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Social Welfare Policy, Advocacy, and Service

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Topic: Immigration policy

Thesis: The lives of Americans would be much better if the government took action to control

and reduce the immigrants numbers into the U.S.

Introduction

The immigration policy of the United States plays a crucial role in defining the nation's

sociopolitical environment and has significant consequences for its citizens. As I explore this

topic for my thesis, my own experiences highlight the necessity of a detailed analysis of the

influence of immigration rates on American lives. The various aspects of this subject provoke

contemplation on the government's actions taken to tackle the difficulties stemming from

immigration.

Over the past several years, there has been a significant increase in discussions on U.S.

immigration policy, highlighting its wide-ranging impact on different facets of everyday

existence. The impacts permeate through communities, impacting opportunities, social

cohesiveness, and national identity, spanning from economic dynamics to cultural assimilation.

The objective of this thesis is to thoroughly examine the current policy framework, assessing its

strengths and weaknesses. By illuminating the government's reactions to the intricacies of

immigration, we may acquire an understanding of the effectiveness of existing actions and

pinpoint areas that require additional focus.

As I analyze the complex network of policies and their tangible consequences, the

primary objective of this thesis is to suggest well-informed suggestions for tackling the social

issues interconnected with immigration. This research aims to add to the continuing discussion
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on creating a fairer and more sustainable future for American society by evaluating the

viewpoints of those directly impacted and researching possible ways to improve policies.

Part 1.

The problem of immigration has played a pivotal role in molding the cultural and

economic fabric of the United States, leaving a lasting imprint on different aspects of American

society. Immigration has significantly impacted my daily life, shaping the difficulties and

possibilities that characterize my experiences.

The profound influence of immigration on my life is evident in the vibrant cultural

diversity it introduces. The arrival of individuals from other backgrounds has introduced a varied

range of traditions, languages, and perspectives into my community, enriching its cultural fabric.

This diverse cultural composition has broadened my perspective, cultivating a more profound

comprehension and admiration for the multitude of approaches individuals employ to manage

their lives. Nevertheless, this cultural enrichment presents difficulties that require continuous

adjustment and comprehension.

The economic ramifications of immigration have been diverse. Skilled immigrants have

positively impacted innovation and technical breakthroughs, hence strengthening the nation's

economic might. Conversely, there have been raised concerns regarding employment rivalry and

the lowering of wages in specific industries. Throughout my career, I have personally observed

the intricacies of maneuvering through a job market that is impacted by immigration. Although

being exposed to a variety of skill sets has been advantageous, the rivalry for certain career

possibilities has intensified.

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Europeans and white immigrants have historically benefited from "white privilege" in

many industrialized nations in terms of employment, schooling, and other opportunities. Due to

centuries of racial discrimination, individuals belonging to ethnic minorities currently face

limited opportunities for employment and education compared to white individuals. As a result,

it can be difficult for them to relocate to developed countries, where they may face additional

obstacles such as language barriers, cultural disparities, and racial or ethnic bias.

Moreover, economic factors often play a significant role in shaping immigration policies

in numerous developed countries. This can include the need for skilled workers in specific

industries or the desire to enhance economic diversity by attracting wealthy individuals. This can

lead to policies that provide incentives to immigrants of any race or racial background who

possess valuable resources or skills. However, these regulations may lead to unanticipated

consequences, including the promotion of racial and economic segregation, the perpetuation of

damaging stereotypes, and the favoring of specific immigrant groups over others. Consequently,

individuals belonging to ethnic minorities may have reduced opportunities to contribute to the

advancement of developed countries, although they possess equal capabilities as their white

counterparts.

The burden on public resources, such as education and healthcare, has become more and

more noticeable. The increasing population has led to an increase in demand for these services,

which has influenced the quality and availability of vital facilities. As a community member, I

have personally seen the repercussions of strained public resources, resulting in extended wait

times for healthcare services and overcrowded schools.

There is a significant number of individuals who hold a contrary opinion regarding the

policy, asserting that immigrants should be prohibited from residing and working in the United
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States, while a considerable number of individuals endorse it. The existing immigration policy

permits a total of 675,000 permanent immigrants annually to lawfully enter the United States.

