Voices from Latin America is a project of the Democracy Center and our friends both North and South to bring Latin American perspectives into the U.S. debate.
The ABCs of Immigration
Throughout the course of its history, the United States’ relationship with its immigrants has always been a subject of debate. In the last few years, that debate has become one of the top political issues in the U.S. for a number of reasons.
Over the past fifteen years, the United States has seen a dramatic increase in immigration. Because the limited number of visas the country offers cannot accommodate the sheer number of people who wish to immigrate to the United States, many have found other ways to get in without official authorization, particularly from Latin America across the U.S.-Mexican border. In the years since the last U.S. immigrant amnesty (1986-87, during the Reagan administration), the ranks of undocumented immigrants have grown enormously.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the faltering of the economy in years since have added to the buildup of issues around immigration. The focus on domestic security has resulted in greater concern about the country’s borders. Many people in the U.S. have reacted to economic troubles and growing unemployment with fear and apprehension. Both issues have led to suspicion of immigrants, and some political leaders have used immigrants as scapegoats.
At the same time, the Latino population in the United States has grown significantly. Now composing the largest minority group in the country, Latin American immigrants and their descendants have become a significant voting bloc and have begun to organize and take action around common goals.
The greater national coverage of immigration, along with the coalescing of people and organizations both for and against greater rights for immigrants, has led to various attempts to pass new legislation on immigration policy. These proposals have varied widely: a path to citizenship for immigrants already in the United States, building a wall along the entire border with Mexico, a guest worker initiative, and employer crackdowns and raids. Despite these efforts, no comprehensive federal legislation has been passed and little movement will likely occur before the 2008 election.
Statistics
- 1980-2006: 29.2 million people immigrated to the United States
- 17.6 million of those are currently legally residing in US
- Of the 11.6 million unauthorized to live in the US in 2006, 8.4 million are from North America – 6.5 million of them from Mexico alone
- 1 million of the 11.6 million are from South America
- Since 1995 the number of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally exploded:
- 1985-1994 – 3,250,000 people entered without authorization
- 1995-2005 – 7,400,000 people entered without authorization
Debate
The debate surrounding immigration touches on economic, cultural, security, and basic human rights issues. There is a wide range of opinions, motivations and perspectives leading to just as many different ideas of what the government should do.
Some see immigration as a threat. Claiming that the porous borders of the US make it easy for terrorists or criminals to enter the country, they argue for increased funding for patrols and border fences. They advocate in favor of immigrant raids, deportation, and reducing the number of visas given out, stating that immigrants cause greater competition in the job market, are responsible for driving down wages, and are a drain on social systems and government funded programs. They see the question of undocumented immigrants as a matter of law and order – legal vs. illegal behavior. Some also see the influx of immigrants as a threat to the culture and language of the United States.
Others see a pro-immigrant policy as beneficial to the country. They argue that because of the United States’ long immigrant history and the contributions immigrants continue to make to the country’s economic and cultural growth, immigrants living in the States should be treated well. Instead of deportation, they advocate for a path to legalization. They say immigrants should have access to services and opportunities, arguing that the taxes paid by immigrants far outweighs the government resources they utilize. Some also point out that many immigrants are “economic refugees,” questioning the United States’ economic policies toward the countries immigrants come from.
Links
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7131464.stm
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4917
http://americas.irc-online.org/am/4953
http://www.miamiherald.com/politicalcurrents/story/384895.html