You are on page 1of 9

MagdalenoLee

Ms.Sanchez
28April20015

HonorsEnglish4
Immigration

Allhumanbeingssomemorepatriotthanothershouldberespected,fromthatstandpoint
yetit'saboutnotbeinganativeoftheU.S.Awhichmakeyouanoutcast,unfavoruponpeers
causingmajorissues.TheAmericanbeliefisanativebirthinthecountrythey'repermanent
residentsalsorespected.Ofcoursebeingaimmigrantorundocumentedallowsonetrackminds
tosay"theyarentAmericantheyarealiens".Wellaroundtheearly1600spilgrimswasina
senseimmigrantsattractedbythesamemeaningasaliensaretodayfreedom.Nobodyseesthat
becausetheywasthefoundersastheysayofcoloniesandthenativesalreadylivingthereare
newcomers.Finallytherewasthe17th19thcenturywhereAfricanswasforceoverseaas
"immigrants"toharvestcashcropsforthe"Americans"beingtheirlegalworkers.Sincethe
1880srestrictionsonimmigrationhaveoverflowedwithunfairprotocolsfordealingwithrights,
benefits,transferringlanguages/cultures,Economicstressanddeportationsrulesjustfora
citizenpaper.
InthebookimmigrantsbyPowellmajorlawsrestrictionsforimmigrantsfromhavingequal
rightsasthatofcitizensintheU.S.Throughouttheconstitutionitstatedregulationfor
immigrantssomesecretlyonlyapplyingtoCaucasiansnotbeingotherracesspecifically.Such
asthatof"article1section8on,thestatesaftertwoyearsofresidenceofthecountryand
provingachildoftheirsislegallyborninthecountrycitizenshipwouldthanbeawarded.But


ValelioLee2

lateronin1795itchangetofiveyearsandthenthreeyearsofnoticeofattemptstoseek
naturalization.(Powell60)Theconstitutiontosomedegreewasfairwiththewaitingperiodto
becomeacitizen,butasitisreaditchangeinprocesstimebeingthatitwastoregulatetheflow
onimmigration.InthesamebookthecourtcaseOzawaV.UnitedStates260U.S.178,which
Mr.OzawawasintitletohiscitizenshipyetbecauseofhisracenotbeingAfricanorCaucasian
descenthiminthiscasewaslookpassnotasrelevant.(Powell84)Thisdemonstratesthelackof
understandingontheentitlementtohaveequallylibertiesasthenextguywouldasbiaslaws
seemtobe.AswellcourtcaseonOyamaV.California332U.S633,Mr.Oyamapurchasesix
acresoflandbutbecauseofhiscitizenstatusheisisnativebornsonnameindoingsobecause
oftheAlienLandLawof19131920prohibitsownershipoflandbyimmigrantsasthoughmany
undocumentedindividualshavedone.(Powell88)Thisrestrictiondepictwhoaredesirableto
haveland,althoughafterthecivilwartherewassharecroppingofAfricandescentsonlyeach
seasonbecomingdeeperindebtsowhere'sthedifferentbygivinglandtodebtfreeindividuals.
PresidentObamahadmanyproposalsontheeffectonimmigrantsandwaystosolvethem
variedandmajorityactionsareopinionated.Obamafirstactionwasto"increasepenaltiesfor
employerswhohireundocumentedworkerstoskirttheworkplacestandards.......anditcreatesa
laborlawenforcementsfunds".Meaningthatincreasingpenaltiescauseincreasingdifficultyon
immigrantswhoaretryingtomakeanhonestlivingwithoutpapers.Theideathathavingpapers
areexpensiveasthescanninggoes,theyareforcefirsttoseekjobstohaveincometolater
purchasepapers.Soonlyeffectbeingcompletedarethechancestopossibleonedaybecoming
legalandhaveequalrightsasancitizen.Secondproposalwas"mandatingafraudresistant,
tamperresistantsocialsecuritycardandrequiresworkerstousefraudandtamperresistant