This program grants foreign nationals the opportunity to enter the United States and establish

permanent employment and residency in the country ("How the United States Immigration

System Works", 2017). The United States has experienced multiple waves of immigration from

diverse regions across the globe during the course of its history. Immigration has been crucial in

shaping and advancing the United States since its inception. During the 17th and 18th centuries,

the United States experienced a significant influx of European immigrants, as well as individuals

from Asia, South America, and Africa (Kamasaki, 2021). The immigration policy of the United

States has changed in response to shifts in the country's economic and political climate.

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 replaced previous laws and established a

comprehensive system for limiting immigration to the United States, so setting the current

policy. The civil rights movement in the 1960s had a significant impact on immigration policy,

resulting in the enactment of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. This legislation

replaced the previous national origins quota system with a preference system that prioritized

family reunion and skills. Notwithstanding these alterations, problems endured, such as

unauthorized immigration and apprehensions regarding the economic burden on local

communities. Nevertheless, in the following years, there was an increase in unlawful

immigration. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 endeavored to tackle these

concerns by providing amnesty to specific unauthorized immigrants while enhancing border

enforcement (Kamasaki, 2021).

The onset of the 21st century sparked a resurgence in discourse over immigration,

focusing on topics such as border security, economic ramifications, and the challenges faced by
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illegal immigrants (Starkey, 2017). Policy changes, such as the implementation of the Deferred

Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in 2012, were made in response to unique

issues (Fasani et al., 2020).

At the turn of the new century, there was a renewed emphasis on enhancing border

security and enforcing immigration policies. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was

founded in 2003 to merge many departments and transfer immigration enforcement

responsibilities to the newly formed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Subsequent years witnessed a substantial escalation in border enforcement tactics, such as the

installation of physical barriers (Zong et al., 2019).

Statistics demonstrate the extent of the immigration problem. The Migration Policy

Institute reports that the number of individuals in the United States who were born in another

country reached 44.9 million in 2019, making up around 13.7% of the overall population (Zong

et al., 2019). The estimated number of undocumented immigrants stands at 10.5 million, and

their presence has had varied effects on different sectors of society (Zong et al., 2019).

Part 2; policy description

Before 1875, the task of managing immigration was delegated to individual states.

However, with the Supreme Court's decision in Chy Lung v. Freeman, the immigration authority

was transferred to the federal government. The Immigration Act of 1891 granted the federal

government jurisdiction over immigration. The Immigration Acts of 1921 and 1924 implemented

quota-based systems for immigration, imposing restrictions on the number of immigrants

depending on their national origins. This policy, initiated by Former President Woodrow Wilson,

specifically aimed to curb the influx of European immigrants into the country. Subsequently, the
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national origin quotas were abolished and replaced by a system that prioritized family reunions

and the admission of individuals with desirable skills, as outlined in the Immigration and

Nationality Act of 1965. This was followed by the implementation of the U.S. Refugee Act in

1980. The primary issue with the immigration policy is the Immigration Reform and Control Act

of 1986, which grants amnesty to undocumented immigrants (Fasani, 2020).

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which granted amnesty to

unauthorized immigrants, brought the question of immigration policy to the forefront of public

and political consciousness. However, this act also sparked opposition, despite its intention to

regain control over illegal immigration. The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant

Responsibility Act, enacted in 1996, implemented limitations on social benefits for

undocumented immigrants and prioritized the strengthening of border patrol efforts. The USA

Patriot Act of 2000 was enacted to address the shortcomings of the Immigration Reform and

Control Act of 1986. It authorized the detention of apprehended undocumented immigrants for a

maximum period of six months, provided that they were considered a potential threat to national

security. The Homeland Security Act, enacted in 2002, established several agencies tasked with

the responsibilities of immigration and naturalization, enforcement, and border security. The

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, implemented in 2012, utilized executive

authority to eliminate the risk of immediate deportation for individuals who were brought to the

country illegally as minors. This policy enabled these individuals to request a deferral of removal

proceedings against them. From the aforementioned, it is evident that the immigration policy has

undergone numerous alterations. During the initial phase of the policy, unauthorized individuals

were granted amnesty, however currently, the offspring of unauthorized migrants have the option

to seek a postponement of their deportation.

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Given the numerous modifications made to this policy, it is expected that there will be a

multitude of revisions in the future. Over time, there will be a growing necessity for change,

requiring the policy to be modified. The problem with this approach lies in the fact that there is a

significant disagreement on the necessity of immigrants for the United States to live and work

within its borders. They lack awareness of the economic advantages that immigrants offer,

including their valuable skills and the cash they generate(Massey, 2022).

The existing immigration policy permits the reuniting of families in specific situations.

