Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Immigration into the U.S.
Immigrants have been coming into the United States looking for economic opportunity pretty much since the founding of the country. By allowing many diffrent cultures into the U.S., the culture of the United States has also changed. As we've learned in class, nativists provided strong opposition to immigration, claiming that the ideas, political beliefs, religion, language, etc that the immigrants brought with them was causing harm to the "American" way of life. Nativists during the Gilded Age called for restrictions, laws and even exclusion of some immigrants. Immigration is still a hot button issue today. Arizona recently passed a law that allows law enforcement officers to profile people to stop them to check to see if in fact they are American citizens. Give some of your thoughts on the immigration issue. Should there be any restrictions, laws or even exclusions or should the U.S. continue to be the "Land of Opportunity?"
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I think that they should have some restrictions on immigration but not so drastic were you are checking people of there citizenship I feel that they should have better border control for illegal immigrants but if a person is here legally then there reay isn't a problem. I also fell that it should take so many years for a person to become a citizen or for it to be so hard just to get a green card with is why we have illegals because it takes to long .
ReplyDeleteLast year at the school I was attending, there was a graduated highschool student who was here in the U.S. illegally. He was incredibly smart; he graduated as the valedictorian at his school, but when it came time for him to go to college (he had applied to Harvard and got accepted..!) he found out that he could not go, because he didn't have a social security #. I thought this was really sad; I mean, because of this silly number he couldn't contribute to the country he's been in since he was a small child? I really think it's unfair.
ReplyDeleteI believe that there shouldn't be any limitations or restrictons on the number of immigrants coming to the United States or where they are coming from. However I do think that immigrants who are here illegally should not be allowed to stay in the country because they didn't come in the legal way that everyone else did. I also think that it should be a little easir for a person to become a U.S. citizen so that people don't fel they have to go through such drastic measures to get into the country.
ReplyDeleteI think there should be some restrictions on Immigration, but I think the Arizona laws are taking it too far. When looking further back in History, I can't help but bring up some other times when people had to carry around papers with them like the Apartheid and the Holocaust. History has shown us that making people carry papers doesn't turn out well.
ReplyDeleteYou should let immigrants come to the United States. They can have a good life, like us. But at the same time you shouldn't be checking if immigrants are smart or stupid or even where they are from. You would rather them come in then sneak in without you knowing. If there sick you don't want them to come in because everyone else will become sick as well. So you have an excuse then. Other then that, you should ley people come to the United States so they can have a good life for themselves and support their family. Plus, achieve their goals in their life so they can succeed.
ReplyDelete-Savannah M.
U.S. should continue to be the "Land of Opportunity", because it's what this country was made for, for people from all over the world who have different ethnic backgrounds, culture and tradition to have chance to come over and start a new life and bring their good values and start on a clean slate. Immigrants should behave properly too and there should be some restrictions, However Arizona law is too extreme and it's racial profiling.
ReplyDeleteI think Immigrants should be able to come into the U.S, because that's how our nation itself started. People came from other countries to the U.S and started a life building the nation to what it is today. Those immigrants should be given a chance to start a new life here and to live the American Dream, coming from nothing. They need a place to start all over and if the U.S is the only place for them to be able to do that, we should be glad to welcome them. Those immigrants could even bring some positive things to the U.S, you never know. I don't think there should be any restrictions I think people should just be able to come in, maybe get checked out for safety reasons but of course nothing too extreme and ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteIt is very hard to say whether we should allow immigrants to come to the U.S or not. People should have the right to live where they choose but on the other hand I can understand what it feels like to be a native American who sees how his culture gets mixed up with hundreds other cultures. Nowdays, It's difficult to say what a real American looks like, because there are immigrants wherever you go. We have to face the fact that USA are a mixture of different nations and it is not fair for the native Americans. It wouldnt be easy for anyone to put up with it.
ReplyDeleteIn the present day we are more acclimated or immune to immagration then we were a hundred years ago. But immigrants still get under peoples skins. We should have some laws and regluations when it comes to immigrantoin because even though they are trying to create a better life for themselves they have to think of the lives that are already settled. Sooner or later there isn't going to be enough room for a lot of people in this country. Its not like we can kick anyone out so the only thing to do is to keep them from coming in. But only if we absolutely need to.
ReplyDeleteI think the United States should continue to be the "Land of Opportunity" but, have some restrictions. We should welcome whoever we can but pay attention to citizens.For example A citizen who is struggeling for a job should be able to get one before an immigrant. I also think it is important to welcome immigrants because diversity in a society this important.
ReplyDeleteAmerica lives the same issue of Italy about immigration, infact also in my home country people sometimes complain about immigration.
ReplyDeleteMy thought is that everyone can live wherever he or she wants and no government should forbide immigration in his country provided that immigrants respect the country's laws.
So i think that the U.S should keep being the land of opportunities but as it is already doing control immigrants behaviour through controls and rules. But the most important thing I think is that they have to be judged like Americans and not in a different way, only because they come from a poorer country, as often happens.
Olmo
i think that immigrants add diversity to america, and without diversity and culture in america we are going to continue with the ignorance that already exists in this country. We need to open ourselves up to other cultures and teach other generations to come that diversity is good, and that its healthy in society to have different people surrounding you, you become enriched with different views of people and you lean so much from different people. I think that there is also a difference between immigrants and ILLEGAL immigrants, i dont think that immigrants have a right to be in this country illegally, its not being rude or mean i think its more for our safety, and it will only benefit them in the future.
ReplyDeletei think that immigrants shouldnt be profiled when there walking in the streets or where ever they are i feel like its messed up to do that because immigrants came to america thinking its a free country, they can come and make a new life here. With out immigrants i feel like there wouldnt be alot diversity, immigrants bring alot of that with them such as culture, religion, style and many other things i think that with out immigrants in america we would be a plain country.
ReplyDeleteIn my personal opinion, the situation/argument regarding immigration is full of exaggerations and opinionated "facts". I stand neutral on the topic. This is due to the fact that I acknowledge both the fact that we, as in the United States of America, are the self-proclaimed "land of the free" (And, in being so, are inclined to welcome immigrants/aliens into our country) and that illegal immigration has caused a small dent in our government's income tax collection. If "we" wish to avoid being hypocrites, then we must uphold/maintain our status as a welcoming country. In response to the absence of income tax from illegal immigrants, I believe that workplaces should just run stricter checks for such matters. (and, as a suggestion, illegals, in stead of being deported, should be offered citizenship for a fee that depends on the amount "owed" for the taxes)
ReplyDeleteI believe that immigrants should be allowed into the united states, but with limitations. They should be able to come at will, although i think that there should be an easier way to become a US citizen. it is incredibly unfair to me that there are people, like nativists, that oppose all immigration. if someone wants to come here for better life, let them, but make them become a citizen.
ReplyDeleteI agree for the most part with Liz, but the thing is, that at this point in time, you have to jump through hoops to come here. I think we should allow anyone to come here to seek refuge, or whatever, but make them carry some form of identification as a new immigrant. That way, you could limit their activities until they become full citizens.
ReplyDelete