Immigration in the Us

Pre-DP Inquiry Skills

Immigration in the United States

The US is a nation of immigrants. This is a basic idea that has been drummed into every Americans head since their first history lesson. The US has been described as a pot of soup, a great tossed salad, and the melting pot of the world. Half a century ago was a time when people immigrated to the United States from around the world, coming to find their success, happiness here in the land of liberty, justice, and freedom. Now the climate for immigration has become hostile. Becoming a naturalized citizen can take years, with mountains of paperwork and incomprehensible laws. Even for the “two out of six” who were brought into the US illegally when they were young children, who had no idea of the laws they were breaking or memories of the land, they left behind. It has been argued that imposing looser immigration laws and a path to citizenship for those who are here illegally could take jobs away from ‘real Americans’. Nevertheless, paving a way for smart and talented people to immigrate to the U.S will enhance our economic productivity; contribute to the quality of America’s national life, and character.

US immigrants help to fuel the US economy. Immigrants in the US represent about “one in every six workers” (Immigration Reform, CFR). Because of this escalating immigration (illegal and legal) and the slowing growth of the US population, foreign-born workers accounted for nearly half of the US labor force over the past few decades. Most of the media attention of immigrants focuses on the low skilled and low intelligent workers breezing over the vast numbers of intelligent and highly skilled immigrant workers. Well-educated immigrants fill critical rolls in the ever-growing technology fields, like engineering, the health care sector, and information technology. The future prosperity of the US economy will be determined based upon the vitality of its workforce.

Moreover for the US to prosper economically immigration reform must occur. The current immigration system has changed in the past twenty years only by degrees. These tiny changes to the laws on immigration make them archaic, contradictory, and utterly inefficient to survive in today’s world. Without reform the US, risks’ becoming a place of the past where becoming an immigrant seems a hostile prospect. For years, the US has been a place where immigrants flocked to because it promised such opportunity. Now countries like India and China where the economies been booming the opportunities are greater. Professor of research Vivek Wadhwa at Duke University stated, “In any large city in India and China, and you will find hundreds of startups building web technologies, clean-tech products, and mobile applications. At the helm of a significant proportion, you will find returnees from the United States, who studied or worked in the United States, but returned home due to visa problems or to seek a better opportunity.” (Wadhwa, Council on Foreign Relations). This exemplifies the fact that the US is running on empty, and without a boost of reform in the US immigration laws the US will no longer be one of the world’s vital economic powers. So those that believe that the US is suffering because of immigration are mistaken, the US economy was built on the work of immigrants looking for a life of freedom and liberty, if the US can no longer provide these things these people will go elsewhere and the economy could go on an even bigger downward spiral.

Furthermore the US will not only suffer economically if new immigration reforms are not put on the table but the culture and character of this nation will suffer greatly as well. Immigration promotes growth, and diversity of culture in the US. At every great moment throughout US’s history, the immigrant has contributed to the prosperity of our culture, and the strength of our moral character. The many improvements that come from cultural diversity are invaluable. The US would not be the place it is today without the diversity brought to this country by the many immigrants this country has seen. Think of US without the simple taco! Or the US without Albert Einstein, Andrew Carnegie, Bob Marley, or Audrey Hepburn! Without these influential immigrants this country would not be the US we know today.

The US is a nation of immigrants. It was once a place for all to come, young or old, rich or poor, to come to, to find happiness and better opportunities. Nevertheless, right now the US is at a stand still on all fronts. Nevertheless, with new looser immigration reforms the US can once again become a place where all seek to come, a place of great diversity and a place where the economy thrives. However, without new reforms, the US will stay stagnant, and it will slowly decline into eventual oblivion. It is important now more than ever that the US begins paving a way for smart and talented people to immigrate to the US. New immigration reforms will enhance our economic productivity; and contribute to the quality of America’s national life, and character.

Works Cited
Alex Leary. "Senators, including Marco Rubio, Outline Immigration Reform Plan." Tampa Bay Times 29 Jan. 2013: 1+. Print.
Brown, David Adams and Tom. "Cuban Perks under Scrutiny in U.S. Immigration Reform." Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013.
"House Judiciary Committee Claims Deportation Statistics Could Be Inflated." Illegal Immigration Statistics. N.p., 3 Oct. 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2013.
Obama, Barack H., Pres. Obama: Economy Needs Immigration Overhaul. CNN. Washington, D.C., 29 Jan. 2013. Television.
Rodriguez, Rey, and Catherine Shoichet. CNN. Proc. of Mexico 'welcomes ' New U.S. Immigration Reform Push, Washington, D.C. Cable News Network, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2013.
"The Effect of Immigrants on U.S. Employment and Productivity." FRBSF Economic Letter: The Effect of Immigrants on U.S. Employment and Productivity (2010-26, 8/30/2010). N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2013.

Cited: Alex Leary. "Senators, including Marco Rubio, Outline Immigration Reform Plan." Tampa Bay Times 29 Jan. 2013: 1+. Print. Brown, David Adams and Tom. "Cuban Perks under Scrutiny in U.S. Immigration Reform." Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 07 Feb. 2013. "House Judiciary Committee Claims Deportation Statistics Could Be Inflated." Illegal Immigration Statistics. N.p., 3 Oct. 2012. Web. 6 Feb. 2013. Obama, Barack H., Pres. Obama: Economy Needs Immigration Overhaul. CNN. Washington, D.C., 29 Jan. 2013. Television. Rodriguez, Rey, and Catherine Shoichet. CNN. Proc. of Mexico 'welcomes ' New U.S. Immigration Reform Push, Washington, D.C. Cable News Network, 30 Jan. 2013. Web. 05 Feb. 2013. "The Effect of Immigrants on U.S. Employment and Productivity." FRBSF Economic Letter: The Effect of Immigrants on U.S. Employment and Productivity (2010-26, 8/30/2010). N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Feb. 2013.