The U.S. Immigration Policy Social Sciences Research (Research Paper Sample)

THE U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICYByInstitution
The US Immigration Policy
The U.S. Immigration Policy provides a framework through which individuals enter, live, and work in the U.S. under temporary or permanent citizenship. The policy is wide and has several sections, highlighting different criteria for the different types of citizenship. This study revisits the policy making of the policy and its impacts in the society.
Description of the Policy
The US Immigration Policy is the law governing the entry of foreigners into the boundaries of the Unites States for personal, social, and economic related activities. The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) is the current body of law governing matters concerned with immigration, and provides an annual threshold of 675,000 individuals who can enter the United States legally (AIC, 2016). The immigration policy allows the entry of individuals only when unifying with their families, seeking protection as refugees, seeking asylum, promotion of diversity, and sourcing skilled workers for the U.S. economy (Kammer, 2015). The policy allows foreigners to live permanently and work in the U.S. under the lawful permanent residency (LPR) (AIC, 2016). Admission of non-residence also occurs each year for a temporary basis; for activities such as visits, conferences, games among other activities.
The Hart-Celler Act of 1965 replaced the defunct Immigration and Nationality Act of 1924, which sought to reduce immigration of foreigners from the eastern hemisphere into the United States. Many deemed the law discriminatory as it allows 70% of the immigrants to come from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany, with the remaining portion left for residents from countries in eastern and southern Europe (Kammer, 2015). Many leaders including presidents tried unsuccessfully to amend the law, which they termed ‘un-American’ because it portrayed racial and regional segregation; a problem the country was grappling with at the time. Presidents Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy descried the law as cruel and hampering international interdependence; a statement that many congressional representatives lauded as true.
The Hart-Celler Act was originally for spreading civil sentiments across the border, an act of solidarity against racisms and regional discrimination. Civil Rights Acts passed by congress in 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1965 preceded the act (Kammer, 2015). The congress adopted the act with the aim of increasing the number of immigrants from eastern hemisphere and southern Europe, who had previously had difficulty entering the U.S. due to the quota system. Through the new law, there was allocation of 170,000 and 120,000 visas for countries in the Western and Eastern hemisphere respectively (CIS, 1995). The new law considered families of American citizens and permanent non-residents highly to immigrants with special job skills. Scientists, professionals, refugees, and personality seeking asylum also got special considerations.
Implementation of the Policy
The implementation of the policy placed a preference on family unification. The law required the petitioners to reach a certain age limit in order to request citizenship for their spouses, children, or parents. Immediate family members of U.S. citizens got first priority, with limited visas available for adult children, brothers and sisters and unmarried children of the U.S. citizens (AIC, 2016). The policy allowed for about 226,000 immigrants per year through the family based system. For admission through the family preference system, the U.S. citizen petitioning for the family member must provide proof for connection and must meet minimum financial requirements since they shall be responsible for their family members while in the U.S.
Through the policy, employers could source for skilled and non-skilled workers who could work for a limited period until their contract expires or upon termination of their employment (AIC, 2016). There are different types of visas for each category of workers, and allows the workers to carry their dependants along. Through the policy, only 140,000 immigrants on permanent employment basis, together with their children and spouses enter the country (AIC, 2016). The policy also placed a cap on per country immigration, allowing less than 7% of the total immigrants to come from a specific country. This is to reduce the possibility of immigrants from a specific country dominating the immigration patterns. Through this, the policy brings diversity in the United States, ensuring a balance in regional distribution.
The country admits a maximum of 85,000 refugees annually, with each region of the world allocated its share of number of immigrants that can qualify admission. The refugees must show proof of potential persecution form their country based on religion, race, political opinion, or affiliation with a specific group (AIC, 2016). The policy also grants admission to asylum seekers, who together with the refugees may seek for LPR after one year of admission. The policy includes a Diversity Visa Program, where immigrants from countries that admit fewer than 50,000 immigrants to the U.S. receive visas (AIC, 2016). The program allows about 55,000 immigrants gaining admission through this criterion. Additionally, the policy offers protection and delayed deportation to immigrants whose countries face war, political instability, or natural disaster, that may make it dangerous for them to go back.
The implementation of the policy saw the influx of immigrants increasing to nearly a million individuals annually. The number of illegal immigrants rose to nearly 500,000 annually, which forced the congress to enact the Immigration Responsibility Act that introduced border enforcement (History Vault, 2016). The plan has seen deportation of thousands of illegal refugees caught in the border and around the country. Additionally, the policy intended to unite American citizens with their families, and attract skilled workers to the U.S.; a plan that has worked well until now.
Contexts Driving the Policy
Several factors determine the success of the policy. Although the main aim for enacting the policy was to end regional discrimination and enhance good relations with other countries, the benefits of immigration mainly deal with the economic aspect. The U.S. government allows immigration to replenish the need for skilled labor. Immigration increases the supply of labor to the American economy, which aids in economic growth as emerging firms and industries benefit from the unlimited labor supply in all facets of production (Camarota, 2005). Immigrants have aided in supplying innovative and skilled workers, who have aided to build companies like Google, EBay, and Intel, which are leading the world of innovation.
The successful nature of the United States and availability of opportunities for everyone has attracted individuals from all over the world, coming to chase the American Dream. Immigrants make up about 15% of the overall U.S. workforce, with nearly 40% lacking a high school education (Camarota, 2005). This means they end up getting lower jobs as compared to the learned natives, who earn much more than them. However, this benefit from immigrants is negligible as the nation produces enough workers to sustain the economy. The policy has successfully served its intended purpose. Through the years, many individuals have found protection in the United States after fleeing from their politically unstable and war torn countries. For example, after the Vietnam War, more than 800,000 Vietnamese moved to the U.S. to start their lives afresh (History Vault, 2016).
However, most immigrants travel to the United States for economic reasons. This is evident with the low influx of immigrants to the U.S. during hard economic times and recessions. There was reduction in immigrants in the 1990, 2001, and 2008 when the American market was undergoing recession (History Vault, 2016). Additionally, immigration has served in the development of many countries, as individuals leave the United States with skills, exposure, and knowledge base they can implement in their countries (Policy, 2010). This is evident in the development of the vibrant and successful information technology industry in India. Some who go through the education system and experience the democratic process carry these values to their home countries.
People who work in the United States also earn higher wages than in their home countries; improving their ways of life and reducing poverty (Policy, 2010). Although these aspects drive the policy, studies have shown that immigrants have a higher tendency of staying permanently in the U.S. than going back to their home countries. Immigrants also contribute in remittances to their home countries, helping to encourage economic development and investments (Policy, 2010). Through immigration, the government has succeeded in promoting democracy and equality, benefiting in attracting skilled workers to replenish the market needs while spreading good values across the world.
The Analysis and Effects of the Policy
During the policy making process, many proponents of the policy supported it with the faith that it would not result to increasing immigrants’ influx. Many congressional representatives, including the Attorney General Robert Kennedy and the Bill sponsor Emmanuel Celler stated that the policy would not cause an increase in immigrant population, since many Asians and Africans had no relatives in America (CIS, 1995). The congress was preoccupied with improving international image and increasing connections with African and Asian countries, which were gaining independence. There was also need to create positive relations with other countries midst competition from Russia during the cold war era.
The adoption of the Bill saw a perpetual influx of immigrants,...