Sebastian 1

Abigail Sebastian

Professor Turner

Eng 114B

16 May 2017

The US Immigration Reflection

Whether its family, friends, friends of friends, co workers or even yourself, immigrants

are part your life. A simple observation to ones life is all it takes to notice whats going on

around us. In this paper I will be reflecting on the United States Citizenship and Immigration

Services(U.S.C.I.S.) and its injustice toward many members of society. Most immigrants that

enter the U.S. are looking for an opportunity to grow, or be able to give this opportunity to one of

their loved ones.According to U.S.C.I.S. in Origins of Federal Immigration Services

immigration had never been much of an issue in the U.S. until the Civil War, when some states

began setting some restrictions on their immigration policies. Undeniably, there are some that do

not enter with the best intentions. The U.S.C.I.S. contributes to social economic injustice by

denying illegal immigrants certain rights guaranteed to citizens. America was founded on

immigrants, to shun them is ironic, and at most, it is un-American.

Personally, I know three immigrant from the top of my head; I will refer to them as Alex,

Brandon, and Claire. Alex came to the States in 1992, he originally lived in Honduras with 6

siblings, and his mother; they depended completely on his mother. At the age of 21 he gained

enough money to pay $800 dollars to a person, who would smuggle him across the United States

border. Alex came to work, and sent money to his mother. In 1998 he applied for a visa, paid

$250 to simply apply, then $150 annually for 7 years. The 8th year he received a letter telling
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him he would no longer get a visa. He did not understand why,and this made him an illegal

immigrant.

Brandon, came from Toluca, in 1985 at the age of 13. He came from an abusive father,

with 7 brothers and sisters and his mother, two years prior while trying to defend his mother

from his father he became paralyzed from the waist down. Doctors told him his chance of

walking were moderate and would need much money for physical therapy. Instead his sibling

and mother helped him for a whole year to recover his legs, in 1985 he finally fully regained his

legs, and ran with them for a better future. He tried to cross 14 times, and was caught day after

day, however back then theyd hold immigrants for a few hours then let them go. The 15th time

he made it, however, he did not come to a home, or friends, he came with not even a penny to

toss when he was bored. This man lived homeless for a year, sleeping in parks, or anywhere

comfortable, bathing in public pools and standing every day in a corner hoping to make money

to eat, and if not, hed wait behind restaurants for the garbage. Regardless of his hunger, his

sickness, his loneliness, he never committed a crime, or hurt others.This man is blind to race, he

abides rules, he honors respect, integrity, loyalty, and has shown those around him nothing but a

helping hand. Brandon is also an illegal immigrant.

Claire came from Toluca, MX, she lived in the hills with her abusive parents and 12

brothers and sisters. In 1991 at the age of 21 she came to the United States to help her family

crawl out of poverty. She crossed the border around 7 times in her life, two of them were to visit

her family, once was for her brothers wedding, twice as a family vacation, and twice to visit the

grave of those she was not there to say goodbye to. Claire lost one child in Toluca, she lost her

parents, and two brothers. She misses the hills she desperately once she wanted to run from.
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However, Claire is a mother, that wants for her children like any mother would, and she would

give up the world if it means giving them a life worth losing hers. Claire is an also in illegal

immigrant.

Though the United States was made, built, and dare I even say, started by immigrants, it

was not until the act of 1891 that the federal government gained control on the inspection,

admission and processing of immigrants. The government became more secure in our points, of

entry,so our boarders were built. In January. 1892 the deportation stop for Asian immigrants was

started, Ellis Island, where many were stopped before entering the states. Next the act of 1895

gave more federal control, and so forth. Eventually national tragedies like World Wars, and

Terrorism, made immigration a much more sensitive issue. At first, they were minor gates

separating the name of two lands, however today theres a talk about a big wall between the

United states and the world.

Before tragedies hit the states, the federal government did not really prevent immigrants

from coming, but actually helped immigrants have an easier times inside the states, and adapt to

the different environment as stated by the Overview of INS History. Today the Purpose of the

U.S.C.I.S. is to order the population in the country, the resources in the country, the job

opportunities, as well as prevent criminals from entering and harming this nation. However this,

is what it should be doing, though this is not what is seen is happening in this states. The

immigration department has been using immigrants to their advantage. Whenever the United

States needs more workers inside the united states, they welcomed migrants. However once

theyve finished dealing with a war that takes all of their men, they want to kick out the people

that have worked hard to start a new life.

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In the article The Truth About Undocumented Immigrants and Taxes by Alexis F.

Campbell, she explains how taxes work for undocumented immigrants as well as the role that

their money has on our economy. The Social Security system has grown increasingly reliant on

this stream of revenuesays Campbell. I believe that not only has the social security system

become reliant on the undocumented services of immigrants, but our economy and retirement

system has had much help thank to the money that immigrants lose. In 2010 about 1.8 million

undocumented immigrants reported taxes, resulting in $13 billion money that paid for other

people's retirement(Campbell). Undocumented immigrant work for years in the U.S. however

don't get a retirement plan nor medical coverage incase anything happens at work. Instead their

money contributes for the retirement plans, and medical care of citizens of the U.S. Much of the

U.S. economy that helps the social security system is reliant in the uncollected tax money of

many hardworking immigrants.

