America Needs Immigration Reform

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Immigration reduction refers to a movement in the United States that advocates a reduction in the amount of immigration allowed into the country. Steps advocated for reducing the numbers of immigrants include advocating stronger action to prevent illegal entry and illegal immigration, and reductions in non-immigrant temporary work visas (such as H-1B and L-1). Some advocate a tightening of the requirements for legal immigration requirements to reduce total numbers, or move the proportions of legal immigrants away from those on family reunification programs to skills-based criteria.
Back in the 1700s, as English men and women traveled to American land in the Mayflower, among other ships, the foreigners were considered “immigrants.” Many of the ideals of immigration are actually the basis of our country, contributing to our metaphor of the melting pot and giving people the opportunity to chase the “American dream.” Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of the greatest writers in time, even wrote that “a nation, like a tree, does not thrive well till it is engraffed with a foreign stock,” and that immigration is a phenomenon that will construct a new future for America. In recent years, the debate on immigration has sparked many legislative and foreign policies, jostling concerns about the economy, the environment, social services, and ethnic relations.
While determining personal opinions on the immigration situation, it is important to observe the statistics of the flow of immigrants actually coming into our country. In 2011, the estimated number of immigrants in the United States was 11.5 million, 59% of these people being from Mexico. An article on Choices.edu compiles a list of questions to consider while developing a side and analyzing thi...

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