...Multiculturalism and Immigration Multiculturalism is a long and fancy-sounding word, often mistaken for its true meaning. Some define it as equality between all cultures, others say it is the combination of all cultures that creates new hybrid ones. Whatever the dictionary says, the true meaning of the word is its actual application in the real world. We all, including my group, have different approaches and views toward multiculturalism, but I personally relate it mostly to immigration. Immigration is a founding stone of multiculturalism and although there are strong arguments against it, in my eyes, it is important for the country and its diversification. Every year my friends and I come to school a week earlier for the international orientation week. It is an event I usually look forward to way in advance. It is an exciting moment when the new class of international students set foot in Ramapo College for the first time. The people are of different ages and background. They come from exotic places like Burma, Italy, Nepal, Bulgaria and many more. Most of them have never been to the States before and the change they are going through is quite tough. Communication with them is not always easy. They come from different cultures, have different understandings of life and different ideas about what is wrong and what is right. The communication with foreigners largely depends on their proficiency in English. Many students struggle with their accents and do not feel comfortable...
Words: 1727 - Pages: 7
...United States Immigration Policies The concept of immigration has been in the realm of the United States for as long as it has existed. Legal immigration has been welcomed in the United States. Immigration is not a new issue, for it has been a topic to debate on for quite a while now, the only difference is, the arguments have become more intense. Whether it was a warm or cold welcoming, the idea of immigration has continued to occur. Although the essence of immigration started centuries ago with Mass Migration, the excessive overflow of immigration peaked at Ellis Island in 1907, with about 1 million immigrants being processed. Today, the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau accounted 12 million illegal immigrants currently residing in the country. By 1925, Ellis Island became known as the primary detention and deportation-processing center. According to the Congressional Budget Office there are a number of reason whys immigration has continued for so long. For example, immigration is known to reunite families by admitting immigrants with families that are currently in the United States. Further more, our country admits specific skilled workers for their own benefits and protects refugees that are already in danger in their own country. The most important reason why immigration is currently progressing in the U.S. is because the idea of diversity is important. Now, there are three different types of admissions, Permanent, Temporary, and Illegal Immigration. Permanent admissions contain...
Words: 1615 - Pages: 7
...Immigration Debate Angelique Diaz BSHS/332 September 1, 2010 Audra Duhon Immigration Debate People have a concern about the influx of undocumenting workers asserting the illegality of employment. On the other hand, many immigrants assert that they are just looking for a chance to make their lives and the lives of their families just a little bit better—and many sympathetic Americans think that these immigrants deserve that chance. The legal question will, at some point, be a settlement in the political arena. However, deep questions remain over what sorts of ethical reasons could be offerance either in favor of opening of borders to immigrants. One issue of importance in settling the ethical issues regarding immigration is that of equality(parrcenter.edu).This paper I will discuss the unethical immigration debate. Increased immigration is important for both the economic and spiritual well being of the United States. Immigrants often take jobs, which would otherwise go unfilled and increase the productivity. Empirically, the United States has recently undergone a long period of increased immigration and has an economy, which may have its ups and downs but is still the envy of the world with significant immigrant contributions in the prominent high technology sector. The most convincing argument against immigration is usually their effect on wages, but current economic policy is already focusing on fighting this wage pressure to reduce the threat of inflation...
Words: 1336 - Pages: 6
...a much needed overhaul of immigration reform. The DREAM Act was written to benefit people who have established an American cultural upbringing, those pursuing an education or serving our country through military service. Many opposed to immigration reform argue that immigrants burden the economy and take jobs away from native citizens. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, reiterated the need for immigration reform, which he says ‘is the single biggest step we can take’ to promote innovation and economic growth. “The biggest single step we can take to promote innovation in New York City, and across this country, is to fix our broken immigration system,” Bloomberg said. “It’s not only hurting national security, it’s the most ruinous economic policy you could ever conceive of. It’s destroying American jobs every single day. We’ve got to change it.” U.S. Data indicate that minorities and immigrants start businesses at a much higher rate than members of the native population. According to a 2008 study by the United States Small Business Administration, immigrants are 30 percent more likely to start a business then non-immigrants. Our nation has a long history of the positive impact immigrants have on our economy. By starting businesses immigrants help create jobs and employment opportunities. They are motivated to come to the US to seek opportunity so they display a strong work ethic. Another argument against immigration claims that immigration is threatening the values of...
Words: 622 - Pages: 3
...Immigration of Yesterday and Today As I was a child growing up in Southern California I never once doubted my citizenship or right to live in the United States. However, that was until one of my older friends in my neighborhood was shockingly deported when I was in the ninth grade. Since that time the issue of immigration has definitely been more relevant in my mind but honestly not that important. Maybe it’s because of the fact that the majority of American citizens never think about serious issues outside of the ones that directly affect them. When in reality the issue of immigration is so enormous that it not only affects the United States but the entire world. Throughout the past fifty years there has definitely been events that have changed, shaped and influenced the public opinion and perception of immigration greatly. In 2014, one of these events occurred when United States President Barack Obama decided to implement a major executive action on immigration policy, offering temporary legal status to millions of illegal immigrants, along with an indefinite reprieve from deportation (Ehrenfreund). This significant event now meant that the idea and topic of immigration was currently ever present and may change a vast amount of opinions in our country. In order to understand who we are today as a culture concerning immigration, it is important to know how we came about to our current status. During the 1960s when the civil rights movement was gaining momentum, our country...
