The United States of AmericaNorth American Immigration
The United States of America
History
Immigration has played an important role in American history, and the United States continues to have the most open immigration policy in the world. Following the Civil War, however, the Supreme Court declared the regulation of immigration a federal responsibility. In 1891, the Immigration Service was established to deal with the increase in immigration that began in the 1880s.
While World War I did reduce the migration from Europe to the U.S., it began again when the war had ended. In response, Congress passed the national-origins quota system in 1921. This policy limited immigration by allotting a quota for each nationality based on the past U.S. census data. In 1924 the U.S. Border Patrol was created as a section of the Immigration Service.
Immigration dropped significantly during the Great Depression and remained so due to the national-origins law that remained in effect. The American agricultural sector continued to import Mexican laborers as allowed by the 1951 agreement between the U.S. and Mexico. In 1965, the national-origins system was replaced by a preference system that was geared toward reuniting immigrant families and to attract skilled immigrants. However, at this time, most of the potential immigrants were now coming from Asia and Latin America rather that Europe. In the 1990s, more people emigrated to the United States than in the previous high-peak during 1901-1910. With the addition of illegal aliens that made their way undetected into the country makes this time the period of greatest immigration in American history.
Economic Implications of Immigration
The National Research Council estimates that the net cost of immigration is anywhere from $11 billion to $22 billion each year. This figure is a result of the minimal taxes paid by the immigrants and the, on average, low skill-level of these immigrants and therefore low wages that they earn, meaning they use government services more than they contribute to them. The same can be said for illegal immigrants. While illegal aliens hardly ever use welfare (this would require a social security number), they do use up resources for education, criminal justice, and emergency medical care.
Besides draining money from the government, illegal
immigrants also lower the wages of working American citizens. While
it might seem reasonable to presume that cheap labor would raise wages for other
workers, the basic rules of economics prove this theory wrong. As
legal workers get hired, labor costs would rise. This, in turn would
provide more of an incentive to invest in technology, which would then, in fact,
lower prices, leading to a higher standard of living.
(Text: America's Attitude toward immigration in a nutshell.../ I'll pay you cash if you help me build this barrier.)
Source: Washington Times
A Solution to Immigration?
Immigration is a sensitive issue because those in favor of limiting such numbers from entering the country are often labeled 'racist'. But what should be done about this problem? In January 2004, the Bush administration proposed a bill that would grant foreigners work permits. In this way, they would have the same rights as legal immigrants and would be able to live and work in the country in order to support their family. Another proposal that has been made a giant wall separating the US and Mexico. However, both these and other possible solutions have been met with opposition. So for now, a solution for this problem with immigration remains to be seen.
Region of Origin of Foreign Born U.S.
Residents in 2003
Source: Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/p20-551.pdf
Canada
The first settlers arrived in Canada tens of thousands of years ago by traversing the frozen terrain between what is now Russia and Alaska. Over time, their peoples grew and spread across the continent. About 500 years ago, French colonists made settlements along the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries. After some time, the French, joined by the British established colonial outposts in the surrounding areas. The combination of the British win in the 1700s at Quebec coupled with their defeat the American Revolution forced these settlements up into the provinces of Canada. Over the next century, the country was filled with immigrants from England, Scotland and Ireland. Besides these and other European countries, black slaves from the south of America who escaped by means of the Underground Railroad, very frequently started new lives in this region. In the years to follow, many Irish and Chinese laborers were recruited to construct the Canadian Pacific Railway. In addition, both Europeans and Americans traveled to Canada in search of more land to set up their farms.
While the country was made up of immigrants, not all immigrants were welcomed into the region. Since the majority of Canadians had come from western European countries, this majority tended to mistrust those of another race, religion or culture. As this mistrust of immigrants grew, the government was urged to enact new regulations and tighten those that already existed, in turn causing the number of immigrants allowed into the country to drop greatly.
Source: Mount Allison University
http://www.mta.ca/faculty/arts/canadian_studies/english/about/multi/index.htm#prospects
However, after World War II, a period of expansion for the Canadian economy meant that there were not enough workers to fill all of the new jobs created. To try and correct this, the Canadian government lifted its restrictions on immigration so that Europeans might come over in search of work. As time went on, Canada welcomed more and more immigrants and eventually, in an attempt to rid the country of racism, all laws barring certain ethnicities were removed. As a result, the number of immigrants from non-European countries grew until it greatly outnumbered the traditional source of immigration to Canada. To this day, immigration remains an important and welcomed source of labor and diversity in Canada.
Book Suggestion:
The Tortilla Curtain
by T. C. Boyle
"Succeeds in stealing the front page news and bringing it home to the great American tradition of the social novel... A book to appreciate as we peer at the faces of strangers outside our windows, and wall ourselves in." -The Boston Globe
Helpful Links:
Center for Immigration Studies
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