Effects of Immigration Essay
Effects of Immigration
Instructions:-
Some have argued that immigration is a threat to American society and culture.others argue that immigrants contribute to the economic, social and cultural vitality of the nation. what do you think? in your answer discuss what effect the wave of immigration in recent decade has had on the social and cultural fabric of United States. Discuss how immigrants are being assimilated/incorporated into American society.In your answer, be sure to consider issues related to how immigrants become incorporated into the American system with regard to racial and ethnic identity and class.cite examples at least two immigrant groups.
Portes and Rumbaut argue that the United States is constantly being shaped, reshaped and remade by immigration.Drawing on the author’s discussion of segmented acculturation and dissonant acculturation, discuss how analysis of the processes that affect that effect the adaptation. ( E.g, economic,education,health,mental health,criminal justice) of immigrants from different groups within different settings in the United States help us understand the forces that maintain existing patterns of race and and class relations among US-born residents of the united states.
Solution.
Effects of Immigration
Introduction
According to my opinion immigration has led to positive contribution to the American society and culture. Studies indicate that in recent years there have been more than 1.5 million immigrants who have been moving into the US annually either legally or illegally. Furthermore, the research indicates that out of the 35 million immigrants, 9.7 million are in the US illegally (Taeuber, A. & Taeuber, 2011). This has brought out a debate on the illegality of the immigrants in the United States and their contribution to the American society. The president’s recent decision to halt deportation of young unlawful immigrants indicates how important the immigrants could be into the US.
#4
Considering the effects that the immigrants have brought to the US, research indicates that they are not a threat to the US society. Even though, most immigrants are poor, and face more hardships that the citizens of US, there is no indication of that they have restructured the US social fabric in a destructive way. US, is not less safe or worse in terms of the economy because of the immigrants. As a matter of fact, research indicates that places in which the immigrants have moved for the last two decades have had reduced crime rates, small towns once in life support have nourished, deprived city neighborhoods have developed and cities have continued to expand (Harles, 2013). The growth could not be linked with immigration, but the research indicates that the immigration does not result into social evils. For instance, the rural counties that recorded high influx rates of immigrants experienced high drops in crime as compared to rural counties with low rates of immigration.
In large cities, despite a drop in crime rate, there is an increase economic development indicated by a fall in poverty levels. For instance, a survey on American Community in 2005 indicated that the income by blacks in the New York City in the region of Queens was greater than that of the whites. On the other hand, the crime by youth immigrants in Los Angeles was less as compared to the native youths within similar economic situations. Besides that, the rise in immigration rates in Miami does result in a rise in homicide.
Nevertheless, opposition claims that assimilation for the immigrants is not taking place, in that they are a burden to the American society. However, according to the Survey of the US Census Bureau, assimilation of the current immigrants is rapid like that of their predecessors. Opposition, looks at the newcomers, but the survey carried on immigrants beginning in the 90s indicate that longer the immigrants have stayed in US the more they grow and the proper they get incorporated into the American society. Assimilation occurs by owning homes, increasing income, completing schools and large geographical coverage. Therefore, opposition should understand that immigration for the new arrivals rises for a short time while assimilation takes a longer time. Moreover, the opposition should understand that immigration is beneficial since the immigrants bring with them foreign languages, different political attitudes and religious believes that helps in improving the culture and society of the US.
#5
Portes and Rumbaut use a complex analysis in explaining immigration in the US known as segmented assimilation. The theory provides an explanation for various experiences of integration of the new immigrants and their children. Moreover, the theory suggests that the American society is greatly segmented and diverse as the underclass lives in the central cities in which new immigrants first settle when they arrive in the US. It is thus debated that there are various groups, which exist in US where by the new immigrants could assimilate and thus the immigrants, could take different routes. These parts may include upward assimilation, downward assimilation or selective acculturation.
Earlier immigrants were mainly of European origin and have been acknowledged due to their quick assimilation (Russell, 2011). However, the new immigrants are of Asian and Latin America origins and are perceived as slower in assimilation by the opposition. According to the theory of segmented assimilation, the first part that the new immigrants follow is described by an increasing acculturation and incorporation of the immigrants and their children into the middle class. The second path leads to acculturation and incorporation of the new immigrants into the underclass that is characterized with poverty and decreasing agility.
On the other hand, the third path involves willful preservation of the culture and values of the immigrants followed by their economic assimilation. In explanation for the different assimilation described, human capital, types of assimilation and the family structure are considered. These factors affect the relationship that exists in the acculturation of the children and parents. Dissonant acculturation occurs when the children acculturate quicker than their parents.
References
Harles, J. (2013). Integration before Assimilation: Immigration, Multiculturalism and the Canadian Polity. Canadian Journal Of Political Science, 30(04), 711.
Russell, J. (2011). Class and race formation in North America (1st ed.). Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
Taeuber, A. & Taeuber, K. (2011). Recent Immigration and Studies of Ethnic Assimilation. Demography, 4(2), 798.