IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Addressing Immigration In The United States



Addressing Immigration In The United States

Selected Question for the essay

What is the best way to address immigration in the United States?

A. Introducing The Question You've Selected For Analysis

The catchword of globalization alerts us to some of the new conditions that were conducive for the novel shape of contemporary migration flows. In this altered context? however? one can also depict a strong undercurrent that portrays immigration at the global scale as a polarized affair: The massive movement of humans across international borders has come to be regarded as one of the most intractable problems by affluent? Western democracies? especially in the post-Berlin Wall era (Bodnar? 1985).

The simple portrayal of immigration is the movement of people who desire better life opportunities outside their place of origin.

This definition comes with the stereotyping of the traditional actors involved in the process of migration? such as the sending country? the receiving country? and the socioeconomic migrant as opposed to the refugee.

Immigration is a historical phenomenon? although it did assume some added characteristics after World War II.

1. Explain the significance of exploring the question.

It is also acknowledged that opportunities for voluntary migration for the citizens of developing and underdeveloped countries are limited? while globally? migrants leaving these countries constitute the largest category (Briggs? 1978).

Immigration is further defined as the voluntary movement of residents of one country into another country for a long-term or permanent duration. Although some scholars wish to include internal migration in this definition? particularly movements from rural to urban areas? immigration is by and large understood as an interstate movement of peoples.

Since the early 1990s? along with the adoption of draconian measures to protect national borders? humanitarian obligations such as those towards refugees and the displaced have gradually been pushed to the back burner as a result (Bodnar? 1985).

Since the events of September 11? 2001? international migration and? in particular? immigration? assumed the status of a major security issue. This impending sense of crisis is compounded by the fact that international migration has both voluntary and forced aspects? as well as a large clandestine part to it that almost overshadows its legal and legitimate dimensions.

2. Identify at least two sources that take different positions on the chosen question.

One explanation for this rather unwanted variety is related to the imbalances in wealth and resources that divide the north from the south in the global context. In this framework? Europe and North America emerge as the affluent “promised land” for those who have to take the flight for survival.

The continents of Asia? South America? and Africa are thus painted with wide brush strokes in the image of poverty? backwardness? and anti-(Western) civilization. The language of push and pull factors traditionally used to explain migratory flows have thus become pointers that indicate the steady outpour of peoples to the West from the rest of the globe? aided further by environmental crises? civil wars? famines? and other kinds of scarcities ...