IMMIGRATION

By Alex Wisner
What was one thing that was totally different
from your hometown?
The distance to stores and market.
Aunt Gloria
Where did you come from?
Mexico.
How long have you been living in the US?
18 years.
Why did you come to the US?
I didnt get a choice. I was 11.
Why did you choose to live in Michigan?
I didnt get a choice.
Is the US what you thought it would be?
No. I thought I would get nice clothes. I didnt.
What really surprised you, after you got to the US?
How many toys there were in a toy store.
What was the hardest thing to adjust you?
The language.

What was one thing that was totally different from
Mexico?
You could get lots of stuff from one building instead
of having to go to several places for everything.
Abuelito-
Where did you come from?
Mexico.
How long have you been living in the US?
25 years.
Why did you come to the US?
To work.
What made you choose Michigan?
There is more work and better pay.
Is the US what you thought it would be?
No. The working conditions were harsh.
What really surprised you, after you got to the
US?
The stores. There were some things in the
stories that we didnt have in our village.
Mom-
Where did you come from?
Mexico.
How long have you been living in the US?
19 years
Why did you come to the US?
For a better life and to be with family.
What made you choose to live in Michigan?
Because my family was here.
Is the US what you thought it would be?
Kind of. I saw the pictures as a child, so I had an
idea what it would be like.
What pushed you to come to the US?
My family just chose it.
What really surprised you, after you got to the US?
Probably how many things were packed into one
store and how large the selections were in the
store.
What was the hardest thing to adjust to?
Definitely the language.

What really surprised you, after you got to the
US?
The customs were really different.
What was the hardest thing to adjust to?
The language.
What was one thing that was totally different
from your village?
The language. I wasnt able to communicate
with others.
Uncle Victor-
Where did you come from?
Mexico.
How long have you been living in the US?
34 years.
Did you come to the US?
To find work and earn money.
What made you choose to live in
Michigan?
All my family was here.
US thought it would be?
I thought it would be great, but it was a
lot of work.
What really surprised you, after you got
to the US?
There was a lot more (and better) food
here. I didnt have much money back in
Mexico, but here I did.
What was the hardest thing to adjust to?
The language. I couldnt understand
English.
What was one thing that was totally
different from your village?
The jobs.
What was the hardest thing to adjust to?
The language.
What was one thing that was totally different
from your village?
There was work here while there wasnt any
work back in Mexico.
Abuelita-
Where did you come from?
Mexico.
How long have you been living in the US?
18 years.
Why did you come to the US?
My family was here.
What made you choose to live in Michigan?
Family and work were here.
Is the US what you thought it would be?
No.
Exclusion List
Polygamists, political radicals, Japanese restricted,
people with physical or mental defects or
tuberculosis, and children unaccompanied by
parents, illiterates, people of psychopathic
inferiority, men and women entering for immoral
purposes, alcoholics, stowaways, vagrants (beggar,
drifter, hobo), Chinese (until 1943), limited Eastern
Hemisphere
Some nationalities were limited because the US was
worried about having too many, about having the
country overflowing with people. Others are because
they dont want to look like they condone the
immoral and some because they dont meet the
national standards like being illiterate. The
immigrants had to know basic English.
Accepted Immigrants
Chinese (after 1943)
Foreign-born wives, fianc(s), husbands,
and children of U.S. soldiers (1946)
People fleeing persecution (1948)
Eastern Hemisphere (limited)
Western Hemisphere
Salvadorians (under protected status-
1990)

They probably changed their standards as
more people were fleeing from persecution
and war.
Policies Summary
At different points in time, the policies allowed
and prohibited certain ethnic groups or political
affiliates to enter the United States
The policies were also modified to prohibit or
allow people with certain medical issues, social
issues, and/or nationalities
Policies were often instituted due impart to
public and/or political pressure
They usually come for a better life (i.e. a better job selection or
better pay) or because their family is here
Some problems immigrants face now, in the US, are
employment challenges, immigration process, the cost of
immigrating, and fitting in
Some problems immigrants are facing, trying to leave their
country are getting permission to leave the country (i.e. getting a
visa) and having to say goodbye to family, friends, homes, and
possessions
Some of the problems females face here, in the US, are what is
socially acceptable. Depending on your culture, this could relate
to type of job, clothing, and interaction with the other gender.
Some problems the US faces because of immigration are political
upheaval and public demonstration, which have turned violent
The nationalities of the immigrants today are more diversified
than ever. Immigrants come from all over the world. This is
because immigration is more accepted than before.
The nationalities coming today are not the same as in past
history. This is because many more nationalities (some that
didnt even exist back then) are allowed to come here.
Everyone can come if they pass the background check
Country wouldnt be this far without immigrants
We wouldnt be here
Want better lives (family, money, job)
Accepted
Clean record, minor offenses, etc.
Denied
Along the lines of serial killers, etc.
Deportation
Crimes- Jail or fines like regular citizen
Illegal immigrants who dont pass background
Obtaining Citizenship
Thorough background check and fill out forms
Crossing the border
Find them, fill out forms, background check, register as
citizens
Penalties for Illegal Immigrant
No penalties- fill out forms, get background check