Explaining The Problem Of Immigration, Its Causes, And Some The Remedies (Essay Sample)

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Dealing with Immigrants
Introduction
Globalization is an agent of the prevalent immigrant records in many countries as people cross borders for various reasons. While nearly all countries experience the problems of such international movements, developed countries bear the greatest burden (Kerr and Kerr 4). However, these regions have different strategies for responding to pressures arising from such issues. Even though there are several ways of doing this, whiteness and assimilation are synonymous with some of the western countries, such as the U.S. and other Western powers. Notably, the preferred method for dealing with the menace depends on the benefits that arise from the procedures. Additionally, stemming the problem of immigration is important given that there are numerous results linked to foreign settlements. Drug trafficking and other social evils, such as insecurity, require that the concerned authorities establish a suitable mechanism for solving immigration problems (Stivachtis 1). While assimilation explains the problem by exposing the struggles immigrants endure during integration to a new society, whiteness displays the differences in cultural superiority of the indigenous white over immigrants.
The Theories
Assimilation Theory. Assimilation of immigrants is a way of integrating newcomers into the host country by helping them to settle and lead meaningful lives. In this regard, people from across borders learn the new country's culture, practices, and education among other attributes (Hirschman 29). Notably, people from different parts of the world possess diverse cultural, social, and behavioral traits. Similarly, the indigenous inhabitants have their unique characteristics. As such, the resulting interactions result in a hybrid culture that strengthens a society's diversity.
While there are many attributes that foreigners introduce to a host country, football talent is one of those that could significantly improve the sports standards of many Western nations (Myers and Pitkin 1). In the U.S., many immigrant athletes join football leagues and perform excellently to improve the level of the country's sports. Viewed from another perspective, involving foreigners in recreational activities is another way of reducing crime and creating a source of income for new members of society. However, instead of viewing these actions as contributing factors to the growth of a country's economy as well as building a better national heritage, they appear to compete with the natives for certain positions. Such views are an indication that assimilation does not necessarily lead to improved interactions between immigrants and residents of a host country.
Whiteness Theory. On the other hand, the whiteness theory can be used to explain how immigrants struggle in foreign countries. The limited number of African Americans in the labor market is an indication of whiteness theory in practice even though their positive contribution is evident in the growth of America's economy. There are various ways through which the whiteness theory contributes to the problem of dealing with immigrants. Besides maintaining the cultural superiority of Native Americans, this method amplifies the issue of cultural heritage and the economic effects of accepting foreigners. Given that settling newcomers would require equipping them with the necessary skills for surviving in the host country, the whiteness theory views this as the starting point for losing the cultural heritage of people of the Native Americans. In this regard, the issue of white cultural dominance gets in. From the whiteness theory, it is apparent that the problem of immigration is amplified by the unequal distribution of opportunities between immigrants and indigenous Americans.
How Whiteness Theory Explains the Problem of Immigrants
Notably, whiteness theory limits the number of opportunities available for immigrants compared to that of Native Americans (Shiells 790). Since newcomers enjoy fewer privileges than the natives, they have to endure racial conflict between them and the natives (Guess 654). Notably, it includes material dominance where the indigenous race receives better access to higher learning opportunities and even better and safer housing facilities. Additionally, the theory uses whiteness as a symbol of intelligence and beauty while excluding blackness and brownness. In contrast to assimilation, whiteness brings out the differences between newcomers and indigenous communities hence aggravating the process of settling newcomers to a new nation.
Another way to explain immigration problem through whiteness theory is by examining the effects that dealing with immigrants would have on the cultural heritage of Native Americans. Given that whiteness views the indigenous people as a symbol of superiority, integrating other peoples' culture would dilute their dominance and render their culture useless. In this view, the white Americans confront attempts to deal with this problem in the fear that their customs will be eroded and tainted by the less valuable cultural practices of the immigrants. Other areas that risk competition would include intellectual levels if immigrants were allowed to seek equal educational opportunities with the white people. Besides, it would mean that they have to compete in numerous other possibilities including housing and employment in areas and positions that have long been reserved for the whites only.
Main Analysis
One of the groups that best describes immigration as a social issue is the African American immigrants in the United States of America. For a long time, this population has maintained a consistent fight for inclusion. As such, they have put up efforts to incorporate diversity in the U.S. through a learning system (assimilation) that supports education for all. Additionally, the sports industry has been a crucial area where African Americans strive to interact with Native Americans. Even though significant achievements are arising from the efforts of assimilating this group of people into the American society, the same system is a major drawback to the process. Most Native Americans believe that learning the indigenous peoples' way of life would have several impacts on the culture, economy, and social aspects of their lives. Such activities show how assimilation theory explains the problem of immigration in the U.S.
Although assimilation is expected to improve the economic position of a host country, some believe that it could result in a decrease in productivity levels of that region. Notably, research shows that not all immigrants have enough academic knowledge in different fields that is important in the development of an economy (Camarota 22). Given that assimilation involves offering educational opportunities among other privileges to foreigners, a nation that has a high number of immigrants would require huge budgetary allocations to turn the situation around in achieving massive technological advancements. Such success does not only contribute to the economic value of a country but also to the improvement of social standards of its citizens. However, the cost of assimilation is so immense that it would require a nation like America to increase the amount of resources set for social welfare programs to cater for such.
Even though the assimilation theory has numerous positive outcomes, it is hampered by several factors that affect the process of integrating immigrants into the American system. The U.S. has a social welfare program that caters for immigrants. Consequently, the government makes massive budgetary allocations every year that provide for the unemployed who include immigrants. Such funds include money meant for providing housing, medical cover, and education ...