Dilnoz Jabborzoda
Professor Wilson Ding
English 2150
November 10, 2023
How is to be an immigrant
Immigration has always played a vital role in the history and the making of the United States. An immigrant who enters the U.S. with specific educational, or skill levels shapes the migrant’s socioeconomic status and well-being, affecting the way that nationality is viewed. In terms of income, immigrants mirror racial inequality in the United States. As previously stated, immigrants are entering a racial socioeconomic hierarchy even if they obtained good high education or specific skills they still struggle with racial inequality. It reflects their countries of origin and how and whether they are allowed to be in the country.
Rhetorical question – Who is an immigrant, if not a confluence of diverse narratives? How or can dreamers reconcile the aspirations of those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in the crosscurrents of immigration policy? Could I question a reader about the morality of policies that divide families? Are guest workers truly alleviating the difficulties of immigration, or do they introduce a new set of complexities into the workforce? These questions encourage readers studies and analysis of the challenges that dreamers or immigrant may encounter in the integration process compared to both guest workers and immigrants. It invites the reader to consider the nuanced aspects of the immigrant experience, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities and feelings associated with different categories of them to seek and find a better life in the United States.
In articles “We do not need guest workers” and “Understanding the Fight Over the ‘Dreamers’ and DACA” both authors demonstrate one issue and at the same time dispute it. First article talks about immigrants who come to the U.S. to work, and they are not expected to dream of raising their family here or establishing a life, but just to get their paycheck and return to their home country because of US immigration policy. The so-called American dream remains a compelling tale among migrants south of the border, but the objective has shifted. In the United States, there have been efforts at guest worker programs for many years. The program allows immigrant workers to temporarily reside and work in a host country until the next round of workers is readily available to switch. It typically performs low wages or domestic labor in countries or agricultural industries. Also, author in article mentioned the former President Bush administration would “match willing foreign workers with willing American employers, when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs” (Robert Samuelson, 2006) After their temporary status, “guest workers” will be forced to return to their home countries and be replaced by new temporary workers.
Moreover, in article “We do not need guest workers”, author states that how if we adopted the guest service program, we would be stripping these immigrants of the ability to become permanent citizens, and how they would be moving their children and family here to get settled and would have to up and leave a country where they work hard and live for a long period of time. “Guest workers would mainly legalize today’s vast inflows of illegal immigrants, with the same consequence: We’d be importing poverty. This isn’t because these immigrants aren’t hardworking; many are. Nor is it because they don’t assimilate; many do. But they generally don’t go home, assimilation is slow, and the ranks of the poor are constantly replenished” said Robert J. Samuelson. Article states that employing guest workers is preferable then to hire undocumented individuals living in poverty who migrate illegal. With legal status, they’d have rights and protections, and more peace of mind and face less exploitation by employers or employee. This article delves into the complexities surrounding the notion of guest workers, examining whether such a system is essential and exploring potential alternatives.
One of the big issues that happen nowadays is Dreamers. Dreamers –young immigrants who were brought to the United States as children, either without legal authorization or with a legal authorization that eventually expired. Many of these young people know no other home and may speak only English, law requires them to return to a home country they do not remember, and they might have no ties. Once there, few would have any possibility of ever receiving permission to immigrate to the United States and get a Green Card or citizenship. In the article “Understanding the Fight Over the ‘Dreamers’ and DACA” author mentions that dreamers current law makes difficult to get legal status unless they leave the US and apply. During Trump reign, he abolishes DACA. They were thwarted by the courts Gove and government stopped accepting their new applications for more than three years. The author of article navigates and explains the complex landscape of Dreamers, intertwining personal narratives with larger societal questions. US federal court has declared DACA illegal, which might lead to these immigrants being kicked out of the country. Even though they grew up here and went to school, majority of them are illegal because in past their parents migrated to US.
To sum up, both “We do not need guest workers” and “Understanding the Fight Over the ‘Dreamers’ and DACA” articles demonstrate the struggle of most immigrants who come to US to work and build a family, however, could not legalize. The immigrant legalization issue in articles is not just a policy debates; it’s a deeply emotional narrative. Understanding the emotional landscape is crucial for crafting compassionate and effective policies that recognize the humanity and dignity of those seeking legal status.
Work Cited
Samuelson, R. J. (2006, March 22). We don’t need “guest workers.” The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/2006/03/22/we-dont-need-guest-workers/c0d0ba54-1bba-454a-9837-2d088ef766f6/
Laura Litvan and Erik Larson | Bloomberg. (2023, September 15). Analysis | understanding the fight over the “dreamers” and Daca. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/09/14/what-is-daca-where-does-it-stand-now-and-who-are-the-dreamers/b1e0aba8-535d-11ee-accf-88c266213aac_story.html