2 papers 2 paraghs

The Controversy

Immigration, which is the movement of people from their ancestral country to a foreign one in search for greener pastures, has both good and bad sides (Chiras, 2004). Immigration is the movement of people into a different country from their home country, with the aim of having a better life. Immigration may be legal or illegal (Hoyt, 2004). United States has faced a big challenge with immigration issues. The country is believed to be among the most liberal ones on earth. It is considered to be the land of opportunities. Most people, especially those from least developed countries, wish to get into the country and have a share of the opportunities that the world leader presents. The least developed countries are characterized with poverty and low standards of living. Citizens of such countries wish to escape the harsh realities and grasp an opportunity, which presents itself even if it is from a far distance.

The good side of immigration considers the benefits that the country has had as a result of immigration. The debates have been that the country has been very liberal. The country is considered to be both liberal and most developed.  Most people, especially from least developed countries, have immigrated to the country in large numbers. From the immigration, the country has greatly benefited. People from the poor countries have contributed to the country’s gross domestic product. They have done jobs, which the county’s natives find embarrassing or difficult.

Major Players

The United States (US) has really changed the lives of many individuals. The immigrants to the country have taken on jobs, most of which the American citizens do not wish to do. The jobs have changed the immigrants’ lives and eased their suffering in a great way. More people, especially those from poor countries across the globe are continuing to gain access to the US both legally and illegally. The rate has increased so much, a factor, which has led rising concerns. Some support the legal and illegal immigration while others oppose it. In the debates, the advantages and disadvantages of the immigration have been aired.

Important Facts

Immigration to the country has a bad side.  The country’s security is at stake as a result of terrorist’s activities (Segal, Elliott & Mayadas, 2010). The terrorists groups have gained access to the country as a result of immigration. The terrorists easily carry out their acts on the land by posing as immigrants.  The country’s cost of living has also risen, leading to the citizens of the country suffering high costs as a result of the competition presented by the immigrants. The counties where the immigrants come from have declined in their development since the citizens of the countries have migrated to the United States instead of developing their own countries’. Immigration therefore has its advantages and advantages, which have brought numerous debates on the issue in the recent past.

Advantages

Immigration has a number of advantages most of which impact on the quality of life of Americans. Immigration has improved the economic condition of the country, making the country’s economy one of the best in the world. The country has a powerful economy making the country considered as the world’s leading economy. The infrastructure is well developed and the other economic indicators prove that the country is indeed performing well. Both the legal and illegal immigrants greatly contribute to the economic development of the country (Haines, 1999). The immigrants, who mainly go to the country to improve their lifestyle, work very hard while in the country knowing that they do not have anyone to depend on. As a result they work very hard and take on the jobs, which the country’s citizens do not wish to undertake. The immigrants have contributed in increasing the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Immigration has increased the social life of the Americans and nations at large. The country currently prides itself as that which has the most diverse cultures. Individuals from different countries come to the county from different social background. Some come from poor backgrounds while some from rich ones. Once they converge in America, they share their various cultural values and help individuals to appreciate other’s cultures. The people of the land therefore appreciate other cultures a factor, which helps create good relationship among the individuals.

People from different religious backgrounds also merge together and learn the different religious backgrounds and learn to improve the relation among the people from different backgrounds. The politics of the land has also strengthened since due to immigration, people from different places contribute their ideology and improve on the policies governing the land. For instance, the current president, Barrack Obama is a Son of an Immigrant who immigrated to the country in the early years to seek education. As a result, the president was modeled with political views of both the country from which the parents originated from and those of America.

The health of the general population has increased as a result of immigration, Intermarriage among various individuals from various races results to mixed race children with high immunity. Individuals from various backgrounds who immigrated into the country have intermarried with Americans and thus individuals with greater immunity have been born as citizens of America. Among the immigrants, there are some individuals who moved to the country to seek better pay as doctors. While in the country and practicing as health professionals, they improve on the health condition of the country.

Crime has also been reduced to a certain extent due to immigration (Segal, Elliott & Mayadas, 2010). There are immigrants to the country who have gained entry into the military and police forces of the country. Such individuals have strengthened the security of the country. They have offered their lives to work for the country and ensure that the citizens of the country are peaceful. Some have even lost their lives in the line of duty, serving the country. Some immigrants have incorporated their good morals form their different backgrounds and have promoted the good morals to the country through their relation with their American friends.

