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Megan Landvatter
Immigration Paper
April 30, 2014
Immigration and the American Dream
The United States has never been a country united in ancestry. Originally inhabited by Native
American people, initially discovered by the people of Portugal, and subsequently explored by various
European countries, the United States has a diverse background. Often known as the melting pot of the
world, The United States is a nation of immigrants. The entire history of this country has involved people
of other countries coming to the United States to start a new life. Recent immigration issues have led
people to wonder if the melting pot mentality is a thing of the past. The excessive numbers of illegal
immigrants who have taken up residence in this country have lawmakers searching for answers. These
illegal immigrants have broken the law, and consequences are often involved when people decide to
break the rules. Yet, it is not that simple. The United States, seen as the land of opportunity, has a
stigma associated with it. The American Dream leads people to believe in happily ever after. If
lawmakers elect to deport illegal immigrants, they are killing the American Dream.
Merriam Websters Dictionary defines the American Dream as an American social ideal that
stresses egalitarianism and especially material prosperity. (Merriam-Webster's, 1993) Basically, the
American Dream is the idea that all people will be treated equally and be given equal opportunities.
While the United States has certainly had its struggles treating everyone equally at times, the basis on
which the United States proves that equal opportunity was what the founding fathers wanted for this
country.
Tired of the excessive British control over the Americas, the Colonial people revolted against
England. Determined to create a country that protected the basic rights and freedoms of its people, the

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Americans were successful in breaking away from England. The Bill of Rights outlines the basic rights and
freedoms given to the citizens of the United States of America. This document serves as the basis for
societal ideals. The idea of freedom is a foreign concept to people around the world. Some countries
place their people under strict government regulations that prevent them exercising their basic
freedoms. The people from these countries see America as a land filled with opportunity. The United
States gives them the opportunity to be successful. Success is not guaranteed, but at least they have a
chance.
Uniquely the United States is a nation full of immigrants. Once seen as a mysterious land to
explore, the United States quickly became a prized commodity. Soon explorers from all over England
were sent to investigate the new land. England, Spain, and Portugal raced to the previously uncharted
territory and claimed a piece of it. While initially divided, the United States eventually became one
nation with a central government. However, the people inhabiting the United States have never been of
the same nationality. The immigration trend continued as time went on and the United States quickly
became known as the melting pot of the world. This unique aspect sets the United States apart from
many other countries. The idea of simply deporting illegal immigrants calls the identity of the United
States into question. Immigrants come to America searching for a better life. The see the opportunities
that America presents and they believe in the promise of American Dream. (Melting Pot America 2006)
Ronald Raegan emphasized these American ideals when he said he, "always thought of America
as a place in the divine scheme of things that was set aside as a promised land" where "the price of
admission was very simple ... Any place in the world and any person from those places; any person with
the courage, with the desire to tear up their roots, to strive for freedom, to attempt and dare to live in a
strange and foreign place, to travel halfway across the world was welcome here." The American Dream
has become a tradition in this country, carried on by each and every generation. The American Dream

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has become a part of the United States identity. Without the promise of equal opportunity and the
chance of prosperity, the United States would not be the same. (Losing the American Dream 2013)
National Public Radio interviewed (Martin 2008) a few immigrants to hear their perspective of
the American Dream. Nick Injow, an immigrant from Kenya, said this when asked about the topic:
Back in the late 1990s, there were no opportunities because the political system had run down
the economy. Then the opportunity to come to America just surfaced. Everybody was very
excited. You could not describe what is to be in this land and experience all the opportunities we
were told about since we were babies. I had two brothers and one sister living in Baltimore, and
they thought that I could go back into the corporate world. I entered the corporate world and I
worked with a number of companies for about four years doing accounting work, and I
experienced the fear of losing my job. That fear became reality because I lost a good,
professional job three times And no, I'm not disappointed, because every pitfall, I as an
immigrant see that there is added opportunity to be something different. So I decided I am
going to work for myself. I've been self-contracting for about six, seven years now. The American
dream is still very much alive, because I think the dream exists in our minds and in our hearts.

Another immigrant interviewed by National Public Radio, Martin Matoda from Bulgaria,
referenced the American educational system as his reason for coming to the United States:
The education system in Bulgaria, it's very different from what it is here. It's more academically
oriented, rather than practical. And that's why people from all over the world, they want to
come here and study and get a hands-on experience and then maybe get a couple of years of
real work experience after they get their degree.
Immigrants enter the United States with high expectations. Unlike some of their home countries
the United States gives them the opportunity to follow their dreams.
The recent debate over immigration reform has lawmakers trying to decide how to handle the
issues that arise when it comes to this topic. One of the hot button issues regarding immigration reform
is illegal immigration. Some people would like to see illegal immigrants be granted immunity while
others argue that breaking immigration laws should result in deportation. The American Dream is often
brought up in this discussion. Many people feel as though these immigrants are taking American jobs