ValelioLee3

documentstoproveauthorizationtoworkintheUnitedStates".Thisbyfarlimitschancestofind
reasonablepayingjobsbeyondharshlaborlikefieldsworkforlowpayrates.Notjustthatbut
citizensarenowforcedtogobeyondeffectstostayuptodateonapprovaldocumentsjustto
workinbusiness.Thequestionsremainaretheeffectstodefeatillegalemployeesworththe
efforttopushnewerdocumentscreatingbehindcitizentostaycurrent?Thirdactionisthat
"undocumentedimmigrantswholivedintheU.SformorethanfiveyearsandareparentsofU.S
citizensorlawfulpermanentresidents.Byregisteringandpassingcriminalandnationalsecurity
backgroundchecks,millionsofundocumentedimmigrantswillstartpayingtheirshareoftaxes
andtemporarilyforthreeyearsatatime".Thisproposalactuallyexpressthatthegovernment
isn'tconcernaboutworkingwithimmigrantstobecomecitizensandstayingherepermanently
yetratherhavetaxesfromthem.Alreadyknowingthetheproposalprevioustothatstating
increasepenaltiesifemployershireundocumentedindividualwhichlimitsthemtohaveharsher
jobstoliveandpaytaxes.Thenonlybeingpromisethreeyearsatatimebuttheysaytokeep
themfromfearofdeportationwhatiftheystartlovingAmericabuttheirvisacan'tberenewed
thantheymustleaveunfairtheyallwillsay.
Fourthproposalisthat"immigrantslivinghereillegallymustbeheldresponsiblefortheir
actionsbypassingnationalsecurityandcriminalbackgroundschecks,payingtheirtaxesanda
penalty,goingtothebackoftheline,learnenglishbeforetheycanearntheircitizenship".These
processobstaclesaren'tnothingbuttimeconsumingworkdesignbylawmakertodiscourage
immigrantsfrommakingU.S.theirbelovedcountryandhomefortheirfamilies.Andlast
proposalonlawrestrictionsare"creatingoftoughcriminalpenaltiesfortraffickinginpassports
andimmigrantsdocuments.........italsostrengthenpenaltiestocombathumansmugglingrings".


ValelioLee4

TheAmericanlawmakerbeliefistopunishindividualwhoactuallycareaboutthewellbeingof
itspeopletryingtohelpthem,morethantheU.S.isdoing.Althoughit'srathersadthatbeing
Americaisthelandofthefreeandbetterlife,it'sratherdoingapoorjobingivingimmigrantsa
helpinghandbutmoreorthreattobecomelegal.Notjustthatbutnonbenefitstoimmigrantsare
equallyaratherlargeissueuponbeingresidingintheUnitedStates.
Intheprevious.bookimmigrationbyPowellthecourtcaseOzawaV.UnitedStates,which
Mr.OzawawasintitletohiscitizenshipyetbecauseofhisracenotbeingAfricanorCaucasian
descenthiminthiscasewaslookpassnotasrelevant.(Powell86)Thisnotonlydemonstrate
factualevidenceonthebehalfoflawrestrictionsbutalsoonthenonbenefitsnotbeingtherace
listedontheconstitutionclauseofeligibility.InthatbookaswelloncourtcaseGrahamV.
Richardson,CarmenRichardsonanformerimmigrantwasdeniedpublicwelfarefornotyet
reachingthe15yearsmarkasresidencyoftheUnitedStatealthoughsheargueitbrokethe
fourteenthAmendmentpromisingequalrights.(Powell89)Themeaningofthiscourtcase
displayedtheconstantunfairtreatmentofimmigrantsinthatwaitingfortheactionofthe
governmenttoactontheirneeds.Letalonethegovernmenttakeittimewithitsowncitizenbut
towardsundocumentedindividualitsalotharsher.OthercasessuchasLAUETAL.V.Nichols,
(1974),around3,500ChinesestudentsrequiredEnglishinstructionhelpbutonly1,700received
helpmeaningfulopportunitiestoparticipateinpubliceducationalprogram.(Powell90)Being
thatthiscourtcaseshowednotjustHispanicimmigrantswasbeingmistreatedfromeducation
butChinesechildrenaswell.EveninAmericaitselftheylackeducationopportunitieswithits
citizensmainlyeducationchallengelearners.


