Joe Liotta and Taylor Clarke Melting Pot? Immigration in America

What we tell ourselves: “The bosom of America is open to receive not only the Opulent and respectable Stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all Nations and Religions; whom we shall welcome to a participation of all our rights and previleges [sic], if by decency and propriety of conduct they appear to merit the enjoyment.” – George Washington

What we still tell ourselves: President Obama on US immigration t.obama.az.immigration.cnn

Immigration Law Throughout US History 1917: Known as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, established literacy tests for incoming immigrants and was meant to reduce the number of Asian immigrants. 1921: Quotas based on 2% of that nation’s population in the US in Meant to restrict immigration of eastern and southern Europeans. 1965: Abolished the old quota system. Set annual immigration caps per hemisphere and at 20,000 per nation per year. But allowed migration chains (ie immigrants bringing in their family members later). 1986: Fined industries that hired illegal labor but also granted amnesty to the illegal immigrants who had been in the country prior to 1982.

What U.S. immigration is actually like: Source: Immigrantslist.org

Results of Immigration Laws As a result of limiting the amount of immigrants from Asia and Eastern and Southern Europe, the US found itself lacking in cheap manual labor for jobs in the agriculture industry. The US then turned to immigrants from Mexico to compensate for the lack of unskilled labor coming from other countries.

Changing Positions Toward Illegal Immigration In Rodolfo Acuna’s “Occupied America: A History of Chicanos”, Acuna asserts that the US changed its position toward illegal Mexican immigration depending on the economic situation in the country. After WWII and the Korean War, when the US underwent a time of economic prosperity, the Immigration and Naturalization Service eased crackdown on illegal immigrants, allowing them to work in factories and in fields. But during economic recessions, the INS rounded-up large numbers of Mexican workers (both legal and illegal) and deported them back to Mexico.

The reality: 2010 Arizona immigration Senate Bill 1070: Arizona law that requires law enforcement to request identification papers when they have evidence to believe the apprehended may be in country illegally. “The bill is considered to be among the toughest immigration measures in the nation.” Source: CNN

The reality: 2010 Arizona immigration Governor Jan Brewer on the 2010 Arizona immigration law gration.announcement.kpnx

The reality: how Americans really feel 78% of Americans feel the government could do more to keep illegals out. 75% feel that illegal immigration is a drain on the U.S. economy. 89% feel that immigration in the U.S needs to be completely reworked.