Immigration Issues and Theories of Immigration

1. Immigration Issues and Theories of Immigration Part 2 slides

2. Contemporary Social Concerns Benefits of Immigration Areas of Concern ? ? ? ? ? Illegal Immigration • ? • ? • May come with capital to start business • More consumers • Creates diversity • ?

3. The Brain Drain • The immigration to the U.S. of skilled workers, professionals, and technicians that are needed in their home countries • Emigrants from developing nations are eligible for H-1B visas that qualify them for permanent work permits • Conflict theorists see the brain drain as symptom of the unequal distribution of world resources • Essentially, immigration policy encourages skilled workers, but perhaps not necessarily “…the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to breathe”

4. Population Growth • Although usually a international and environmental concern, some see population growth in the U.S., caused by both legal and illegal immigration, as a major national and regional concern • Depletion of natural resources • Depletion of available jobs • Regional concerns

5. Mixed-Status Families • Mixed Status refers to families in which one or more members are citizens and one or more are non citizens. • Macro level concern: Policy debates-dealing with mixed status families is problematic for policymakers and government officials • I.e.: If you are a policy maker who is against illegal immigration but proclaim that you are all about “family values”, are you willing to break up families of mixed status • Micro-level concern: Individuals in mixed families find life to be limited because they may not want to reveal that they have a immediate family member who is illegal or undocumented (father, mother, brother, sister, son, or daughter) • I.e.: You are a citizen who is seeking some type of benefit from the government to which you are entitled, but your parent and brother who live with your are illegal-Do you fear interaction with gov’t officials • I.e.: Fear of deportation of a family member • As many as half of adult illegal immigrants have children in America who are citizens • Connections to “The Dream Act”

6. Language Barriers • Is English the “national language”??

7. Language Barriers • Proficiency in English has been a major criteria for economic and social achievement and even citizenship • Negative sentiment towards individuals who do not speak English is common in many areas and states • Many cities and states have passed ordinances making English the official language, discouraging official and unofficial use of any language other than English • Ordinances are usually spearheaded by groups that claim to be patriotic, such as the “All American Team” in Carpentersville, Illinois who distributed fliers throughout their city before a 2007 election that read: • “Are you tired of waiting to pay for your groceries while an illegal Alien pays with food stamps that goes outside and gets in a 40,000 car…Are you tired of hearing another illegal was arrested for drug dealing…are you tired of having to press “1” for English…are you tired of seeing the Mexican flag flown above our flag…If you are, let’s get out and vote for: The All American Team” • Groups such as these feel that immigrants must be willing to fully assimilate, and that part of that process is speaking english

8. Illegal Immigration • Most bitterly debated aspect of U.S. immigration issues • Difficult to measure, but based on 2011 data: 11.2 million illegal or undocumented immigrants • What is wrong with the label of “Alien”? • Scapegoats for nearly every problem in the nation (not a new phenomenon) • Unemployment • Drugs and crime • Terrorism • Vital economic and cultural contributions are overlooked

9. Illegal Immigration • Issues of debate • The high costs of policing Americas vast borders and locating/dealing with illegal immigrants • Discrimination towards and the civil rights of illegal immigrants • Policing businesses and corporations who hire and employ illegal immigrants to maximize profit-I.e.: Food Inc Documentary • Conflict vs. functionalist approach • The death of immigrants who die trying to cross the border in dangerous ways to evade INS and police • Deportation of immigrants with family who are citizens