ValelioLee5

TheothercourtcaselikePlyerV.Doe,(1982),Theoutcomecreatedfundsfor
undocumentedchildrenandtheirparentsresidencystatus,butChiefJusticeWarrenBurgers
arguedillegalalienshavenorightswhatevertobehere,andthestatemayreasonably,and
constitutionally,electnottoprovidethemwithgovernmentservic(Powell92).ChiefJustice
WarrenBurgersdisplayedhowsomepeopleemotionsaretowardsImmigrantsandtheiropinions
onthebenefitsthatarepromisetothem.YetbecauseselfishnessofAmericancitizensfor
immigrantstobetreatedwithequalrightsandbecomeunderstandingoftheirneeds.Sothatwe
allcanlivecomfortablywithoutworryofdebtandbiasremarksintheworkfield.Although
presidentObamaproposalstatingasitwasexplainedinlawrestrictionmandatesoffraud
resistants,tamperresistantsocialsecuritycardandrequiresworkerstousefraudandtamper
resistantdocumentstoproveauthorizationtoworkintheUnitedStates.Theseactionsisnt
nothingmorethanbasicallyprofilingthatimmigrantsareatypeofcriminalindividual.Being
thatnewprocessneedtobeupdatedtostopcriminalactsasfraudbyundocumentedindividuals
fromoccurring.Fortheimmigrants,thefewthatdoesactuallygetscitizenship,theyfindit
actuallyprettydifferentthanitwasbackhome.Involvingdifferentcultureandlivingstatues
basicallymeanatypeofstyleinlivingdependingonpublictransportationandlanguagespoken.
InthebookimmigrationbyarthurMiller,itdescribes"familystatuesisthefirstthingthat
changesbeingannewenvironmentandhavingtoadjustwithoutthehelpfromfamilies.Yetmost
significantwouldbetheireconomicalstatues".(Miller12)Fromthispageitexpressthatlivesare
trulychangedramaticallybecauseofthesuddenneedofindependentandselfconfident.Andjust
becausetheymayhavebeeninthemiddleclassintheircountry,intheU.S.theycouldverywell
beinthepovertyclassoverhereliving.Lateronthebookitmentions"thefirstseveralyearsof


ValelioLee6

animmigrant'slifeintheU.S.Canbeblurroflongdaysandhourswithlittlecompensationof
freetimedemandingphysicalskillsaswellwithlimitedfreetime".(Miller13)Becauseof
restrictionofhiringillegalworkerstheyareforcetoworkinfruitfarms,fields,orfarmwork
fromsunuptosundown.GivenitsworkersnotypeofmedicalorhealthbenefitsbutaSteady
payuntiltheseasonsendsleavingthemtomigratetofindnewwork.ProfessorSiyonRheeat
CaliforniastatesmentioninMillersbook"Immigrantschildrenareexpectedtolearnboth
culturesoneoftheiroriginandanotherthesocietyoftheU.S.theylivein.Majorityofthetime
notfullyappreciatingthesamesocialbehaviorsoftheirparentsdo".(Miller14)Thisonlycreates
conflictandstressupontheirmindbecauseoftheworkloadtheyhavetolearnfromboth
cultures.It'sevenharderonthemiftheirparentsspeaknoEnglishsotheymustbalanceEnglish
atschoolandathometheiroriginlanguagethattheirparentmainlyspeakorknow.Inacouple
ofpagesaheadanBosnianteensaid"Idon'tbelong,beingthathisspokelittleEnglishthatthe
othershadchallengesunderstandinghimandIchallengeunderstandingthem.Hesaybackat
homehewasanexcellentstudentbutherehecriesbecauseoftheobstacleshehadtoface".
(Miller41)AsitwasprovenbytheteenstatementAmericawasratherdifficultforhimandhe
justwantedtoquitbecauseofit.Today'stimeotherswanttofinddifferencesinoutsidersand
pickonthemaboutwheretheylackat,insteadofhelpingoneanotherintheirweakness.
Forgettingatonepointintheirlivestheytoneededassistantbutwhenothersneedthatsamehelp
theywanttojokeandpickontheweak.
"FromthefirstdaysinAmerica,motherandfatherhammeredintomyheadtheimportanceof
excellinginschool.Rightnowweareamongthepoorestintheland.(Miller43)whichhavelead
tomanyimmigrantssuccesslaterbecomingChiefJusticeofevenhavehigherpaidjobsfrom


