In the context of the majority of Americans, the issue of immigration brings out mixed feelings that include insecurity, ambivalence, sympathy, and tolerance. A study by the Pew Research Center suggests that many Americans are of the opinion that illegal immigrants should remain. In fact, many citizens have supported the deportations that have been executed in the last few years.
To understand the attitude, it is important that one considers the fact that, based on the history of the nation, many members of the population are immigrants. Apart from the Native American population, the rest of the Americans came from Europe, Africa, and Asia. It was during President Kennedy’s time that a new law was passed after he reminded Americans that, at some point, all their ancestors had been immigrants.
Consequently, the quota system was abandoned. Afterward, there was a reduction in the European influence for the reason that more immigrants arrived from Mexico, India, China, and other third world countries as they tried to settle in the US. However, the new immigrants resulted in the issue of illegal ones, who arrived in multitudes from the aforementioned countries, especially from Mexico. Many of them were running away from violence and myriad challenges in their home countries.
Although the US government expressed high levels easy-goingness, the increase in the immigrant population started to worry about the leadership due to the fact that it was not sure it could sustain it. This has been translated into more complex immigration laws and the high rates of deportations as the government strives to control both legal and illegal immigration.
One of the issues that surround the immigration issue is the fact that many people do not understand whether the high number of immigrants is advantageous or disadvantageous to the economy of the nation. To some people, an increase in the number of minorities is a bad thing since minorities are contributing to the depletion of resources that are dedicated to the traditional US people, especially black and native Americans.
It is predicted that in the next fifty years, more than 50% of the American population may not be whites. Consequently, the issue of minorities may not be as important as it is today. However, this does not necessarily mean that the minorities will have more control or resources than they have today.
After all, wealth in most capitalist nations is controlled by a small fraction of the wealthy and the middle-class individuals. From this perspective, many Americans tend to have a negative attitude toward immigration for the reason that they see it as contributing to the relatively high levels of unemployment and housing problems that already exist.
A second reason why immigration is opposed by many citizens is founded on the assumption that more immigrants are likely to increase the levels of insecurity. The government does not have personal data on illegal immigrants. However, many other people maintain that the country is full of opportunities. Several people can come, start from a scratch, and ultimately make better lives. Indians, Chinese, and Mexicans open businesses themed around their cultures.
Due to the diversity and the willingness of Americans to try out new things, they usually seem to get customers and thrive. The success stories of many of the immigrants appeal to the American conscience and greatly contribute to the support they get from a big fraction of the public. Some of them, inspired by stories of a new beginning in the US, come with nothing, but the clothes on their backs, just like the pioneers who came from Europe many hundred years ago.
They only bring with them the hope that the United States is a better place than where they have come from, and that they can make a new life for themselves here. Many American-born citizens may not have gone through such a situation, but they understand very well that this was how their ancestors started. Therefore, they are happy to welcome immigrants and support legislation, such as laws on the right to education for children or illegal immigrants.
It is for these reasons that many Americans find it acceptable for immigrants to be welcomed since they see them as enriching the nation, both economically and culturally. This notwithstanding, many Americans have a very negative view of immigrants whom they see as the threats to stability. As a result, they mistreat and show them favoritism when it comes to employment opportunities and even social welfare.
Although this is illegal, it still happens, fuelled by racist tendencies that underpin the age-old problem of racial intolerance. Ultimately, the issue of immigration continues to be controversial for the reason that Americans, both lawmakers, and citizens, hold divergent views on the subject. Practically speaking, it would not be logical for every person who wants to get into the US to be allowed due to the fact that, at the end of the day, the nation would not be able to support a relatively high population.