Immigration is a topic that has changed in its level of controversy throughout the history of the United States. In the founding years of America’s democracy, immigration was promoted and heavily encouraged. While this was primarily meant for white males from eastern European countries like France and Great Britain, it was still something that was encouraged by the United States government. America is considered to be founded by Immigrants and a popular saying among different generational groups is that “Immigrants are the backbone of the United State’s workforce.”
In the late 1700s, Samuel Ellis bought a small island off the coast of modern day Jersey City and built a pub for local fisherman to spend time at. In the early 1800s, New York State bought the island from his family and established a fort on the small island which later became the nation’s most prolific and well known immigration station. Around the 1940s, the immigration center moved from Ellis Island to another location in New York but it continued to be a detention center for illegal aliens and deportees. During the period in which Ellis Island was an immigration station, around 12 million immigrants passed by stemming from all over the world. America has a rich history in allowing people displaced from their homes into their nation.
The Statue of Liberty became the symbol for hope and a new life to many individuals. A poem on the Statue of Liberty states “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” This was written by Emma Lazarus, an individuals who’s roots stemmed from a very rich Jewish-Portuguese heritage. In the poem called “The New Colossus”, it basically describes how the Statue of Liberty is supposed to be a beacon of possibility and new opportunities.
Currently, Immigration is one of the sorest and most controversial topics being discussed in the United States. As of recent years, the United States government has taken a much different approach on the policy for entrance of immigrants. They have become extremely hostile in their practices and basically inhumane in their policies. There has been a recent surge in immigrants coming from South America to escape gangs and environmental disasters.
There has been a caravan of almost 4000 members of different South American cities that have been making their way to the United States. In the past month, they have been disbanded by Mexican authorities on the behalf of ICE (Immigration and Custom Enforcement). While the individuals are being wrongly treated in their native countries, when they cross the border (illegally or legally) they are put mostly in detention centers across the border. These detention centers are incredibly dirty and almost never have all the supplies they need to properly treat their inhabitants. It has almost become a death camp in some locations. Children are being separated from their parents at the border and not given a proper trial. They have been suspending their possibilities of gaining an interpreter for their trial dates and abusing them in the centers. The detention centers are more like concentration camps minus the outright abuse given to its inhabitants.
Global immigration into the United States has also taken a rather large decline due to America’s newer policies. During the Syrian refugee crisis thousands of refugees were refused access into the country. Many applied and had legitimate circumstances that would permit having people coming in. While immigration from European countries was at an all time high in the United States, immigration from countries in the Middle East and Africa were extremely low. This is currently due to the current administrations beliefs on Immigration in the United States. Donald Trump has been a heavy supporter of the anti-immigration campaign and has blatantly stated that immigrants should not be allowed into this country. In past administrations, Immigration was a topic not out rightly discussed in politics but in the modern century it has become a big political issues. This is mainly due to the republican congressional support in backing his anti-immigration policies but hopefully in the next administration. Immigration can be loosened to better help all parties.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Ellis Island.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2 Oct. 2019, www.britannica.com/place/Ellis-Island.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Statue of Liberty.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Feb. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/Statue-of-Liberty.