For a long time America has been viewed as the “Land of Opportunities” or a place where people can enjoy a high standard of living. The population consists of people from various nations who travelled for different reasons such as immigration from war-prone areas, search for better opportunities, or join relatives. My parents thought that they would have a better life in American when they travelled to the United States on student visas. However, the dream cannot be entirely achieved since many immigrants face several economic challenges as well as possibility of deportation from the country.
My parents and other people that have moved to America continue struggling as demand for jobs has increased tremendously yet the supply remains low. Legal immigrants contribute to the United States economy since the skilled ones fill in-demand job vacancies. Legal migration provides also contributes movement of more people to the United States to join their relatives. One of our great leaders President John F. Kennedy once said, “Immigration policy should be generous; it should be fair; it should be flexible. With such a policy we can turn to the world and to our own past, with clean hands and a clear conscience” (Kennedy). This statement reveals that the nation was ready to welcome people from all corners of the world. Since immigrants contribute to the development of the economy, they should be allowed to exploit their capabilities instead of deporting them.
Currently the population of immigrants both legal and illegal has surged and complaints have emerged that the foreigners are taking up American jobs. However, a report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found little to no effect on the wages and employment of native-born workers in the long-term by undocumented immigrants. Immigrants are hardworking people creating jobs in various sectors. Immigrants can contribute create close to 3.7 million and 5.2 million jobs in the formal economy (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). Therefore, there is no need of prohibiting immigration or deporting people to their countries of origin as this separates families.
My parents worked hard to give me a better life and good education but things were not as easy as they thought. However, they have managed to take me to school to acquire education that will help in getting a job and earn my own salary. other immigrants face difficulies especially the ones with no college education and can only work in the overcrowded informal sector. Leaders in the US fear that connued immigraton will deplete the jobs for the Americans and make life unbearable.
Living in America has its challenges but I believe that my parents made the right decision when they came to the US. It has given me an opporunity to meet people from various parts of the world and learn in a diverse environment. Althogh some people are facing challenges especially financial, America is a country that allows people to awaken their dreams. For instance, the ones that leave their countries due to violence and other pproblems such as natural calamities have an opportunity to make their lives better. However, economic challenges exist in the country due to the high populaion of immigrants. My experience in America has taught me to appreciate every person regardless of the place of origin since every immigrant want to have a better opportunity.
References
John F. Kennedy. Presidential Library and Museum Columbia Point, Boston MA 02125 (617) 514-1600. 1986. https://www.jfklibrary.org/About-Us/News-and-Press/Press-Releases/Teresa-Heinz-Kerry-Gives-Keynote-Address-at-Immigration-Ceremony-for-More-Than-200-New-Citizens.aspx.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Economic and Fiscal Consequences of Immigration. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. 2017. https://doi.org/10.17226/23550.
