Guarding the Golden doorway By Roger Daniels

Introduction

I have heard many stories from both sets of my grandparents on the upcoming America as an immigrant through Ellis Island, and what would be the new American without money or belongings and little or no English skills. Roger Daniels, Protection of the Golden Door: American Immigration Policy and Immigrants Since 1882 has proved a fascinating and instructive consideration the plight of those who come to this country, like my grandparents did, in search of a better life.

Discussion

This publication covers the U.S. immigration policy since the 1880's and the act of Congress entitled the Chinese Immigration Act all the way to the policy of the Bush administration after 9-11 terrorist attacks, including the death of INS. For many years between them, the reader gets a very educational about how many people came to this country from somewhere else, who they are, why they came, how they got here and what happened to them when they profits, many, like my grandparents, not the dollar to their name.

What really makes this book so interesting is the ability of the author to provide statistical information and historical data in a style that is pleasant to read something of the book in detail and scope are often unable to do so. General history of immigration and policies towards immigrants and refugees is considered, as well as political and social sentiment for such a policy. I was shocked to read about the various immigrant groups who have received preferential treatment in this country, such as white Cubans, and horrified to learn that other groups were treated with extreme prejudice by the presidential administration after administration, such as Haitians. I was also surprised to learn that immigrants do not tax our economic system, like many white Americans insist, but really good and add to it.

So many myths and assumptions about immigration and immigrants, was destroyed in this solid and scholarly books, with plenty of statistics to back up the truth, which the author is that I found myself thinking about immigration very differently than before, when my knowledge the subject was limited to what I heard from family members and the fact that politicians ranting on about.

Throughout history as the author points out, every political administration had various questions for consideration in regard to immigrants and refugees, the influx of refugees from the Vietnam War for Cuban asylum-seekers in the 1980 and 1990, largely Mexican and Central American immigrants of today, both legal and illegal. With each different immigrants, immigration laws have tried to adapt and change, sometimes successfully, sometimes ending in unintended results. That the reader begins to understand the protection of the Golden Door that these groups do not come here to take advantage of America, but to become an American out of deep respect, honor and admiration that this country stands. Sometimes, in the case of refugees and asylum seekers, they come here, to save his own life or that of their children. That the reader also begins ...