Immigration to the United States

Paper Summary:

The author of this paper relates the opinions of various groups on the issue of immigration to the United States. In addition, the paper provides a survey of immigration laws throughout United States history. The paper discusses the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and shows its limitations in dealing with immigration issues. The paper examines the issue of asylum and political refugees as it currently applies. In addition, the paper provides an explanation of how the United States immigration quotas operate.

From the Paper:

"Immigration is a subject that creates controversy, with many calling for less immigration as a way of enhancing security and improving the economy, and with others citing immigration as one of the main forces boosting the economy throughout American history. All Americans derive from immigrants, of course, except for the Native Americans who themselves had immigrated across the Bering Strait thousands of years ago. Immigration has changed over the course of American history, in part reflecting conditions elsewhere in the world, while also showing in the legal system how Americans view people from other countries, welcoming some and rejecting others. The issue has become enmeshed in security concerns since 9-11, with calls for reform to alter the number and type of immigrants allowed into the country. Some two percent of the world's population are migrants or refugees, and most lack basic human rights. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes a citizen's right to leave a country, nothing is said about rights following the arrival in another country, and often this is a greater problem. More than 100 million people around the world are living in countries where they are not citizens, and another 23 million are displaced in their own countries. In spite of the huge numbers of people involved, constitutions, laws, and governments restrict the rights of these people to move freely, to speak, and to be heard. In addition, the present structure of recognized human rights provides no framework within which the rights of migrants can be discussed."

More papers on Immigration to the United States:

• Term Paper # 3818 : "Chinese Immigration to the United States from 1850 to 1930"
• Term Paper # 23233 : "Jewish immigration to the United States"
• Research Paper # 23809 : "Immigration to the United States"

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