The Journey of Immigration

The Journey of Immigration: Hurting or Helping

Teresa Threadgill
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Fall 2014

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The Journey of Immigration

Introduction

Carmen left the United States out of love. She hoped she could make money here and send it
back home to provide her children with an escape from the grinding poverty. She wanted to give
them a chance. (Nazario, 2013) Fast forward 13 years. After being without his mom and going
through a turbulent life, Minor, Carmens son decides he will make the journey. It was one of
peril and consisted of hitchhiking. He was robbed and threatened. Still, he says, he was lucky.
(Nazario, 2013) There are thousands of children who go through this journey every year just to
find their mothers who have gone to try and find a better life for them. Lucky or not, depending
on the story, they make journey riding on top of Mexicos freight trains. Going to look for their
families and a better life on a train that is ironically called The Train of Death.
Relevance
Immigrants have been important to the U.S. economy in the past, and will continue to be vital
in the future. (Gerdes, 2005) There are many myths surrounding immigration. One of the most
common argument is that they are taking jobs that could be had by citizens of the U.S. The fact
is, according to Gerdes, is that there is no such thing as a fixed number of jobs that everyone is
competing over. What is failed to be recognized is the fact that, while Immigrants jobs fill some
jobs, they also help to create them. There are things such entrepreneurship, innovations and

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purchases made that include housing, food, clothing, vehicles and numerous other consumer
items. Foreign born workers provide 12 percent of the total hours worked in a week. Without
their contributions, the output of goods and services in our nation would be at least 1 trillion less.
Gerdes also states that by the year 2020, there will be a projected need for 10 million new skilled
workers. Immigrants will help fill those jobs.
Historical Perspective
According to Americans for Legal Immigration Political Action Committee, the origins of
illegal immigration date to the late nineteenth century. In 1882 President Chester A. Arthur
banned almost all Chinese immigration to the United States, and shortly thereafter barred
paupers, criminals and the mentally ill from entering. Although this affected only a small
percentage of immigrants, there were now distinctions between legal and illegal immigration.
Before this, immigration was barely regulated. In 1996, Bill Clinton was quoted as saying, We
should honor every legal immigrant here, working hard to become a new citizen. But we are also
a nation of laws. In 1924, the Border Patrol was created. (Chomsky, 2007) Their main mission
as described by the website for border patrol, http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/along-usborders/overview, is to prevent terrorists and their weapons from crossing over into the U.S. It
has made dramatic changes since its creation in 1924 but their goal remains the same. They are
to detect and prevent. It encompasses and protections runs a gamete that covers nearly 6,000
miles of Mexican and Canadian international land borders and over 2,000 miles of coastal waters
surrounding the Florida Peninsula and the island of Puerto Rico. This includes round the clock
patrol in any kind of conditions. In 2013, across all the coverage of borders, the patrol made
420,000 apprehensions of illegal immigrants or otherwise noted as aliens. Freedom and the

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chance for a better life is costly to some. Over 400 had to pay with their life during the year of
2013 trying to cross the border into the land of promise.

Economic Perspective
Demand and supply will constantly conspire to undermine even the most determined
restrictions on immigration. (Gerdes, 2005) James Smith, an economist, stated in a
Congressional testimony, that the net present value of the gains from immigrants that have
arrived since 1980, would be estimated at 333 billion dollars. This is an important figure to factor
into the economic impact from Immigrants. This figure calculates the current value of a cash
flow. It helps the government to compare the current cost versus potential benefits. Many argue
that Immigrants are a benefit to employers. Dan Stein, executive director, of FAIR, argues that
immigrants are willing to do jobs that most Americans are not willing to do. They will work long
hours at a lesser wage. (Gerdes, 2005) This leaves open the argument that Employers could in
fact hire Americans to do a job but it will cost them more in the long scheme of things. They
have to provide training and also raise the expected pay for employment. This makes hiring an
immigrant seem like a more profitable decision. It is not only easier but cheaper. In a turn
around, the money they are paid to do this job, goes back into the American economy.
Opposing Views
As with any high ticket issue, Immigration, illegal or not, has many opposing and nonopposing views. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the Immigration Reform and
Control Act of 1986, immigration policy has directly affected the lives of millions of legal and
undocumented immigrants. Many experts on immigration in the U.S., argue that the only way to