The education of the United States has greatly advanced as a result of immigration. Some immigrants have excelled perfectly in education and have brought with them their great minds to share with the Americans. There are numerous lecturers in the country that initially came to the country as immigrants and are currently heading certain departments and colleges. They have also contributed to the development of the country’s syllabus. The great intellects have also added value to the country’s education by incorporating some good ideas from their original countries’ education.

Disadvantages

The immigration also has its negative side. The social life of the Americans has to some extent declined since some cultures have thought theirs to be superior to others. That has led to hatred and discrimination among other social vices. A number of segregation cases have been reported since immigrants began flocking to the country (Knippling, 1996). There has also been xenophobia where the Citizens have feared that the foreigners will take their job positions. It has led to hatred and riots among other humiliating acts against the immigrants.

There has also been an increase in strife among the various religions of the world, some viewing theirs as the superior religion (Loucky, Armstrong & Estrada, 2006). Some extremists have gone to the extent of increasing terror in the country due to hatred and misinterpretation of the Holy books. Political situations have slightly darkened as a result of immigration. Some ideas, which have been incorporated into the country from the political ideas of the foreign ones, have been harmful to the Americans. For instance, the policies requiring females to cover their faces have brought confusion into the country, which its policies need every one to be identified. The policies from foreign Nations have brought mixed reactions when America tries to implement its original policies, which are aimed at increasing the countries security.

Immigration has been blamed as the major cause of increased communicable diseases in the country. Immigrants from countries with high disease prevalence have been reported to fuel the spread of tuberculosis, hepatitis and other diseases, which were not rampant in the United States. There was also a claim that HIV and Aids was rapidly increasing in the country due to immigration. That led to the banning of immigrants, who are infected with the dreaded disease into the country (Rubin & Melnick, 2006).

Crime has to a great extent increased in the country due to some group of immigrants. Youths from Africa and Hispanic origin are the most in American jail. The immigrants from the two backgrounds are involved in crimes, a factor that has led to the many debates, which are existent on matters of immigration. The countries from where the immigrants have come from have declined in productivity as a result of the immigration (Haines, 1999). The skills and energy, which could be used to develop their country, is drained from their particular country and transferred to America. As a result the process drains the knowledge, skills and energy, and directs that to America.

The environment has also been destroyed due to immigration (Chiras, 2004). The immigrants come in large numbers and interfere with the country’s ecosystem. They increase the ratio of humans in the ecosystem. That has thus led to increased competition for food and other goods offered by the ecosystem. The industrial activities emitting bad gas also increase and interfere with the ecosystem. As a result, more and more bad gases get into the United States atmosphere and increase the general damage of the environment.

Rationale

Immigration has indeed increased the country’s success, basing on the numerous advantages associated with the process. America has experiences immigration to a very large extent and that could perhaps be as a result of the numerous immigrants in the country. Most individuals in the country are from diverse background and bring the different ideas to the country (Rubin & Melnick, 2006).  Most people, especially from least developed countries, have immigrated to the country in large numbers. From the immigration, the country has greatly benefited. People from the poor countries have contributed to the country’s gross domestic product. They have done jobs, which the county’s natives find embarrassing or difficult.

There is also a negative side to the immigration experienced in the country. As earlier discussed, the country’s security is at stake as a result of terrorist’s activities among other risks associated with the immigration. Terrorists groups have gained access to the country as a result of immigration. The terrorists easily carry out their acts on the land by posing as immigrants.  The country’s cost of living has also risen, leading to the citizens of the country suffering high costs as a result of the competition presented by the immigrants. The counties where the immigrants come from have declined in their development since the citizens of the countries have migrated to the United States instead of developing their own countries’.

References

Chiras, D. D. (2004). Environmental science: Creating a sustainable future. S.l.: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Haines, D. W. (1999). Illegal immigration in America: A reference handbook. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press.

Hoyt, J. (2004, May 10). Why business should speak out on immigrant workers. Crain's Chicago Business, 27(19), 11-11. Retrieved April 14, 2009, from Regional Business News database.

Knippling, A. S. (1996). New immigrant literatures in the United States: A sourcebook to our multicultural literary heritage. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.

Loucky, J., Armstrong, J., & Estrada, L. J. (2006). Immigration in America today: An encyclopedia. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press.

Rubin, R., & Melnick, J. P. (2006). Immigration and American popular culture: An introduction. New York, N.Y [etc.: New York University Press.

Segal, U. A., Elliott, D., & Mayadas, N. S. (2010). Immigration worldwide: Policies, practices, and trends. Oxford: Oxford University Press.