Words: 2308 - Pages: 10
...Making Children’s Dreams Come True Immigration has been a heavily debated issue in United States politics for decades. It is a topic that policymakers weigh in on concerns of the nation’s security and its economy. Congress, which is in charge of evaluating laws is unable to effectively resolve an agreement on establishing a reform for immigration, making the decision policies transfer onto the executive branch. The executive’s responsibility to place a definitive reform on immigration will lead to dissatisfaction with the states and local governments. The notion of the immigration system has always been confounding to its own legislature that constitutes regulations on the naturalization process. In these case, children who came here illegally...
Words: 1119 - Pages: 5
...because they think these people don’t deserve to be treated as human beings. Jackie Calmes, wrote an article in the New York Times on November of 2014 about Hispanic Immigrants and our politics. The Republican Party was represented by Mitt Romney argued that Latinos who are here illegally needed to go back to their native countries. His argument was that they broke the laws and they don’t deserve to stay in the United States taking advantage of the American system and not contributing to the American economy. The President Barack Obama was proposing an amnesty to solve the illegal immigration problem in the U.S. The proposal did not go very far because the Republican Party voted against it. Mo Brooks, a Republican of Alabama failed proposal to extend citizenship to “so-called Dreamers – Latinos who were brought into the United Stated illegally as children (Calmes). The argument was that the children do not deserve to become Americans because it will create an issue if they joined the military. Brooks said to join the military individuals have to be 100 percent American, loyal and trustworthy. The Republican Party proposed to pass an immigration agreement but the Democratic Party didn’t agree. They wanted to send the parents back to...
Words: 1045 - Pages: 5
...POLSCI 200 Why Can’t the Government Pass the New Immigration Reform? Our nation is currently faced with many problems and the one that still seems to stand out is an immigration reform. Many of those who reside in the U.S may not see it as a big issue, but in reality it really is. Even though many presidents including Obama tried to adopt the immigration reform, the policy has been murky since Naturalization Act of 1790. The federal government developed a cohesive procedure for naturalization. Immigrants at that time were granted citizenship after living in the U.S. for at least 2 years without criminal records. Every President since Dwight D. Eisenhower has taken executive action at some point regarding to immigration reform. With the last immigration reform act passed in 1986, the time to fix a broken immigration system is long overdue. Since the United States has been highly populated with diverse population including documented or undocumented immigrants, the government could have considered adopting the immigration reform specifically and permanently. Apparently, there are some reasons that take many years to process an immigration reform in Congress such as polarization in Congress, Federalism, courts’ decision, media impaction, and interest groups. It is hard to believe that why the government is not fully paying enough attention to immigration reform bill that is one of the most important not only for country itself but also for its economy. Now, we have estimated...
Words: 2685 - Pages: 11
...immigrants? Throughout American history, immigration has become a part of our nation’s dilemma which, began hundreds of years ago. It has become a daily argument in the US in recent years with illegal immigrants as the main focus. Illegal immigration is described as people entering a Country without the government permission. According to Preston Julia from the New York Times, in 2008, the Center for Immigration Studies conducted a study and concluded, there are an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Nations such as the United States, Canada, and Australia will always attract people that are in search for prosperity. Since the Twin Towers incident, many people in the United States are scared and have second thoughts of allowing immigrants to cross our borders. Therefore, some people think that immigration is a threat not just to U.S. security but also to our economy. A lot of individuals want the government to stop illegal immigration; but would it not affect the United States more to do so? As illegal immigration increases dramatically as the years go by, so has a concern about its effect on taxpayers. While other consequences are clearly significant, the financial impact of illegal immigration is at center stage of the ongoing debate. Amazingly, few studies have tried to calculate the net economic impact of illegal immigration in the United States. This paper aims to consider certain aspects in relation to immigration. Focusing on the Federal government...
Words: 2084 - Pages: 9
...Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744) The description of the bill is: ‘The House of Representatives proposed an immigrant reform bill addressing border security, legalization of the undocumented, interior enforcement of immigration laws, and fixes for our dysfunctional legal immigration programs” * Where was the bill introduced? The bill was introduced to the Homeland Security Committee Who proposed the bill and why? The bill was proposed by Chuck Schumer .this bill make it possible for undocumented immigrants go achieve a legal status and also to make the borders secure. * What would the bill do if passed? Where are the people that it would affect? If this bill passed it would improve the border and add more border patrol agents .the people that would be affected are people who live in Texas. * How does it aim to affect illegal immigrants? It aims to affect illegal immigrants because it would be hard to travel to the United states * How might it affect the government? It might affect the government in a neutral way. Because of the amount of money for them to go through the process and in a good way if they pass ithe bill it would dimish the crime rates the United States. * How might it affect other citizens? It might affect other citizen by keeping them safe, because some of these illegal immigrants can be violent. * What are the arguments for the bill? What are the arguments against it? The arguments for this bill would be...
