Immigration

Immigration Issues
Maria Moreno
Salt Lake Community College
Politics 1100

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Immigration Issues

For the period of colonial era, the first part of the 19th century and from the
1880s to 1920. Many immigrants came in search of greater trade and industry
opportunity, while some, came seeking for religious freedom. Others like the thousands
of African slaves were brought against their will to aid in the production of crops as
tobacco and to serve for the wealthier. According to the website History.com The first
significant federal legislation restricting immigration was the 1882 Chinese Exclusion
Act. Individual states regulated immigration prior to the 1892 opening of Ellis Island, the
countrys first federal immigration station. New laws in 1965 ended the quota system
that favored European immigrants, and today, the majority of the countrys immigrants
hail from Asia and Latin America.
History tells that for many decades authorized or not, immigrants from all
around the world have been coming to the USA, leaving their original country to start a
new life. Most of them, came with full knowledge of what the consequences for the
futurewould be, for example; living in a foreigner country and knowing little about the
rules, language barrier, hard work and discrimination. Others not so much, because
they have been dragged by family members or friends that want a better future in the
U.S.

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An immigrant that packs a few things with a new fresh start, in most of the
cases, had left behind parents,siblings, husband, wife, children and education already
completed. He or she venturein the new country confronting several barriers.There is
not time for adults undocumented immigrant to go to school, because they need to
survive and work is a priority.
The rejectionfrom the bureaucratic system that makes impossible tomanage
daily essentials, for examples; the privileges to obtain a driver license and an
identification card. This is a fundamental basis for individuals to get to places like; work,
school, or to the doctors office. Utah legislation has given the opportunity for
undocumented people to obtain a Driving Privilege Card. This is issued to those unable
to establish resident or citizen identifications.
The new immigrant is confronting with the lack of education in the schools
systems for an instance; cases in where children have been brought along, are to
enroll in the school system right away,facing several issues; depression, lack of
concentration,fearand later in high school, lack of interest in college. Bully is also
part of a student depression usually without being notice by teachers, parents and even
themselves. Coming to the greater country in earth, they might think or believe that
there is no reasons to be depressed. These children cant go to a doctor because they
are not able to abstain a social security to get the proper health care.

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On the other hand, legal immigrants and American citizens that fear for the
future of the country, feel disturb. They worry about the transformations of
neighborhoods and their culture changes. Today Americans are dealing more than ever
with new incomers into their space from around the world, and embedding their children
school system, a different lifestyle, food and languages. They want to let the world
know that they don't want more immigrants, they aren't welcome into their state.
These individuals work with the community by enforcing anti-immigrant laws and
blamed the governmentfor notenough force. They oppose to any kind of help from
the government to immigrants.
Some experts in education claimed, that the more immigrants enroll in the
school's system, more funds for thoseprograms are needed to cover the gaps of the
language barrier. They said those funds should be used for the already broken
education schools system and should be used for only USA citizen. On the opposite
view, experts claimed that, if educations funds are not used forimmigrantschildren,
the ignorance and delinquency will mark their future and consequential to the society of
the USA.
Children of immigrants represent about 25 percent of all American children and
are projected to make up one-third of the more than 100 million U.S. children by 2050

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(Tienda & Haskins, 2011). In fact, children of immigrants account for nearly the entire
growth in the U.S. child population in the last two decades (Cervantes & Hernandez,
2011; Fortuny, Hernandez, & Chaudry, 2010). While school-age immigrant students
represent the majority in New York City public schools (60%) and near-majority in
Californias public schools (49%), immigrant families in recent years has also fanned out
from the traditional gateways to new destinations in the Carolinas, Mountain West, MidAtlantic, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest regions.
The DreamAct (Development Relief for AlienMinor). President Obama made
an executive order granting DACA the opportunity to be effected, but the Supreme
Court couldnt agree. The judges were divided. The split 4 votes against and 4 votes in
favor. The 9th vote was impossible to have, because the 9th judge passed away. He was
the hope for many young adults in college that cant continue their dreams, because
they dont have a social security number to follow a higher education.
The immigration issue always makes controversial among general public and
politicians. Politics in favor believe that this bill would bring social and economic
benefit to USA and most likely future candidates for jobs. Politicians against, are
sure that this is not the best way to reward someone that has broken the laws.
Only few states are running programs helping students pay for tuitions. Fervent
opponents of the billarefuriousto know that meanwhile American citizen are pay
full tuition.
Studies from Dr. Raul Hinohosa Ojeda of the University of California and others
shown that the impact of legalization is important long-term improvements amount

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previously undocumented immigrants, specifically removing the uncertainty of
undocumented status allows legalized immigrants to earn higher wages and move into
higher paying occupations, invest more in their own education attending college, and
universities.

Experts in economic are alsodividedby this issue. Those against immigrants,

claimed that immigrants legal or not only come toharm the economy, benefit from
social security and welfare of Unite States. Adding to the issue, immigrant families
with a disable member are also benefit from the states funds. In the other hand
those experts in economic in favor, claimed that most unauthorized immigrants fill out
individual taxes, generating revenues andfulfilling the gaps.
Immigration in the USA has being a topic that makes controversies and
generates patriotism and mix feelings. Some people think this issue should be a
treated as a foreign issue and other countries should help with the share. One thing for
sure is that everyday immigrants arecoming to USA to find a better life with freedom,
and the respect for human rights. Yet in history Americans citizens have not always
welcome immigration, they respect the decisions made by the government and learn to
deal and also fight passively when they have the opportunity to do so. The USA is
multicultural country. Education to society will be the best outcome to understand
immigration issues in order to understand better the immigrants issues.

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Cited work
A Nation of Immigrants, Weisberger Bernard
American Heritage Vol. 45 Issue 1, p74, 1994
Cervantes, W. D., & Hernandez, D. J. (2011, March). Children in Immigrant Families:
Ensuring Opportunity for Every Child in America. First Focus and Foundation for
Child Development. Retrieved from
http://www.firstfocus.net/sites/default/files/FCDImmigration.pdf
Immigration and welfare state, Daniel Grisworld
Gato Journal, Vol 32 No 1, 2012

U.S. Immigration Before 1965

History.com Staff 2009

http://www.history.com/topics/u-s-

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immigration-before-1965 July 27, 2016A+E Networks

Immigration Laws are education laws too, Stewart David

Phi Delta Kappan Vol 75 pg. 556-558, 1994
Los American DREAM undocumented students, Kaleb Kim
Children & Schools Vol. 35 Isuue 1 pg. 55-58
The cost of immigration, Hardy Lawrence
Tienda, M., & Haskins, R. (2011). Immigrant children: Introducing the issue. Future of
Children: A Special Issue on Immigrant Children, 21(1), 318. doi:
10.1353/foc.2011.0010
"U.S. Immigration Before 1965." History.com. A&E Television Networks, Web. 20 Apr.
2015.
American School Board Journal Vol 199 Issue 4 pg 23-25, 2012
White Heat, Theresa Harmon, Nation Vol. 283 Issue 6, P11-18, 2006
Why we stay, Carmen Valdez, Jessa L Valentine Brian Padilla Web 2013