American society. Many American’s however, refuse to accept this and are still prosecuting Mexican’s. This can be seen in the media, public schools, and in the work place.

Known to many as the ‘melting pot,’ the United States consists of a variety of cultures and peoples. Immigrants from near and far traveled and continue to do so for economic opportunities or to escape persecution. One particular group of people who immigrated to the United States were the Filipinos or Pinoys, as some like to call themselves. Due to its 400-year colonization by Spain and the United States, the Filipino American populace increased after the Philippines became a territory under U.S. control. The last Asiatic group to migrate to the United States, the Filipinos have contributed to the American society through a variety of occupations, such as sailors or nannies. Moreover, the U.S. colonization of the Philippines from

The United States is notorious for holding prejudice towards immigrants, both legal and illegal. Due to this prejudice towards certain minorities; the effects of this bias provoke the negative treatment, purposely induced negative public image, and overall negative public opinion towards these individuals. In the 1920’s prejudice held form in mannerisms such as poor pay for immigrant workers, denial of jobs, and discrimination. In retaliation to this poor treatment, hispanic immigrants (primarily Mexicans) banded together and founded the Chicano Movement. They hoped to accomplish with this movement, equal working rights, natural rights, equal pay, equal treatment, and a fair education for their community. Through the powerful movement’s efforts

There are many phrases that dehumanize an individual. One of these phrases is illegal immigrant. The phrase has been used by media outlets, politicians, and the public for years in the United States. It diminishes the idea that diversity is substantially vast in our country (Chomsky, 2014). “Immigrants exhibit a large proportion of ingenious and valuable workmen,” said Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson. In 2013, more than 41.3 million of the United States population were immigrants. This made up 13 percent of the U.S. population at the time and the percentage has only increased since then (Zong and Batalova). On November 20th of 2014, President Barack Obama addressed the nation regarding his plans on immigration. The President said, “My fellow Americans, we are and always will be a nation of immigrants. We were strangers once, too” (The White House). An illegal immigrant is defined as a foreign-born, undocumented individual who migrates across the national borders in a way that infringes the immigration regulations and laws of the country (United States Department of Homeland Security). There are many reasons as to how and why this phrase receives adverse responses. Illegal immigrant is a phrase that labels and misrepresents the undocumented individuals of the United States who are an influential and dynamic part of the society.

The presidential election is drawing closer and immigration reform continues to be a key issue. There are proposals to build a massive wall, deport all illegal aliens, and instill a new kind of grandfather clause. Even though the United States is revered as a “nation of immigrants” it continues to hold nativist sentiments against newcomers. Before we make a decision, it is necessary to revisit our own immigrant roots.

Vigorous debates about immigration policy have been part of U.S. history since the first settlers began arriving from Europe (Novas, 1994; Kessler, 2001; Reichman, 2006). Those who favor more stringent restrictions on entry to the country, and greater penalties for violating those restrictions, argue that it is necessary for the safety and economic security of our nation and to preserve jobs for U.S. born workers (Camarota, 2011). Those who favor more leniency, and even amnesty for those in the U.S. without legal documentation, argue that the U.S. should maintain its standing as a nation of immigrants where everyone is welcome and where differences add value to the economy and our quality of life (National Council of La Raza, 2008). In today 's heated debates, immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America are most often at the center of the controversy (Camarota, 2011; National Council of La Raza, 2008) as sixty-two percent (62%) of undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. are originally from Mexico, and another twelve percent (12%) from other Spanish-speaking countries of South and Central America (Hoeffer, Rytina, & Baker, 2010).

America has long enjoyed a steady flow of immigrants from all walks of life. One of the most prominent groups to join the “The Great Melting Pot” in recent times is Mexican immigrants. In 2013, the Pew Research Center estimated that about 11.7 million immigrants from Mexico were living in the United States. Of these, “About two-thirds… arrived in the U.S. in 1990 or later.” (Gonzalez-Barrera and Lopez). Unfortunately, Mexican immigrants have not received that warmest of welcomes from a good number of Americans. Many in the United States have expressed concerns that Mexican immigrants pose a threat to “Americanism” (Gans, Replogle and Tichenor 399). Specifically, there is apprehension over use of the Spanish language by immigrants instead of the dominating English language, even though America has no official language (Cummins 128).

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” are a few of Emma Lazarus’ words that are forever inscribed on one of the nation’s most beloved monuments in New York City, the Statue of Liberty (The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus). This poem defines the nation for its longstanding relationship with refugees, yet, the issue has created controversy throughout the years, specifically during the recent presidential election. Many believe immigrants and refugees have no right to live in the United States, while others yield completely different, polarized opinions. Personally, I believe that the United States should not enforce extreme restrictions on immigrants who desire freedom in the form of fleeing to this country. Those who oppose this claim believe immigrants will debilitate the economy, enter the country illegally, and potentially harm Americans. However, these individuals do not take into account how America was built in the first place, how to effectively strengthen the nation’s borders, and the factual data that proves the majority of immigrants do not threaten the safety of Americans.

Along with its economic classes, American is known for its freedom, its liberty, and the melting pot of ethnicity. This ethnic diversity comes form the immigrant population in the country. However this perfect country is a major falsehood. These untrue ideals of harmony, freedom, success, and equality are deceptive and do not show the struggles that immigrants face when coming to this class dominated country. The immigrants of today do not come from just Europe, but overwhelmingly from Asia and Latin America. “They are driving a demographic shift so rapid that within the lifetimes of today 's teenagers, no one ethnic group – including whites of European descent – will comprise a majority of the nation 's population’ (Colombo, Cullen, Lisle). These immigrants challenge the social myth that everyone has an equal chance in life. They

Immigration issues have become a widely talked issue among people, since Paris was attacked in November 2015 by terrorists who migrated to France from Syria as refugees (Gallagher, 2015). In America where the Presidential Election is going to be held, people eagerly care about how the presidential candidates stand for immigration issue, because immigrants can seriously affect people’s daily lives: immigrants bring America lots of advantages both economically and culturally; however, immigrants do have drawbacks: illegal immigrants shared most of the welfare from programs provided by government, like “food stamps and Medicaid” (Meyer, 2015). All the presidential candidates have clear positions for immigration issue, and Donald Trump – the most popular and eye-catching candidate – is not an exception. As a conservative right-wing Republican, Donald Trump wishes to reduce, or even stop people migrating to America.

Immigration has always been a contentious issue in the United States. Benjamin Franklin thought that the influx in German immigration would flush out the predominately British culture in America at the time. (5) Furthermore, a continual wave of foreign cultures began pouring into the American metropolitan areas at the turn of the 20th century. The migration of Italians, Poles, and Jews across the Atlantic Ocean began a mass assimilation of cultural ideology and customs into the United States, yet many people thought that these migrants could not adapt. Today, the American society has become a melting pot of foreign influence; however, many cynics remain skeptical about the incorporation of Latin American people and their influences.

The United States is often called a melting pot because of the vast array of cultures that all live in the country. People have come from every corner of the world to settle in the United States. In recent years, the influx of immigration has become a contentious issue. Some people believe that the US is overpopulated and that further immigration poses a danger to the country while others contend that the US was built on immigration and that it is un-American to prohibit people from living here if they so wish. The articles "5 Myths About Immigration" and "The Challenge of Diversity" detail the different issues which are related to the immigration issue, both discuss the amount of immigration that occurs, the fear of immigrants taking jobs from American citizens, and the idea that immigrants are reluctant to assimilate into the American culture.