Immigration Crisis in the United States: A Time to Reform Laws - Coursework Example

 Immigration crisis in the United States: A time to reform laws. The United States of America is one of the leading super powers and the most powerful country in the world. Almost every year, a massive influx of immigrants crosses the border both by illegal and legal means in the hope of a better future for their children and family. Predominantly, the people who come to stay in the country are Mexicans and South Americans with the contribution from the Arab and Asian side of the world as well. Immigrants from around the globe have posed a sensitive issue for the country and recently a major increase has led the Congress to revise its immigrant policy and reform immigrant laws putting the lives of thousands at risk. The illegal means of crossing the border from Mexican and South American side not only puts the life of people in jeopardy but is a growing stress on the United States economy which is deteriorating rapidly. Furthermore, those individuals visiting the country on legal visas such as student visas or work permits tend to prolong the stay and later on, become a part of it by gaining citizenship. This major immigrant influx has led the border control agency to reform and reconsider the laws that were made during the Bush era. Also, the U.S immigrant department is now planning on forming strict laws that limit gaining of citizenship. There are children and females crossing the Mexican-American border in large numbers which has made dealing with the issue sensitive and has put pressure on the economy. These undocumented people find themselves in the same situation that they escaped from earlier. A land of opportunities but of which they cannot gain benefit because of the fact that they have no legalization documents that affirm them as legal citizens of the country. There has also been an increase in the minor aged immigrants in the United States which has led to major problems of accommodation in shelters since no recognition on the part of government plays a vital role for them ( Urrea’s 357,Basu). Immigration of children and family from the Mexican borders is increasing day by day which has led to complaints and claims of sexual harassment, abuse, strip searches and allegations of threats by the hands of the border police. There is no denying of the fact that people who do migrate to the States are at times treated inhumanely and kept in conditions that fall below the United Nations Charter of Human Rights. Not providing the immigrants with the basic humanitarian needs is another allegation that the United States Border Patrol is faced with. This also means that after the routinely scanning and finger print system, they are sent to shelters where no hope for a brighter future is seen. Culturally and economically, the issue of immigration has a positive impact on the country but it also has a darker context because nobody knows where to put the immigrants or how to stop the major influx. (Urrea,354). There has also been a noted change in the America-Canadian immigration policy. This new policy is limiting the applications available to the people and works by selecting the best applications in the lot giving it a lottery shape structure rather than an all welcome friendly side. This has led investors from the more developed part of the globe to look for other opportunities and has affected the immigrations policy in general. America being the friendliest in its immigration policy is now seen regulating the border control and laws to limit the incoming people and to accommodate those who already present. (Semotiuk). The issue of immigrant placements is not new news in the United States but has been a topic of discussion in political debates and many times the highlight of Obama's administration. The friendly policy is seen to be changing shape at a rapid pace putting the lives of many at the brink. The major concerns that citizens have are over growing poverty and crime rates in the country. These issues are blamed upon the immigrants since, the population is increasing with no available job opportunities and this has led to other means of surviving. Another concern that generates through the influx is that it burdens the economy and reduces the available opportunities for the rightful citizens of the country. The taxpayer money is not transparently being spent. In decades, international refugees who are victimized by wars, conflicts and other political issues take refuge in the United States but this has led the citizens of the country to question the government on the basis of security and integrity(Basu) Pointing out all the questions at hand and looking at it from a neutral spectrum rather than taking a single side; the solution to everything seems not that simple as put forth by Obama’s administration while keeping the integrity of the country and accommodating the immigrants from the borders. The 2008 act permitted the immigrants to come in the country and now it seems late to just close off the borders or send the refugees back to their countries. (Basu) The Obama administration has talked about in various speeches and articles about the immigrant policy and how the government is trying its best to shelter and accommodate them. One of the highlighted solution to counter the problem that the government recently took was to allow undocumented immigrants to serve in the military under the program known as MAVNI-Military Accessions in the National Interest. This was to create job opportunities under the administration policy known as Deferred Action for Child Arrivals or DACA. This not only strengthens the United States army but also gives the opportunity to the undocumented immigrants to serve a purpose in the country. Immigrant workers do make up a fairly large part of the economy and provide benefits to the country contradictory to what the citizens believe. The 2008 law did make a positive impact on the economy but now since this has led to opening of floods of illegal immigrants, there is a dire need to change the reforms and secure the borders(Tilghman). Providing documents and legalizing the undocumented ones can help in many ways to control the migration. This is because a legal route to citizenship will allow them to go back to their homeland and will reduce the minors from crossing the borders as well. It is late to stop the incoming people from the other side of the world in the United States but what could be done is to make the best of the border security and enhancing it to an increased extension. Deploying the army and national guards near the Mexican-American border can increase the security and reduce the illegal influx. Again, deportation of the masses is not a feasible idea and though theoretically it sounds good, but practically put, it can wage a war inside the country between the rightful citizens and the illegal ones. It can also destroy the ideology held by the Republicans. In conclusion, the issue cannot just be resolved with theories or deporting or cutting out aid because that would in turn affect the foreign relations of the country as well. A change has to be made but not through banishment of individuals but by regulating the whole process of immigration and bringing out new immigration reforms in the country. This will not only help the United States to accommodate and gain profits from the already residing ones but filtering of individuals will help strengthen the economy and the cultural diversity of the states. Obamas administration should keep this in mind before making any changes in the immigration act. Works Cited Basu,Moni. “Daniel's journey: How thousands of children are creating a crisis in America”. CNN. 19 Jun. 2014. Web. 29 Sep. 2014. Semotiuk, Andy.J. “Shift In U.S. And Canadian Immigration Policy Will Affect Chinese And Other Investors Worldwide”. Forbes. 17 Sep. 2014. Web 29 Sep. 2014. Tilghman,Andrew.“Military to allow undocumented immigrants to serve”. USA Today. 25 Sep. 2014. Web. 28 Sep. 2014. Urrea, Luis A. Across the Wire: Life and Hard Times on the Mexican Border. New York: Anchor Books, 1993. 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