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and since illegal immigrants will often offer to work for less, American citizens cannot compete with
them. Mark Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, believes that
immigrants are killing the American Dream. "Whose American Dream are we talking about?" he asks.
"Immigration policy is a boon for the immigrants coming here. But what about the American dreams of
Americans?" (Is Immigration Policy Killing the American Dream? 2011) The argument is that immigrants
are taking the opportunities away from American citizens.
The problem with this argument is that it discounts the history of this country. American citizens
are guests in this country as well. They may have citizen status, but they did not originate in the United
States. Their ancestors came from Germany or Ireland or Italy. This country is filled with individuals with
different ethnicities, religions, and cultures. Americans may be united in their desire for freedom, but
they are not united in their backgrounds. At one time everyone was an immigrant in this country. Sure,
many people are natural-born citizens, but their ancestors came to this country as immigrants. Their
ancestors came to America in search of the American Dream. Now immigrants come to the country and
they are seen as aliens invading the country. The American Dream fights this mentality. According to the
American Dream ideal, everyone should be treated equally and be given equal opportunities. Deporting
immigrants would not allow them to have equal opportunities. (Melting Pot America 2006)
Americans have the mentality that they are entitled the opportunities offered in America. They
are angered at the idea of immigrants coming in and stealing their jobs or offering their services for a
lower price. However, by taking these opportunities, immigrants are fulfilling two of the ideals on which
America was built. The first of those ideals being the American Dream, everyone deserves a chance at a
better life in America, and immigrants who take those opportunities are just trying to fulfill their dream.
The second ideal would be that of capitalism. An economic system that encourages competition,
Americans who are angered when immigrants offer services for less are forgetting about the economic

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policies in this country. Immigrants have the right to offer services at whatever price they see fit. While
this may result in a loss of business for some Americans, immigrants are simply living by American
standards. (Is Immigration Policy Killing the American Dream? 2011)
Those opposed to Immigration Reform dismiss the American Dream as an emotional ploy to gain
support. The issue of immigration has become more about taking a stance for political purposes rather
than to help immigrants. Dismissing the American Dream as a political ploy misses the point. The
American Dream is not a casual phrase; it is an ideal that carries with it the core beliefs of America.
Discounting the value of the American Dream discounts the values that built the United States. Equal
opportunity should be an ideal that America strives to protect. Without the American Dream, the United
States would not have the reputation that is has been given. (Losing the American Dream 2013)
When people think of the United States they think of hope. They think about a place to go to
chase dreams. America has always been a nation of dreamers. The country that fostered the ideas of
Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet promises to be a place where dreams come true. People come
over to this country with dreams. They come ready to share their thoughts and ideas and finally be given
an opportunity. There is no denying that the United States has seen many dreamers capture their piece
of the American Dream. Whether that piece of the American Dream is represented in a successful small
business or the athlete that works his way to the NFL, America gives everyone a chance to have a piece
of it.
Lawmakers, trying to decide how to deal with immigration, have discussed a piece of legislation
called the Dream Act. Introduced in 2001, the Dream Act proposed that illegal immigrants be given the
opportunity to become legal citizens instead of getting deported. While the Dream Act was initially
scrapped in favor of the "Student Adjustment Act of 2001, the bill took on various forms throughout
the following years. The Dream Act was reintroduced in 2009. Once reintroduced the bill added some

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stipulations regarding the citizenship of illegal immigrants, these qualifications included being anywhere
from age 12 to age 35 when the bill was passed, having to have arrived in the United State before the
age of 16, resided in the United States for five consecutive years since the date of their arrival,
graduated from high school with a diploma or a GED, and have good moral character. The bill was
reviewed once again in 2010. The discussion in 2010 revolved more on the issues with the bill. 11 more
stipulations were added by congress during this time. Added to the previous list of qualifications were
more background and security checks. These included criminal background checks, verification through
homeland security, and medical examinations. California enacted the Dream Act in 2011 that allowed
illegal immigrants to receive scholarships for state schools. Illinois followed a similar path in creating a
privately funded scholarship plan for the children on immigrants, both legal and illegal. The ultimate
moment for the Dream Act came in 2012 when president Obama announced that his administration
would stop deporting young illegal immigrants who matched the terms and conditions outlined in the
Dream Act. (Caleb 2013)
While all of the issues surrounding immigration reform have certainly not been solved, the
United States is making progress. The Dream Act gives illegal immigrants the opportunity to live the
American Dream. The criteria listed in the Dream Act ensure that the immigrants who are given the
rights of citizens through the bill are contributing positively to society. The American Dream emphasizes
that everyone should be treated equally and given an opportunity. The Dream Act makes those things
possible for immigrants.
The recent debate of immigration reform has caused many people to wonder if the American
Dream is dead. Fortunately, the American Dream is still alive. People still come to the United States with
hopes of changing their lives. They still seek out opportunities in the country where dreams seem to
come true, but the American Dream will only remain alive if lawmakers handle the immigration issue

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with care. Granting immunity to immigrants allows them to continue in their pursuit of the American
Dream.

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Works Cited
Caleb, K. (2013). Lost American DREAM of Undocumented Students: Understanding the DREAM
(Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) Act. Children & Schools, 35(1), 55-58.
Connolly, K. (2011, January 4). Is immigration policy killing the American Dream?. BBC News. Retrieved
April 30, 2014, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12925299
Immigrants Hope Their 'American Dream' Isn't Fading. (n.d.). NPR. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102866466
'Melting Pot' America. (2006, December 5). BBC News. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/493153
Parrillo, V. N. (1991). The Immigrant Family: Securing the American Dream. Journal Of Comparative
Family Studies, 22(2), 131-145.
Pearson, E. (n.d.). Immigrants are still living the dream, as second generation Americans have higher
salaries and more education than parents . NY Daily News. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/immigrants-living-dream-article-1.1258266
Tran, L. (n.d.). Losing the 'American Dream'. US News. Retrieved April 30, 2014, from
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/05/13/on-immigration-reform-congressshould-remember-the-american-dream