ValelioLee7

whattheirsparentsinstalledintheirheadsatayoungage.AndsomethinginAmericaimigrants
haveneverseenbeforelikeshoppingcentersinthetext"whenIfirstenteredtheTargetstoreat
themall,Isimplyoverwhelmedbytheimmensesizeoftheplaceandmindbogglingnumberof
thingsinit".(Miller52)Thisstatementshowedthatimmigrantsareblownawayattheshopping
centertheAmericanshavetobuythingsin.Beingthatintheircountriestheyusuallybuytheir
goodsoutsideundertentsorinruinsofbuildings.AlsoAmericansarewastefulbuttheydon't
noticeyetothersdoasbeingmentionhewaswasincollegehisroommatehadsomanyCDs,
electronics,clothesandbooksyet,itseemsthathehardlyeverusedthem.Ofcoursethismade
theMongolianupsetbeinghewasn'tthatfortunateandwhathedidhadhetookgreatcareofit.
(Miller59)DescribingthatmanyAmerican'scultureswastobewastefulandtakethingsfor
grantedunlikenewcomerthatseeotherwise.Ofcoursesomeundocumentedpeoplesensestress
morethanotherasstated"Iamanimmigrant.Istraddlecultures,juggleidentitiesandcarry
labels.INScallmeresidentalien,IRScallmepermanentresident,andAmericanscallme
Indian".(Miller77)Thisexplainsthateverythingthatcanspeakhavetheirviewsonnew
residentsandotheronlyseewhattheyarejustusetoseeing.
Counterargumentsmaysaythatthegovernmentishelpingimmigrantsthebestwaythatthey
canandareslowlymakingprogress.AssupportedalsoinarthurMillerbook"ontheotherhand
immigrantsdiscoverthattheyarebetteroffthantheywereontheirhomeland".(Miller13)
meaningthatalthoughAmericanisn'tpictureperfectit'sratherbetterforthemthantheirorigin
homeislocated.Meaningthatinsomecountriescrimeisratherworsethanitisherelikemurder,
rape,assault,andRobbery.Notonlyjustthat"themostimportantchangeinaimmigrantlifeis
thesteptomaketheU.S.Theirpermanenthome.Whicharein2002nearlyhalfofalleligible


ValelioLee8

immigrantsmadewasmarriedtoalreadydocumentedcuttingwaitingtimeinhalf".(Miller15)
Thisnewshelpsupporttheavailabilityintherisingofjobsandhavingabetterlifeforthemand
thechildrendespitehavingtomarrytoanEnglishcitizens.PresidentObamaalso"seekingto
eliminateexistingbacklogsinthefamilysponsoredimmigrantssystemsbyrecapturingunused
visasandtemporarilyincreaseannualvisasnumbersinefforttokeepfamiliestogetherlonger".
Thissupporttheargumentthatthegovernmentistryingreallyhardtokeepimmigrantsoverhere
somepeoplewillagree.Wellfightingtokeepundocumentedindividualshereaslongasitwill
taketohelpindividualspermanentlystayhereaslegalresident.
PresidentObamaisalso"encouragingstudentseducatedintheUnitedStatestostayhereand
contributetooureconomybystaplingagreencardtothediplomasofscience,technology,
engineering,andmathematics(STEM)PhDandMaster'sDegreesfromqualifiedU.S.
Universities.Thismeansbyifanyimmigrantwhoexcelineducationcaneasyhaveafree
citizenship.Whichcanhelpthemfinanciallyiftheirfamiliesortheteensthemselvescan't
financiallypayforthecitizenshipprocess.AswellasObamaintentionsarethe"increaseaverage
wagesforbothU.S.Bornandimmigrantworkers.Increasinginproductivityandinnovation
causedbythepresidentactionswilltranslateintohigherwagesforalltypesofworkers".The
presidentactionsarecreatingbetterlivesfortheimmigrantsbynothavingridiculouspaywages
forharshjobslikepickingsweetpotatoesfor.60centsabucket.Whichcanbetteryetcause
largeramountsofimmigranttomoveintothecountryandpossiblyhaveextramoneytopayfor
thecitizenshipprocess.
SoinconclusiontherestrictonimmigrantslimitsbenefitsintheU.S.forthem,limits
opportunitiesoffinancialincome,andbeingdeportedasinhumanbecauseoffalsedocuments.


ValelioLee9

PresidentObamamention"betweentheyears1990to2007thepopulationofundocumented
individualsintheUnitedStatesgrewfrom3.5millionto11millionpeople".Thisshowsthe
increaseofinterestoverthepastcoupleofyearsthatimmigrantsfromalloverwantingtolivein
thecountry."TheU.S.hasbeenlabelasameltingpotinwhichasonebeingthediversitymade
ofofmanycultures".Ifthatwhatmakesusdifferentfromothercountriesthanweshouldn't
createsuchanargumentoverillegalresidence.Beingthatweallcametoliveinonecountryfor
onecommongoaltohaveabetterlifeandtoshareandfightforwhatwebelieveinfreedom.Not
toforget"theshareofadultimmigrantswhohavelivedintheUnitedStatesfor20yearswho
arestillinpovertyorlackinghealthinsuranceisatleastfiftypercenthigherthannativesadult".
Soifthatnumberispointfivepercentagemorethancitizenofthateverysamecountrythanwhat
theprobleminworkingtogethersoweallcanbecovered.Yetfivequestionstillremains"whois
anAmerican?,HowdoyoudefineanAmerican?,Doesthedefinitionmatter?,why?,howdoes
thegreatculturaldiversityofourpopulationinfluencethelifeofournation?"

You might also like