¶ … United States immigration. The writer explores the topic and history of immigration and discusses some of the changes that have taken place over time. There were seven sources used to complete this paper.
The United States has proudly opened its arms to immigrants since its inception. There are millions of American residents who live in the states by way of immigration, and they have come here to make a new life for themselves. America has been known as the land of opportunity for over 200 years, which draws immigrants around the globe to its borders. Over the years the government's immigration policy has undergone several changes to accommodate political, economical and other needs. The history of immigration has been driven by the way the federal government felt about other nations. Those feelings used to control that was and was not allowed in the states, but in the last four decades it has changed.
Before 1929 there were mass movements of immigration from Europe to the United States of America. After 1929 when the Johnson-Reed Act was implemented, which slowed the influx of immigrants, but still allowed and encouraged their arrival. "The new restrictive laws and the end of economic prosperity in America simultaneously spelled the lessening of the "pull" of the United States as well."
The federal government provides quota numbers for each country about how many of their residents are allowed to apply for and receive visas to live in the United States.
One of the biggest changes in the early immigration system can following the Great Depression. It was at that time that many immigrants chose to return to their native nations. "Not only did the Depression make America less attractive to many potential immigrants, but the Hoover Administration intentionally used the "likely to become a public charge" section of the 1917 literacy test immigration act to effectively bar many who might otherwise have come. By stringently interpreting the clause, immigration and consular officials...
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The government's policy on all immigrants is that they have to have the permission of their government before they can leave and come to America. There is one exception to the policy, and that is if the immigrant is seeking political asylum. This means that the immigrant is in immediate danger if he or she stays in the former nation, because of their political beliefs. Those who stand up against dictators and other forms of government and stand the chance of being executed or jailed for their beliefs can come to America and defect, which means to claim political asylum. Political asylum is not an easy thing to prove. The U.S. government has very strict requirements for its use because it prevents immigrants who otherwise are not allowed to leave their country from claiming political asylum without cause.
The quota system of allowable visas is directly connected to the way the federal government views that nation. The federal government sets the number of visas allowed as well as the reasons that those visas can be obtained.
One prime example of the policy of the government when it comes to countries it is not pleased with is the China quota following WWII. Before the war China was banned from having their residents come to the states to live. The federal government did not like the Chinese government. However, during the war when China acted as an ally to the United States the government felt it owed China a change in policy regarding immigration and did so reluctantly.
Apparently the idea of excluding a major ally from immigration because of alleged racial inferiority was too embarrassing, so a tiny crack in the door was opened for the Chinese during the war. They were granted a minuscule quota-only 105 places for all immigrants of Chinese ethnicity no matter what the country of origin -- and the 1882 exclusion act was repealed. Perhaps most significantly, the bar against Chinese naturalization was finally dropped, clearing the…