Words: 439 - Pages: 2
...What is the bill's title and description? Title: Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744) Description- “House of Representatives proposed an immigration reform bill addressing border security, legalization of the undocumented, interior enforcement of immigration laws, and fixes for our dysfunctional legal immigration programs” Where was the bill introduced- “Homeland Security Committee” Who proposed the bill and why? - Chuck Schumer; make it impossible for undocumented immigrants to gain legal status, and to make the border more secure. What would the bill do if passed? Where are the people that it would affect? - improve the border and adding more border patrol agents. People who live in Texas would impact from this bill. How does it aim to affect illegal immigrants? It makes hard for them to come to the United State How might it affect the government? It will affect the government in a good way, but then a bad way because it is going to cost them money for them to do so, but on the bright side if they passed this bill, it will diminish crime rates throughout the United States. Some usually bring illegal substances with them. How might it affect other citizens? – It will keep other citizens safe, because some of these illegal immigrants can be violent. What are the arguments for the bill? What are the arguments against it? This bill should be passed for a better enlargement of the U.S economy. For example...
Words: 406 - Pages: 2
...The first people to migrate to the United States “the nation of immigrants” were the English settlers in 1607. Since then the immigration population has grown extendedly, and now there are “More than 10 million undocumented aliens currently reside in the U.S., and that population is growing by 700,000 per year.” [1] Even though the United Sates started as a nation of immigrants; immigration has become an extraordinarily controversial issue in the country for the past years. This is because it now features human rights, refugee crisis, and the national security among others. Immigrants should face the consequences of their actions and get right with the law in order to be part of the country. The government has been currently addressing the...
Words: 1692 - Pages: 7
...1.02 part 2 Step 1. What is the bill's title and description? H.R. 4962: National Border and Homeland Security Act National Border and Homeland Security Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to give state criminal alien assistance program (SCAAP) funding priority to: (1) northern or southern Border States, or (2) state political subdivisions having one of the four largest populations of unlawfully present aliens for the preceding fiscal year. Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) (Secretary) to complete the required 700 mile southwest border fencing and priority-area fencing by December 31, 2015. Amends the Secure Fence Act of 2006 to direct the Secretary, in consultation with state and local officials along the U.S.-Mexico border, to achieve operational control over U.S. international land and maritime borders by December 31, 2015. Directs the Secretary to: increase the number of full-time, active-duty Border Patrol agents through FY2018; increase the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at U.S. ports of entry through FY2018; and establish within 18 months the biometric entry and exit data system required by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) from impeding border security-related activities by the Secretary on U.S. public lands. Amends the Homeland...
Words: 807 - Pages: 4
...Public Policy: Immigration The reforms that President Obama are trying to properly execute throughout the states is changing life for immigrants today. Obama recently gave two Executive Orders, the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and DAPA (Deferred Action for Parents for Americans), which are helping families resist separation. The big question on Obama’s immigration Executive Orders are if they are within the President’s power. It is Congress’s job to made the laws and the president’s to executive them, but with the creation of DAPA and DACA, many think that Obama is overstepping his authority. One big reason why President Obama felt the need to create his Executive Order is because of the what happened in 2013 when the Senate first created a bill addressing immigration. The bill was created by the Gang of Eight, which were composed of four Democrats and four Republicans, which was lead by Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer. They passed a bill with a vote of 68-32. The bill “promises to overhaul immigration laws for the first time since 1986…” (Silverleib). The 1,200 page document would change four things, the first is that it creates a new 13-year pathway for citizenship for a majority of the undocumented immigrants. It would also raise the cap on visas for highly skilled workers, while also creating a new visa program for lowly skilled workers who would be working on America’s farms. The issue that House of Representatives were most concerned with was border security...
Words: 1316 - Pages: 6
...Illegal Immigration and Border Policy In recent years, Illegal immigration has been a contemporary political and social debate. It has been the platform of many politicians, especially in the southwest, and it is often a popular subject in news media. People in favor of strict immigration policy often claim that illegal immigrants are costly to the American economy and that they take American jobs. The border control policy is ineffective, it is often too costly for its effectiveness. Border policies have increased the number of immigrant deaths in the deserts of border states. Not only that but the US/Mexico border is harmful to the environment. The anti-immigration policy that's currently in effect goes against a rich cultural history in North America. Lastly, popular arguments made for strict immigration will be brought to light. In 2006, George W. Bush signed H.R. 6061, also known as the Secure Fence Act, in an attempt to increase border security and expand the US/Mexico Border. Prompted by heightened national security measures after 9/11, the bill was designed to "help protect the American people" and marked " an important step toward immigration reform" (Bush 2006). The bill doubled funding for border security, increasing expenditures from $4.6 billion in 2001 to $10.4 billion in 2006. This money went to "[authorize] the construction of hundreds of miles of additional fencing along our Southern border" and to "[deploy] thousands of National Guard members to assist...
Words: 1810 - Pages: 8