Despite a long-lasting struggle for people’s rights, in the present-day world, there are still certain social groups whose rights remain infringed. One of such, immigrants are I desperate need for their rights to be protected. Unlike any other social group, immigrants often do not have the ability to voice their concerns and problems fully, which calls for another reconsideration of the immigrant issue.
It is worth mentioning that basic human rights can be split into several categories. To start with, there are civil rights, which immigrants are supposed to have as well as the local people.
However, if taking a closer look at the situation in the USA, it is necessary to mark that the immigrants often face the threat of deportation: according to the Associated Press, there is a “policy to deport immigrants in the midst of a legitimate effort to protect their civil rights” in the USA (Associated Press).Therefore, it can be considered that the U.S. government must reinforce the existing civil rights protection for immigrants.
Another significant issue worth touching upon is the problem concerning the economic needs of the immigrants in the USA. To have all the necessary facilities and be able to pay the rent and the bills, immigrants have to pick a certain job, which seems to be quite a problem at present. The given problem stems not form the immigrants’ lack of skills or professional incompetence, but rather from the fact that, out of two applicants for a job, an average employer prefers a local applicant over a nonetheless competent immigrant (Dartford).
In the light of the recently issued Dream Act, according to which, young immigrants can get a work permit easily, the problem can seem solved. However, there are still considerable issues like the fact that the program is solely for the youth (30 years or younger) and the fact that the program can hinder the American youth’s opportunities: “‘It’s a betrayal of American young people,’ said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican’, said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican” (Dartford).
Another problematic issue concerning the rights of immigrants arises from the infringement of their political rights in the USA. A sad but true fact, the phenomenon of immigrants’ under-representation within the governmental system is quite upsetting. Although over the past few years, the problem has not increased, it has not become any less significant either.
According to the most recent reports, “Migrant communities are nowhere near adequately represented in elected office and this under-representation is mirrored in political parties” (Political Participation). Not only do immigrants fail to participate in the existing political system, but also to vote: “With nobody to look after their interests in government, migrant communities are slow to register and vote” (Political Participation). Hence stems the concern for the immigrants’ political involvement and the observance of their rights.
Finally, the socio-cultural aspect must be touched upon. With the domination of the American culture, the culture of immigrants remains in the shadow. Thus, the cultural and social rights of the immigrants are trodden upon.
Hence, it can be considered that the USA government must offer immigrants all the rights that they can possess according to the U.S. law. It is important that not only the local population, but also the people who have emigrated from other states into the USA could feel at home in America. Once adopting the suggested system, one can anticipate that the rights of the immigrants will be respected and recognized fully.
Works Cited
Associated Press. Feds Won’t Deport Immigrants in Civil Rights Cases. 2011. Web.
Dartford, Katy. Queue Here for America: Thousands of Illegal Immigrants Line up for Right to Work in the U.S. under Obama’s ‘Dream’ Act. 2012. Web.
Political Participation: Under-representation of Immigrants in Legislative Bodies 2003. Web.