Introduction
For many centuries, the culture of the Americans has been viewed as a ray of hope to the people oppressed by their collective governments, which are dominated, by dictatorship and authoritarianism. The present American people are themselves the descendants of immigrants who benefited from open and unregulated immigration. A big contrast exists in the way their economy, culture, and way of government are deeply dedicated to exude the rest of the world from what they benefited from centuries ago. The Americans have been known to have a passion against opening their borders of immigration to 20th-century immigrants. The policy on American immigration requires one to have the proper and legal documentation so as to be given entry into its borders. Most immigrants are poor and illiterate. This immigration policy is based on confusion resulting from xenophobia which arises from ideas regarding cultural diversity, labor, economics, and labor mobility.
Main body
The argument of many Americans is that free immigration will get rid of the “working class” ability to earn a living (De Mott, 28). The free borders will put hardworking and decent Americans out of work. The immigrants due to their poverty and illiteracy status will accept to work for less than what an ordinary working American would demand. This will lead to the lowering of the average American wage value and deterioration of the life of the American working class in general. However, on the positive side, the immigrants may produce higher output and low cost of production which will bring a reprieve to the ordinary consumer in America. Expensive labor harms consumers just like tariffs do. By inviting immigrants into the labor market of America, the labor costs will be increased while the efficiency increases. Immigrant workers provide a lot of skills for instance scientists in the biotechnology field and IT industries which do not attract so many indigenous citizens. These are the industries that have formed the strongest and productive part of the American economy. Entrepreneurs of immigrants’ origin especially in Silicon Valley have created jobs for native Americans. As immigration makes the United States labor market more competitive, production costs are cheap and prices reduce. In the long term, even the domestic manual worker who is forced to lower his earnings is not any worse off. What he or she loses in terms of lesser nominal wages may as well be compensated through lower costs on the goods and services one purchases as a consumer (De Mott, 28). The American welfare system is usually abused by immigrants. These people come to America to be “ticks” of the welfare through the social services provided by the public. The American welfare is what mostly draws many immigrants to the US, not the economic freedom.
Immigrants are often looked at as a burden who is a loss on the economy of America hence the need to police the borders and keep them off. If the borders were to be opened, many immigrants would move in, overburden the American welfare system resulting in taxes and national debt multiply. On the contrary, very few immigrants apply for welfare services for the fear of being caught. Study after the other has shown that miniature magnitude of illegal use government services: free health care, 5 percent; lack of employment insurance 4; foodstuff stamps, 1; welfare costs, 1; child education, 4. Most illegal immigrants are afraid of being caught if they seek welfare. Basically, none get “social security – the costliest service of all, but 77 percent pay social security taxes, and 73 percent have federal taxes withheld” (De Mott, 28). Some critics feel that the answer to this is elimination of the welfare system of America where no one should live on the other’s sweat. Immigrants into the US will sabotage the traditional culture of the Americans. Immigrants have a hostile attitude towards the institutional framework of America which has made America what it is today. The 20th century immigrants do not have the same ethnic characteristics as those of the forefathers of America. This will make it hard for them to appreciate the “American way of life. These immigrants come from third-world economies ruled by despotism and do not comprehend the traditional institutions that have made America a great nation. In the long run, these immigrants will begin to embrace their experienced despotism, breed it and exercise it in America. This will cause racial enclaves that will ruin the economic and political institutions. However, this idea is defective. First, preserving “habit” simply for the purpose of the tradition is pointless. The issue of tradition is worthless unless we define the core of that particular tradition in ideas that encompass it. Traditional culture in the US alone is not what has contributed to its greatness. Rather, it has been the mutual relationship between a narrow state and economic and social liberty that has made the American approach to life so desirable—in other words, the philosophy of liberty fundamental to the American tradition (De Mott,28).
The American borders are closed since they believe that open immigration can lead to the downfall of the US’s institutional and cultural framework. The free-market financial system and the limited government interference are not based on racial or ethnic lines. On the contrary, it is based upon ideas. When skilled immigrant workers are given permanent admission, they will work hard towards building the American economy rather than forming racial enclaves with the attitude that they are here temporarily. This empowerment could make them start their own companies rather than tampering with the intellectual property of America.
