Immigration: A Proposal to Solve Its Problems
Immigration has been a convoluted issue from our country's beginnings. Early on, pilgrims sought economic, political, and religious refuge through the saving grace of immigration. Immigrants such as John Fisher wrote home saying "is not this a land in which one may be proud to be received as a citizen?...Is this not a land in which one may be happy to fix one's destany?" (Fuchs, 24). As time progressed, this dream became the calling card of the United States. Tragically, as with all things, too much of a good thing soon tarnished this image and new conflicts arose. Many people found the process of immigration to be too tedious and neglected the paperwork, hence illegal immigration. Competition for jobs became fierce between native and immigrant workers. Population soared, prejudice brewed, and inevitably led to the question of who deserves the right of a citizen.
United States
United States
America gains a famous citizen. Photograph shows A...Political opinion divides this issue into a debate of "pro-immigration" vs. "anti- immigration". However, this debate ought not to be a question of one or the other but rather a compromise of solutions to its problems as they are discovered with the passage of time.
To develop a solution that appeases both sides, one must first understand what each side wants. When asking the question, "Why do people immigrate?" the simplest answer is for a better way of life. Why do some people oppose immigration? The answer is based in fear, protectionism. A compromise would be to develop an immigration process that ultimately leads to foreigners achieving citizenship while proving to the rest of the pre-existing citizens their contribution to the society.
The path to achieving citizenship follows a four step progression: jobs, education, language, and citizenship qualification. In all life's tests there is a time factor. Why...