Calls to severely control
immigration have been made throughout the history of the United States, especially during
war and poor economic times. Still this country has been enriched socially, economically
and politically by immigrants. Historically, the United States has served as a refuge for
immigrants who are searching for a better place. The Founders fled their European
countries to escape religious and political persecution. Later, people around the world
came to America. The only people who are indigenous to this country are Native Americans.
So most Americans are either immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Plus, the
Bill of Rights is symbolic of America's acceptance of and respect for a melting pot of
diverse ways of living. Its very purpose is to restrain the efforts of the majority
to use government to destroy or undermine the social, political, and cultural differences
of weaker groups.
In addition, the American economy and culture has
greatly benefited by the diverse contributions of immigrants. Each year the production and
purchasing of goods and services rises and stimulates economic growth. Many immigrants
have been highly talented and cutting-edge leaders within business, research, and
industry. The field of computer technology is a perfect example. It was a physicist at the
University of Houston, Paul C.W. Chu (born in China) who recently discovered
superconductivity which is vital for computer applications. Close the borders to him
and what happens to the technological progress of the United
States? Immigrants also take important jobs that are unskilled and
low paying, such as migrant picking. The overwhelming number
of Americans shun such work or would accept it grudgingly. No
doubt there are concerns with population growth. But the fact
remains t hat
women in the United States are on average bearing only 2.0
children in their lifetime, a figure just below the
replacement level. Such an aging American population
is going to need employed immigrants to sustain their
different economic, medical, and welfare needs.
Of equal importance are the many ways that immigrants
have contributed to the cultural diversity within the
United States. Few places offer such a widespread
array of choices relating to religion, philosophy, politics, food,
dress, language, art, entertainment, and life. No doubt
American history is replete with instances of a dominant white,
Protestant culture being intolerant and ethnocentric toward
others. Still the United States has kindled, celebrated, and
thrived on human diversity. A hallmark of America is the
commitment to extending a helping hand to the fragile and
disadvantaged human spirit, who was simply born in another country
due to the luck of the draw. America has long been a refuge for
diverse people who have provided the United States with social,
economic, and cultural brilliance.
At the base of the Statue of Liberty lies Emma Lazarus'
immortal poem "The New Colossus." The concluding lines are "Give me
your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse
of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to
me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door..."Is
there a historical message underlying such sentiments? Why have
so many people
 immigrated
to America? How has immigration impacted the economic,
political and social development of the United States?
Are immigrants really taking away jobs from Americans
and harming the American culture? Or do immigrants
create more jobs than they take away,
bring purchasing power to the economy, and enrich the
enduring spirit of the American culture? How is an aging
American population going to support itself without employing
immigrants? Are calls for closing the borders a fair reflection of
who Americans are and where they come from? Should there be
some distinctions made between regulating legal and illegal forms
of immigration? Perhaps carefully managed immigration should be
the current policy of America, and particularly given recent
concerns about terrorism. |