The friends and foes of American liberty do not know that liberty when overprotected will be destroyed. The government should have the rule of the law and not men. When the government power is expanded this is the only thing that can destroy the liberty of the great American Nation. The American state must be limited in terms of power and scope. This will put power out of the use for individual or personal gain. Then there will be no need to fear immigrants regardless of their political, religious, or ideological influence. Immigrants’ ability to negatively misuse American freedoms would be minimal not because of the extended national power to keep them out, but due to reduced state power in virtually all areas (De Conde,84 ). Free trade and free borders are mostly to the benefit of Americans rather than to their disadvantage. By accepting the viewpoint of free migration and the free labor movement, America has benefited from productivity, originality, and free enterprise, not only within the borders but also without. The expansion of this division of labor into the international marketplace makes accessible an enormously enlarged collection of resources, thus enhancing the living welfare of everyone (De Conde, 84). Immigration policy should not be viewed in a different way than trade policy: free, determined by the demand and supply conditions, un-policed, open boundaries, without taxes, tariffs, or any other hurdle to its doors. This is the freedom policy to which the United States of America and the Americans owe their heritage. Independent open trade and free immigration, where individuals possess unhindered and less strict movement and trade, are a foundation of a free society. In fact, the free movement of persons is no less vital than the freedoms of communication, expression, and association (De Mott, 28). Liberty to this extend is indivisible; the laws and factors affecting the economics affect uniformly all the individuals. The ethnic groups in America have tried to influence both US’s domestic and foreign policy. In this new era of easy and fast communication, easy sending of funds back home, and relaying of information, these ethnic groups are rearing themselves in a way that will affect the policies of their host and mother countries. The biggest question about immigrants is how they affect foreign policy. This could be understood more if we tried to analyze their goals, what drives them, and how they mobilize themselves. Ethnic identity groups are described as politically significant social divisions based on a joint sense of cultural uniqueness. This includes racial, religious, national, and ethnic orientations (Ambrosio, 74).
These ethnic lobbies seek to control the policy of America in three ways. First of all, by framing the maters they help set the conditions of debate or put the matter on the country’s program. Second, they are a starting place of information and analysis that give an enormous pact of information to the highest body in the US; the Congress, and serve as a resource for additional wings of the regime and non-governmental organizations, and shaping broad perspectives. Last, ethnic grouping lobbies offer policy oversight. They scrutinize the policies of the U.S. government, suggest policies, write mail, and are involved in electioneering activities (Ambrosio, 2002). The way immigrants have tried to influence American policy is not new. This can be seen by looking at what happened before World War 1$2, Cold War, and the 9/11 attacks. If this gets stronger, then the native Americans who are not strong in lobbying and mobilization stand to lose a great deal to immigrants. However, on the positive side, this extensive lobbying and mobilization by these ethnic groups can cause a change in America’s foreign policy which is not favorable at times. In the current past, we have witnessed the growth of anti-Americanism all over the world. The US should think of using these groups to influence a positive look about America back in their native countries. This can help in building a good image of America. It is better to have an enemy from without than from within. This is the statement that America should magnify when looking at the 9/11 attacks. Immigrants have often threatened the security of America in general. These are the same people that America opened its doors to and in the later years they have hit back causing some of the deadliest losses. Though the attacks showed that America is not invincible, somehow the security at the borders and allowing of illegal immigrants into the US should be screened more. Conclusion
But the US can use the intelligence of the immigrants to know if the American interest in foreign soil is at stake. This could make America better their security and increase surveillance and reduce their vulnerability. By allowing the immigrants into America, they can feel part of the great nation and be convinced to tell what they know about America’s enemies and their planned attacks which can be intercepted. This can save Americans a considerable amount of capital in rebuilding its often targeted interests abroad. Also by having a feeling of belonging, they can protect the nation against any negative interests.
Works Cited
Ambrosio, Thomas. Ethnic Identity Groups and US Foreign Policy. Georgetown: Praeger,2002. Ambrosio has strongly opposed the idea of America opening its borders. He cautions that America may be predisposed to great dangers of terrorism, security issues and maybe ruled by immigrants one day. His works focus on America’s foreign policy. It should be more stringent than it is to reduce America’s vulnerability. His views contrast those of De Conde and De Mott.
DeConde, Alexander. Ethnicity, Race, and American Foreign Policy: A History Boston: UPNE,1992. 82-84. De Conde strongly advocates for the idea that immigrants should be allowed into America. When in America they will help in building America’s economy. This will make the goods and services to be of cheaper quality to the American consumer. He addresses those that strongly propose for closed borders. His thoughts contrast those of Ambrosio.
DeMott, John. Immigration Policy’s Double Impact; Nation’s Business. 1994. 28. The author of this article has tried to give the advantages and disadvantages of allowing foreign immigrants into America. His views and thoughts show that he is a great proponent of the policy that America should open their borders. However his thoughts are greatly thrashed by Ambrosio who feels that these immigrants come from countries with great despotism. These immigrants will form racial enclaves and will one day rule America.