Modern Challenges in Immigration

1.         CheckPoint: Modern Challenges in Immigration

• Resources: Ch. 4 in Racial and Ethnic Groups and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Web site

• Due Date: Day 4 [Individual] forum

• Skim these sections of the USCIS Web site (www.uscis.gov): Immigration Forms, Fees and Fingerprints; and Immigration Services and Benefits Programs.

• Select an immigrant group from Ch. 4 of the text. Imagine yourself as a current member of that group, and consider the question, “Would I want to immigrate to the United States, and why?” Think about what opinion you would have of the immigration process, including naturalization, the costs, fingerprinting, etc. Consider whether the process would seem easy or difficult for you as an immigrant. Once you have thought about your answers, proceed to the next step of this CheckPoint.

• Post a 200- to 300-word summary that answers all of the following questions:

o Should United States government policy favor certain kinds of immigrants?

o Should [citizenship] preference be given to the neediest applicants? The most talented? The most oppressed? The richest?

o Should applications from certain countries be given priority? (Feltey, 2006, p. 11)

            I can agree some immigrants might be needier or more desperate when coming to America, but I do not believe any particular race of individuals should be favored, given preferential treatment, or priority. Some immigrants might need more help with citizenship but I do not feel this should fall under the heading of preferential treatment or priority.  If any bias was given, I feel as though this should be done on an individual basis based on the needs of the individual and not have anything to do with race, religion, or country of origin.    

            We should take care of each individual as an individual and not because of how oppressed or what their reasons for moving might be.  All individuals need help from someone at some point of their lives.  Even though some of us were born here in America, unless you are full blooded Native American Indian, someone in your family immigrated here.  Someone in your family decided America may be better than their own country.  Not every individual got the same amount of help, but all of us are here so they must have prospered. 

            Some may need special classes to learn the language or customs that exist in the United States but this should not include changes to policy, citizenship, or priority.  I do not agree that other individuals should be special treatment or help just because they immigrated.