OPINION
U.S. Needs Immigration The U.S. is in desperate need of immigration refrom, and cooperation from the government is vital to make that happen. THIS EDITORIAL REFLECTS THE VIEW OF THE LE JOURNAL STAFF. TWENTY-THREE OUT OF 23 VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THIS VIEW
The United States has been a home of dreamers for the past two centuries, full of varying nationalities from across the globe creating a “melting pot.” Immigrants wanting to be a part of this blend of cultures come to the U.S. hoping to fulfill their dreams or escape from a harsh reality. It is through these wide eyed and eager dreamers that our country blossoms and is set apart from the rest. But today’s immigration policies need dramatic changes. Immigrants enter into the U.S. with the idea of a better life, opportunity, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. Today, it is difficult for immigrants to live that out. Today’s immigration policies are unorganized and ineffective. Problems can range from archaic immigration laws to the government’s insufficient attempts at reform, according to the Immigration Policy Center. The ranges of these problems only cause distress and outrage among immigrants and activists which doesn’t help solve this prevalent issue. This petty arguing only results in prolonging an issue that needs to be dealt with immediately. Today’s immigration revolves around the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 which
provided the foundation for our current immigration policy. Altered slightly in 1996, the policy is broken up into four categories as stated by the Immigration Policy Center; family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, humanitarian-based immigration, and others. One would think that most immigrants would fit into one of these categories and be able to immigrate legally. However, with many requirements, restrictions and regulations, it is much more complex than that. Although these laws may not appear like it at first they are severely outdated. The country we were economically, politically, and in terms of
“unreasonable” for today’s growing economy and the growing population of undocumented immigrants. Because today’s policies are based on the economy and labor demand of yesterday, insufficient number of visas are delivered to bring high-skilled workers to the U.S. Public Religion Research Institute performed a poll in June 2014 with results showing 62 percent of Americans support the idea of undocumented immigrants becoming citizens by way of an immigration bill. With America’s eye carefully watching what decision will be made next, steps towards a solution have been made but not executed. In 2013, a bipartisan immigration reform bill passed through the Senate but was never passed through the House of Representatives. The Center for American Progress said that this bill had undocumented immigrants on a 13year path to citizenship, given a green card to the millions of people who have been approved and are waiting so they can be reunited with their family, increased border security, and simply updated the immigration system among other things. Despite the bipartisan bill’s inability to be passed fully, this proves that Americans and some politicians are ready to take action; all that is needed is a strong push to get there. However, that push doesn’t seem to be on all politicians’ agendas. The current immigration policies have been like this for too long and it seems unreasonable for the government to have not made a decision yet.
Change is needed. Change is needed now. labor at the time these laws were passed is not like the country we are today. These immigration laws haven’t been changed to fit today’s economic and labor life. The Immigration Policy Center points out that if one doesn’t “fit” into the four categories of immigration, as previously stated, they are not able to migrate to the U.S. But, those who do fit into the system wait years upon years to receive a visa. Visa Now Global Immigration reports that over four million foreign citizens are awaiting the arrival of their green card in order to permanently live in the U.S. The Open Society Foundation describes today’s limits on green card availability as
Immigration By the Numbers Of the foreign-born population in the U.S., more than half are homeowners. 40.7 million foreign-born people lived in the U.S. in 2012.
If undocumented immigrants were granted citizenship, this would add an average of 159,000 more jobs per year.
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If immigration reform were passed, the federal budget deficit would decrease. Allowing legal status and citizenship to undocumented immigrants would expand economic growth.
62 percent of undocumented immigrants have been living in the U.S. 10 years or longer.