Family reunification enables the presence of U.S. citizens' immediate family members, such as

minor children, spouses, and parents, to ensure family unity within the country. Approximately

70% of immigrants admitted into the United States do so to reunite with their families. However,

certain categories of families, such as those likely to become dependent on public assistance,

non-heterosexual families, and families of low-wage migrant laborers, are prohibited from being

reunited. Aside from family reunification, there exist alternative types of humanitarian assistance

such as Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure, which face opposition

from certain individuals. The existing immigration policy provides protection for refugees who

are unable to return to their home countries due to the threat of persecution based on their race,

affiliation with a specific social group, political beliefs, religion, or nationality (How the United

States Immigration System Works, 2017). The primary objective of the Diversity Visa Program is

to augment the influx of immigrants from select nations with minimal immigration rates, hence

facilitating a more expansive and heterogeneous pool of immigrants.

According to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. Immigration Policy

asserts that America has gained significant advantages by welcoming immigrants, as well as

students, talented workers, and other individuals who may only reside in the country temporarily.
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The United States' persistent failure to establish and implement an effective system of

immigration rules poses a threat to these accomplishments ("U.S. Immigration Policy", n.d.). The

group aimed to revamp the immigration system to align with labor market demands, enhancing

the competitiveness of the U.S. They sought to establish a stricter enforcement system that deters

employers from operating unlawfully, thereby ensuring border security and imposing penalties

on law violators. Additionally, they sought to provide a just pathway for the estimated 12 million

undocumented immigrants to obtain legal status ((How the United States Immigration System

Works, 2017).

Although legal immigration is advantageous for the United States, illegal immigration

appears to have the reverse effect by harming the country's national interests. This leads to a

divergence in public sentiment and has the potential to influence the implementation of the

policy. As per the research by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), permitting undocumented

immigrants to enter or stay in the country poses potential security hazards, undermines respect,

and places an unjust load on public education and social services. The source cited is "U.S.

Immigration Policy" with no specified date. This paper elucidates the reasons for the belief held

by certain individuals that allowing immigrants to work and live in the United States has more

negative consequences than positive outcomes.

The Immigration Policy has undergone numerous revisions since its inception. Although

the United States reaps advantages by permitting chosen immigrants to join the country, it also

endures negative consequences from those who come unlawfully (Maccanico, 2021). While it is

true that immigrants have the potential to exploit public support programs and remit money to

their home countries, hence potentially impacting our economy negatively, there are numerous

advantages to the existing immigration policy. The policy facilitates the reuniting of families for
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U.S. citizens whose families reside in other locations, safeguards refugees who are seeking

asylum from their place of origin, fosters diversity by permitting countries with low immigration

rates to enter, and admits immigrants who possess vital talents for the economy. It may be

beneficial to modify the immigration policy to increase the severity of punishments for illegal

immigrants who are apprehended, addressing the issue more effectively. By doing so, it could aid

in reducing the influx of undocumented immigrants into the country. Regarding the exception

policies for legal entry into the country, it appears that they do not have a substantial adverse

effect in comparison to the impact caused by illegal immigrants (Haley et al., 2022).

Part 3; What should be done to improve the policy?

There is no alternative to implementing a countrywide system to accurately identify and

track all foreign individuals residing in and entering the United States. Additionally, there has

been a challenge in accurately identifying individuals who enter and exit the country,

highlighting the necessity for regulations and instruments to authenticate the entry of migrants

into the United States. To address the issue of illegal entry into the country, it is possible to apply

several strategies that target employers, as they are often the cause of immigration problems due

to the demand for employment. It is necessary to implement a public policy that enhances

employer verification of employment.

To effectively decrease illegal immigration, it is important to enhance the employment

policy by implementing rigorous verification measures. The verification strategy should

prioritize addressing the employment of undocumented immigrants by businesses and

organizations. The policy should also be grounded on a range of values, including information

dissemination, empowerment, and deterrents. Employers should be equipped with tools and

machines that enable them to assess and verify with precision whether an employee is authorized
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or not. The regulation aims to discourage deceitful employees, businesses, and organizations that

intentionally employ unverified or illegal labor by imposing substantial penalties on the

employers. E-Verify is the most effective way and solution for strengthening job verification.

The system is a web-based verification system that operates in real-time and should be managed

by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The tool's benefit is in its ability to assess the employer's authorization for employment with

exceptional precision by verifying the legitimacy of the personal information (Sassen, 2019).

