Living Conditions of Immigrants in America Today - Research Paper Example

Living Conditions of Immigrants in America Today America as a country, is a place where most young people across theglobe dream to live and improve their living standards. As a result, most people from impoverished countries across the globe view America as a place where they can achieve lifetime success and assist relatives back in their homeland countries. Chasing the American dream is a major slogan among immigrants aspiring to move to United States. However, life is not often rosy for immigrants who have to work for long hours in order to meet their needs. America as a country, is made up mostly of the descents of immigrants from Europe, who moved to the Americas in search of greener pastures. However, the America of today is witnessing another group of immigrants mainly from the third world countries, and in search of a better life contrary to their countries of origin (Avenarius 34). This topic is important in the sense that, while immigrants contribute significantly to the economy of the United States, their plight often go unnoticed at the expense of the bonafide citizens. While there are immigrants who are lucky to discover their dreams in this land of abundant opportunities, others find themselves in dire situations. The world today faces the impact of globalization and the economic crunch that has hit countries across the world including the developed countries such as the United States. As a result, the life of many Immigrants in America is not that rosy as perceived by relatives back in the country of origin. Many immigrants today in America, has to engage in more than one job to sustain both their needs and those of relatives back home. In terms of seeking employment, immigrants in America today faces a milestone since unemployment is widespread, and there is competition for the better job opportunities. On the same note, most immigrants are either semi-illiterate or illiterate and often find themselves looking for menial jobs. Further, most of immigrants in America mainly work in farms, restaurants, factories or any other job that does not require professional skills. This makes their living condition a challenge as a result of the meager wages they receive in their places of work. As consequent, most immigrants find themselves unable to afford decent accommodation or housing and healthcare (Conard 163). On another note, most citizens from other countries are often ignorant about the kind of life they may experience in another country. In the developing or third world countries, moving or migrating to the developed world is seen as a way of escaping poverty and other societal challenges common in the developing world. As a result of expecting heaven when immigrants move to a developed country, they end up exploited by rogue employers who underpays their services. This is a challenge for immigrants in America today since, most of these immigrants cannot protest for an improvement of wages. The main reason why most immigrants are unable to challenge employers for better working conditions and wages is because of being in the country illegally. The proper channels to seek work permit or permanent citizenship is involving and some of these immigrants often end up deported back to their countries of origin. To avoid deportation, most immigrants prefer remaining silent about their status as they continue to suffer from exploitation from rogue employers or unscrupulous business persons (Chip 48). Further, to make ends meet, immigrants in America often find themselves engaging in illegal dealings to earn more money to sustain their living and significant others. While most of these immigrants are innocent, they often end up in American prisons or deported to their countries of origins where some may face incarceration. The United States as a country, is considered the world’s number one economy and this means that government offers better social, economic and political structures for its citizens. However, most immigrants often find themselves in a situation where they are unable to afford the basic needs, and live in dilapidated housing projects. As a consequent, most of immigrants in America today, and especially those in the country illegally often endanger their lives. This is more so as a result of living in crime prone areas where the justice system often neglect. Such areas belong to gang or vigilante who control the streets and exploit immigrants for their own gains (Kotkin and Ozuna 58). Despite most of immigrants being in the country illegal, there are others who have find their way into the country through legal means. This involves being given a visa that varies in terms of the duration an individual expect to stay in the country. In addition, following the legal channel to migrate to America, allows immigrants to avoid legal tussle with the justice system since they have the option to renew their visas or apply for permanent precedence. Migrating to the country through the existing legal channels also allow people from other countries to apply for a work permit. This in essence, allows immigrants to secure genuine employment, and lead a sustainable life in a foreign country. This may involve working as an expatriate in a white collar job or becoming an entrepreneur in a business of choice. The United States as a country is unique in the sense that, it offers citizens from other countries to become American citizens through the green card program. Many people across the globe have taken advantage of the program and are now citizens of America, and enjoy similar rights to other Americans who are citizens by birth (Kotkin and Ozuna 60). On another note, immigrants in America today prefer living as a community, and this is the reason why immigrants from the same country live in the same locale. This provides immigrants with a sense of belonging, and assisting each other in a foreign country. In most cases, they assist other to settle down, and to secure a means to earn a living. In order to improving their living conditions, immigrants engage in establishing associations where they empower other immigrants from the same country of origin. Such empowerment may emerge in the form of financial assistance, focus groups where they can discuss matters related to survival in a foreign country or how to assist relative back in the country of origin (Lim 1042). At the present, the living conditions for the immigrants in America has not changed significantly, however; for immigrants who moved to the United over two decades ago have managed to establish themselves in the American society. Conversely, young people from other countries are often fascinated by the lifestyle led by their compatriots in the United States. This include accessing better education and other luxuries not available or beyond reach in the third world countries. However, life in a capitalist society is often difficult compared to socialism as embraced by different people migrating from other parts of the world to the United States .As depicted in the book “The Jungle”, Sinclair uses an example of immigrants from Lithuania to describe the struggles that the working class may face in a capitalist society. Such a capitalist society in this sense include America where, Teta Elzbieta, Jurgis and the family migrate to America in the belief that they will be able to earn more wages and lead comfortable life. Such a belief often motivate immigrants to maintain their faith in the idea of the American Dream. However, the experience that these family encounters in Packingtown is contrary to the concept of the American Dream as believed by most immigrants. The troubles that most new immigrants face include prejudice and overexploitation rather than providing equal opportunity. As further illustrated “The Jungle” American Dream is often compromised by a capitalist society driven by moral degradation, graft and crime. Other factors that may affect the immigrants living in the United States include immigrants forgetting their moral values in pursuit of the elusive American Dream. Capitalism as described by Sinclair impacts negatively on the values considered to support the idea of the American Dream. This involves avoiding acts of greediness, but achieving success based on honesty and hard work. In conclusion, while immigrants have realized their American Dream, others still suffer exploitation and prejudice from their host. This is a situation that is almost impossible to control since most of the immigrants enter America through legal means. However, immigrants may still improve their living conditions by following the legal channels of becoming permanent residents, and access the privileges enjoyed by other bonafide immigrants. Works Cited Avenarius, Christine B. Immigrant Networks in New Urban Spaces: Gender and Social Integration. International Migration 50.5 (2012): pp. 25-55.Print. Chip, William W. The next American majority. National Interest 5. 128(2013): pp. 46-53. Print. Conard, Edward. How to fix America. Foreign Affairs 92.3 (2012): pp. 160-164. Print. Kotkin, Joel; Ozuna, Evika. America’s demographic future. CATO Journal 32. 1(2012): pp. 55- 69. Print. Lim, Julian. Immigration, Asylum, and Citizenship: A More Holistic Approach. California Law Review 101.4 (2013): pp.1013-1077. Print. Read More