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have a strategy that is effective for the change of immigration, is to improve the economies of
immigrant-sending countries. This will ensure that people will not need or want to leave their
own country in search of a better life. (Nazario, 2013) Opposition argues another point. There is
a distinct pattern in the United States history of migration. When we need labor, the move is
lenient of immigrants. When we are having a recession, the laws are more stringent. The United
States Citizenship and Immigration Service offers a full view of the benefits and the journey one
must consider when entertaining the thought of leaving the illegal closet and becoming a
permanent citizen of the United States. Those that are fighting for the rights of immigrants claim
that opposition to immigration is in fact considered racism. They protest that it is a resistance to
change. America is not comfortable around people that are different from them. Different
cultures, languages and customs are not welcome. But those that disagree have their points.
Some that are in fact, considered valid. The NRC, National Records Center, immigrants use
more government services than Native-born Americans. They earn less money, poorer incomes
and therefore they pay less taxes. (Nazario, 2013) Should they indeed be entitled to more than
someone who was actually born in the States? That will forever be a heated debate.
Personal Reflection
The struggle is real. One can look at all views of the immigrant issue and find validity of their
argument. Economic issues and laws versus real people just wanting to get a better life. So much
that they are willing to leave their children behind in hopes to gain a better life. According to
Nazario in her book Enriques Journey, the number of adults arriving unlawfully in the United
States is at a 40. The path to legalization is clearer with more and more help from the
government and organizations willing to fight for and help those who choose to live in a land of
promises and dreams. But sadly the reality is that the number of children coming to America

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alone, in search of their parents, has surged to record levels. A staggering estimated 100,000
children come to the U.S. unaccompanied by a parent or an adult. Even though opposition is
current, the government has stepped in to try and house some of these youngsters. But those that
are here illegally are living in the land of freedom as a prisoner. They must be in constant fear of
being caught and deported or even serving jail time. Even if they make the conscious choice to
become a legal and permanent citizen, it is not a quick fix. It can take months just to even be able
to apply. The guidelines are strenuous and overwhelming. http://immigrationrailroad.com is a
website that blogs the journey of someone that is trying to gain citizenship. When reading the
blog, it seems that it took 6 months between application process and the time an interview was
granted. This is not an easy process. So inundated with demands and requirements, it sometimes
does not win over the chance of living in the dark.
The website for USCIS offers lesson plans with instructions and teaching strategies for
novice and seasoned ESL instructors preparing students for U.S. citizenship. Lessons include
content on American Government, American History, and Integrated Civics covered in the
Civics Test as well as language needed for the reading and writing portions of the English
Test. Handouts with interactive games and student-centered activities encompass all four
language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/teachers/lesson-plans-and-activities
Educating our children with the facts and the process can only help them become informed
citizens. While there are laws and rules to follow for the rights to be an American citizen, these
people are citizens of the human race just like Americans.

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Conclusion
Immigration and Migration are real aspects of our society. It does not come cheap. Neither to
the U.S. or those who choose to make the journey. They are leaving their homeland. This often,
more than not means they are leaving family, parents leaving children, possessions, and all they
have ever known. The separation from these things leave lasting negative consequences. Today,
over 40 million of United States residents were born in another country. Even though there are
many oppositions and protestors, the truth presents its facts as a silent bystander. Who wants to
leave their home and everything they have ever known for something unknown and somewhere
unwanted not knowing if they can ever return? The verdict is in. Not many.

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References

Americans for Legal immigration. (2012, January 1). Retrieved November 22, 2014, from
http://www.endillegalimmigration.com/
Apply for Citizenship. (2014, October 24). http://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/applycitizenship
Border Patrol Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2014, from http://www.cbp.gov/bordersecurity/along-us-borders/overview
Chomsky, A. (2007). "They take our jobs!": And 20 other myths about immigration. Boston,
Mass.: Beacon Press.
Gerdes, L. (2005). Immigration. San Diego, Calif.: Greenhaven Press.
Immigration Road Blog. (2010, February 10). http://immigrationroad.com/blog/my-journey-touscitizenship-application/
Nazario, S. (2006). Enrique's journey. New York: Random House.

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