The most widely supported plan would involve a more rigorous update and enforcement

of the existing rules. This transformation would involve implementing stricter verification

procedures and adopting a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive immigration policy that

provides a pathway to citizenship for eligible and financially capable immigrants (). In this

scenario, the government bears the responsibility of finding a solution. It must maintain strict

adherence to the current legislation and provide eligible immigrants the opportunity to get

citizenship and make valuable contributions to the nation's economy, culture, and diversity

(Starkey, 2017). This proposal aims to provide a more equitable immigration system that offers a

pathway to citizenship for eligible immigrants who possess the necessary means. Additionally, it

addresses the disproportionate impact of the issue on certain demographic groups.

Enforcing strict compliance with the current policy would compel the government to

assume accountability for resolving the matter. This proposal aims to establish a fair immigration

system that would address the unequal effects of the problem on specific communities.

Substantial political determination is required to execute this proposal, and the costs of

overhauling the immigration system must also be taken into account. Individuals who gain

advantages from the existing state of affairs may resist any attempts to enhance conditions, and it
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remains uncertain whether the suggested modifications would be effective (Oliphant et al.,

2022).

Policymakers encounter numerous challenges when they endeavor to rectify this policy

deficiency and enhance outcomes. The clash between political authority and the public's desire

for reform is a significant impediment. Decision-makers may exhibit hesitation in taking decisive

action due to concerns about their chances of reelection or the possibility of offending influential

interest groups (Starkey, 2017). The budgetary limits pose additional concern due to the

exorbitant expenses associated with immigration reform. Any suggested alterations to the system

must be just and impartial, taking into account the rights of affected parties. Additionally,

politicians' ultimate decisions may be influenced by other factors, such as national security and

economics. Decision-makers must consider all factors that could impact the results of potential

solutions. Certain programs, such as those that provide a pathway to citizenship for specific

immigrants, may face challenges in implementation due to national security concerns (Starkey,

2017).

However, economic variables can influence the situation, as some individuals involved in

the matter contend that policies that support certain groups of immigrants could have positive

economic outcomes, while others argue that such policies may have negative effects on the

economy. Due to the complexity of the problem, it is difficult to determine which method will

ultimately prevail. An intermediate solution that incorporates elements from both methods is

feasible, or the status quo may persist. The implementation of any modifications to the

immigration system would depend on various factors, such as political will, public support, and

the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. The issue of biased immigration regulations needs to

be addressed, and a more equitable and all-encompassing system should be established.

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Conclusion

Thus, by implementing the aforementioned measures, the United States can effectively

manage the surge of migrants entering the country while safeguarding employment opportunities

for its citizens. These measures will enable the government to effectively curb the influx of

excessive migrants without having to wait for the deportation of individuals who have already

established themselves, thereby mitigating a range of issues associated with immigration

proceedings.

.
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References

Zong, Jie, and Jeanne Batalova. "How many unauthorized immigrants graduate from US high

schools annually?." (2019).

“How the United States Immigration System Works”. (2017). American Immigration Council.

Retrieved December 06, 2017, from https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/how-

united-states-immigrationsystem-works

“U.S. Immigration Policy”. (n.d.). Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved December 06, 2017,

from https://www.cfr.org/report/us-immigration-policy

Sassen, S. (2019). America’s immigration “problem”. In Race and ethnic conflict (pp. 223-238).

Routledge.

Maccanico, Y. D. (2021). Immigration policy and state power. Societies, 11(4), 128.

Massey, D. S. (2020). Immigration policy mismatches and counterproductive outcomes:

Unauthorized migration to the US in two eras. Comparative Migration Studies, 8(1), 21.

Fasani, F., Llull, J., & Tealdi, C. (2020). The economics of migration: Labour market impacts

and migration policies. Labour Economics, 67, 101929.

Haley, J. M., Gonzalez, D., & Kenney, G. M. (2022). Immigration Concerns Continued to Deter

Immigrant Families with Children from Safety Net Programs in 2021, Compounding Other

Enrollment Difficulties. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

Oliphant, J. B., & Cera, A. (2022). Republicans and Democrats have different top priorities for

US immigration policy. Pew Research Center.

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Starkey, B. S. (2017, February 10). White immigrants weren’t always considered white — and

acceptable. Landscape; Landscape.

Kamasaki, C. (2021, March 26). US immigration policy: A classic, unappreciated example of

structural racism. Brookings; Brookings.