Immigration History

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The world hears America as a land of immigrants because thousands of people flock into the country every year. Immigration is dated way back during the triangular trade. Europeans and Africans migrated to the us to facilitate the trade. Currently immigrants come into America in different ways, some legally, as tourists, refugees, students and others illegally sneak into the country. Immigrants are guided by law and they have been evolving since foreigners entered America. U.S.A has the highest number of immigrants in the world.

Currently, immigrants in the United States are allowed to apply for citizenship after a period of living in the United Stated. Citizenship for immigrants is traced with the introduction of the Naturalization Act of 1790 allowed for any white person who has been living in America for two years or more to apply for citizenship. The first wave of immigrants were the Irish people which resulted to massive immigration with more than 1.3 million people migrating through the island. One of the major acts of immigration is the immigration act of 1986 was signed on November 6th 1986. It is also known as the Simpson Mazzoli act of immigration. The IRCAs provisions were, to help immigrants who had stayed in the U.S for more than five years gain legal status, to have a tough enforcement at the border and impose fines and penalties to employers who employed illegal immigrants.

Immigration is a process that will never stop thus laws will be amended from time to time. Currently illegal immigration is against the law but has positive effects on the us economy. Through the immigrants the welfare of the natives is enhanced, illegal immigrants contribute a lot to the tax revenue and they offer cheap labor unlike the U.S citizens who always charge expensive. Many immigrants gain citizenship every year. After staying in the country for five years one can apply for citizenship.

References

Ewing, W. A. (2012). Opportunity and exclusion: A brief history of US immigration policy. Immigration Policy Center, 1-7.

Hayes, Patrick J. 2012. The making of modern immigration: an encyclopedia of people and ideas. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO.

https://www.history.com/topics/immigration/immigration-united-states-timelineRubin, R. L., & Melnick, J. (2007). Immigration and American popular culture: An introduction. NYU Press.Vernez, Georges. 1994. The United States Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986: implementation and effects. Santa Monica, Calif: RAND.