Since he started
his campaign back in June 2015, President Donald Trump has promised to reduce, or
in some cases, terminate the flow of immigrants. Trump has also promised to end
illegal immigration, mostly from Mexico, and reduce legal immigration such as refugees’
resettlement programs and the green card lottery. Trump’s immigration policies have been approved
by a lot of his supporters who claimed that the new arrivals pose a threat to
the nation’s security. They also have economic concerns that the immigrants are
taking away American’s opportunities and reduce the economic opportunity for
the average American. Economy experts agree that immigrants reduce wages and
impact the financial security of the country as they exhaust the law
enforcement budgets due to background checks and illegal activities.
Mr. Trump
translated his concerns on immigration with executive orders to ban immigrants
from certain countries, by ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
program, and the most recent orders to end the diversity visa program.
On the other hand,
we have the democrats and liberals that are against Trump’s immigration
policies. Trump opponents argue that America has been built by immigrants and
that there will be always a place and an opportunity for everyone. They also argue
that immigrants are hard workers who stimulate the economy, pay taxes and help
to create new opportunities.
Both sides claim
to place the benefit of the United States as the top priority, but the question
remains, what is the benefit that immigrants are bringing to the United States
and what is the detriment? Is it a humanitarian obligation to increase the
number of refugees and give them the opportunity to start a new life away from
war zones or is it the government’s obligation to keep America safe?
The current nature of Trump’s immigration policy is indicative of an effort to advance a conservative approach. While the move aligns with the promise made by President Trump to his supporters, there are potential backlashes to people aspiring for an immigrant status. While I agree that the U.S. government needs to adequately address the problem of illegal immigration, other initiatives to restrict entry compromises fundamental principles that promote diversity, multiculturalism, and tolerance in American society. One of the potential issues corresponds to possible repercussions among minority groups. The move to promote strict immigration policies undermines the effort to bridge existing gaps among the needs of minorities. For instance, the approach advances White resentment against immigrants. These values promote racism and discrimination of specific groups. Different cases of abuse are increasing among Muslims, Blacks, and Hispanics from their white counterparts. There is also the issue of employment opportunities. While Whites argue on the problem of immigrants taking away jobs, it is important to emphasize that the group takes up a large part of the economy. Blue collar jobs, which are overlooked by Whites, are supported by immigrants. Often, these jobs pay less, lack the appropriate benefits, and insurance. Despite these difficulties, many immigrants continue to take on these roles to sustain their needs.
ReplyDeleteFinally, promoting stricter immigration policies supports division among American society. Specific groups develop a perspective of dominance and entitlement over other groups. Such thinking undermines the pursuit of improving racial relations. Moreover, the move creates a negative connotation to the United States as a multicultural society. In my opinion, the Trump administration needs to rethink his stance surrounding immigration. While there are valid points that conservatives hold, I still believe that taking a moderate position on issues such as refugee protection, processing applicants, and improving services among migrant workers is the favorable path forward. The move continues to foster respect and recognizes the contribution of immigrants to the growth of the American economy.