Immigration Policies and Their Historical Impact
The issue of immigration is quite complex since many immigrants come to the United States every year for temporary or permanent residence. There are specific policies to regulate immigration issues, such as Lawful Immigrant Status, Green Card, and the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Lawful immigrant status means legal permission for foreign citizens to live in the country (Immigrant Classes of Admission, 2022). It is a temporary regulation that allows citizens of other countries to reside in the United States for an extended period legally.
A Green Card is a permanent document that provides a person with the opportunity to live and work in the US (Lawful Permanent Residents, 2023). Moreover, they can own property and conduct business on the same basis as US citizens. The Immigration and Nationality Act (2019) is the primary law governing immigration policy in the US. It establishes the procedure and rules for obtaining lawful immigrant status, the punishment in case of illegal border crossing, and the procedure for providing services to refugees.
The Influence of Xenophobia and Racism on Immigration Policies
Xenophobia and racism have had a significant impact on the formation of US immigration policy. Racial prejudice leads to stricter immigration regulations, limiting opportunities for noncitizens to obtain legal status (Ramos et al., 2020). It controls the balance between citizens and immigrants and promotes assimilation and acculturation. According to Ramos et al. (2020), this may be due to a sense of internal threat from immigrants who compete for jobs and finances and may also be potentially dangerous due to their cultural beliefs.
Addressing Immigration Issues to Keep Families Together
The issue of family reunification is one of the critical issues in immigration policy. Often, only one member of the family has legal status, which can cause members of the same family to appear to be on opposite sides of the border. To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to take a comprehensive approach to reforming US immigration policy. It may involve making it easier for family members to obtain official immigrant status if their immediate relatives have such status. Moreover, it is essential to consider the interests of families at the stage of issuing official decisions and take into account family status when making decisions.
References
Immigration and Nationality Act. (2019). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Web.
Immigrant classes of admission. (2022). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Web.
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR). (2023). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Web.
Ramos, A., Pereira, C. R., & Vala, J. (2020). The impact of biological and cultural racisms on attitudes towards immigrants and immigration public policies. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 46(3), 574-592. Web.