Immigration United States: A “Nation of Immigrants” Welcoming New Arrivals

Categories of Immigrants Legal- Seeking to establish permanent residence. They may choose to apply for a permanent resident status. (green card) Refugees and Asylees- Seeking protection from persecution in their home countries. Federal government limits the number of Asylees. After one year they can apply for residence Non-immigrants- Enter and exit the country legally with temporary visas that specify the purpose and length of their visit. They are typically foreign government officers, tourists, business people, or students.

Categories Con. Illegal or Undocumented- By law they can be deported. 60% enter a U.S. Border illegally or misrepresenting themselves. 40% enter legally but stay beyond the limits of their visas, or authorizations, to travel to the U.S. Temporary Workers- They enter using non-immigrant visas. Worker programs provide limited numbers of visas to technical or highly specialized workers and nonagricultural laborers. Included are nurses, farm laborers, athletes, artists, and entertainers.

Growth of Immigration Lower green portion – represents growth from 1970 of American descendants. – There were 203 million people living in the US in – based on recent native-born fertility and mortality rates. The red upper – portion represents the difference between the number of 1970-stock Americans and the total population. – tens of millions of people represented by this block are the immigrants who have arrived, or are projected to arrive, since 1970, plus their descendent's, minus deaths. They are projected to comprise 90% of all US population growth between 1993 and 2050.

Issues/New Regulations Foreigners were responsible for two major acts of terrorism on U.S. Soil. – 1993 bombing of the world trade center – 9/11 terrorist attacks The 9/11 hijackers entered the U.S through airports. Three had expired visas, eight carried fraudulent passports, and some possessed U.S. Drivers licenses. Efforts to strengthen Homeland Security has led to new immigration regulations.

Tightening Restrictions on visas – Longer waits and extensive FBI background checks. – More denied legal entry. Workers, students, and vacationers have faced increased scrutiny and delays. Identification – In 2005 congress passed the Real ID Act All states required to guarantee that all people granted drivers licenses are legal residents. – However the Department of Homeland Security continues to extend the deadline for compliance because states insist the program will cost to much and groups worry that it will violate citizen's privacy.

Tracking – Colleges and universities are now required to track foreign students and the US-VISIT program, also tracks foreign arrivals. – By tacking fingerprints and photographs of nearly all visitors and using databases to identify people on watch lists, officials hope to deter terrorists and ensure visa compliance. Border Control – U.S. Shares a 2,000 mile border with Mexico. Only about 5% of it is fenced. – U.S. Also shares a 5,500 mile border with Canada, which is the worlds largest open border. – Every day hundreds of people attempt to illegally cross both borders.

– Annually tens of thousands illegal immigrants succeed in crossing the southern border. – The federal government has begun to implement sensor and tracking technology. Also to build more fences and barriers along some sections of the southern border. – Thousands of National Guard troops also patrol there. The Citizenship Option – In 1986 the U.S. Granted amnesty to about 3 million illegal immigrants and allowed them to apply for citizenship. – Officials hoped it would curb illegal immigration at the time. – Some advocates and officials are proposing an “earned legalization”.

Earned Legalization – Term describing a work-benefits program for undocumented aliens in the United States. – Work is rewarded with the opportunity to receive legal status. – Undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for a certain period of time can earn their legal status in the U.S. – Differs from amnesty because amnesty automatically pardoned millions of aliens who illegally entered or remained in the U.S. The Economy – Federal law prohibits employers from hiring illegal immigrants. Yet millions find jobs. – Growing public concern has prompted crackdowns on the laws.

– Department of Homeland Security has increased raids on employers. Also has proposed requiring employers firing workers who's Social Security numbers don't match government records.

What we think? Renee: There should be stricter regulations, but as far as jobs go why have a problem with immigrants having jobs if your not willing to do the work. Erin: Chase:

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