Overall, the government profits gradually by denying immigrant workers citizenships or

opportunities to grow. Illegal immigrants do not have the same rights are citizens, therefore they

are treated as less than citizens, in in today's society that simply word play a large role in who

you are in society. For example, illegal immigrant cannot and do not get paid the same about as

citizens would for the same type of job. This is a benefit that the immigration department sees in

immigrants, they allow the economy to prosper, and save businesses million of dollars.

Not only is the immigration department standing by and seeing the hard work and

dedication of immigrants, but theys till classify them as criminals, for wanting a life, liberty and

the pursuit of happiness. and simply because they were not born in the same soil of this

institution's jurisdiction. Immigrants are human being, and though this is something that I am
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sure everyone is aware of, I sadly think that not everyone believes they are. We are all different

types of people, even twins have a hard time at always being so alike, so why and try to see each

other in black and white. Theres more to people than just a title.

In the article More Republicans Favor Path to Citizenship Than Wall by Jeffrey M.

Jones, he analyzes over 3,000 surveys on adults point of views on some of the views on what the

next step for immigration should be. I believe that Jones polls were meant to set a view on what

adults throughout the U.S., want to do regarding immigration,in 2016. Since the election of 2016,

our new elected president has not done much to improve the image nor the lives of the

immigrants looking for a better life in the states. In addition polls show that most americans do

not want for immigration to be more cut off from the U.S. but rather be embraced and accepted.

Only a third of the polls show that people actually want immigrants to be deported and 62%

believe in building a wall, 76% don't want one!

The immigration department has its purpose, and I understand that its purpose is to

maintain sustainability and order between the U.S. and the world. However I believe that it

should also be with in this department to take responsibility for the lives of those who have like a

good amount of years without any huge criminal offence. We do need more workers always in

this country even when we are full, and if we could have equal opportunity for everyone, that

would set an equal footing to everyone. According to the Overview of INS History, The

agencys focus shifted towards law enforcement as immigration volume dropped significantly

during the Great Depression. it is completely understandable that under circumstances, our

nation take extra measures for the better of the nation, though as a country that has had its doors

open since the beginning.

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I understand that perhaps it will not be the most beneficial move for the United States,

because companies would have to start paying people what they actually earned instead of

paying them less than they actually deserve.However, I believe that the Immigration department

can help people get a better understanding of one another instead of setting up these barriers

between citizens and immigrants. In CSI USA: Who Killed the American Dream by Arianna

Huffington, she says Thousands of lobbyists plus billions of dollars equal access and influance

out of reach of ordinary Americans...We have a regulatory system in which corporate greed,

political timidity, and culture of cronyism have rendered the public good a quaint

afterthought Huffington allows her readers to understand that the causes to the United States

downfall is due to corporations, and governments poor handling on taxpayers money. This

allows us to rule out the idea that immigrants are the reason why americans have no jobs and

that immigrants are ruining our economy.

Perhaps there is not real solution to how to completely allow good immigrants to come

through our borders, however this does not mean that we should not be allowed to look for way

to give people who want to work and grown in society an chance to grow. I believe in the

Darwinian Evolution Theory, the idea of survival of the fittest those who truly wish to strive,

will strive and those who dont wont. Its up to people on whether they allow titles such as

documented, undocumented and citizen, define who they are and where they will go in the

world.

Looking back at our history, I believe that, everyone that stands in the United States of

America, is and will always be an immigrant, they did not take over nor have taken over, on

contrary it is we that colonized the land of the Native Americas. Though this does not make us
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different because we come from different place around the world. This makes us the same, the

united states began as union of people, that did not like what they had in their homelands and

migrated for a better life. Now we seem to be scared of something causing, this union to break at

any minute, because of immigrants. However in the past immigrant did not do us any harm in

coming inside the States, they did not take jobs nor cause mayhem. The United States is knows

as the land of dreams, where anything is possible, and though miracles have occurred to many in

our land, it is not much a miracle it is simply thank to hard work. Undeniably, a result of hard

work is great results, so I do not see a reason as to why we should have the right to deny people a

chance to work hard. Making the job industry difficult is simply a way of making people work

harder and put more effort, restricting opportunities to millions means, taking away the full

potential this country has to grow. Let us stay in union not matter what may come our way,

because when things get rough, no matter what, we always look for one another for help.
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Campbell, Alexia Fernndez. "The Truth About Undocumented Immigrants and Taxes." The

Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 12 Sept. 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2017.

Gallup, Inc. "More Republicans Favor Path to Citizenship Than Wall." Gallup.com. Gallup, 20

July 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

"Origins of the Federal Immigration Service." USCIS. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration

Services, 4 Feb. 2016. Web. 04 Apr. 2017.

Weinstein, Larry. "CSI USA: Who Killed the American Dream." Money Changes Everything.

Boston: Bedford/St Martin's, 2014. 169-78. Print.