The United States of America has always been a nation of immigrants. After the earlier settlement by Europeans, the next great wave of immigration started in 1840 and ended in 1924. Another wave of immigration can be dated from 1960 to the present. From the year 1970 to the year 2000, the U.S. has admitted more than 20 million people as legal permanent residents (LPRs). In the fiscal year of 2006, the U.S. admitted a total number of 1,266,264 LPRs. Immigration is controlled by a policy that aims at several purposes. Besides the economic goals of increasing U.S. productivity and the U.S. standard of living, it serves the important social goal of unifying families, the socio-cultural goal of promoting diversity in the U.S. population, the economic goal of increasing America’s prosperity, and the political goal of maintaining stable demographics. In short, the main focuses of legal immigration are the socio-cultural, economic, and political goals. According to Linda Chavez, author and chairperson of the Center for Equal Opportunity in Washington, D.C., debates about immigration have become “one of the most controversial public-policy debates in recent memory” . To weigh the benefits of legal immigration, it is essential to know its difficulties. In fact, the advantages of legal immigration not only counterbalance its problems, but also illustrate the need of legal immigrants for the U.S. in terms of socio-cultural, economic, and political factors. Nonetheless, legal immigration is only beneficial with a proper immigration policy. For this reason the proposal of a point system by George J. Borjas, an economist at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, seems to be the right step to guide a reform of American legal immigration policy.
Socio-cultural, economic, and political benefits of legal immigrants
First, immigrants are willing to adapt themselves to the American cultural principles and contribute social, economic, and political benefits. Instead of disrupting the societal coherence, or changing American culture, the majority of immigrants not only adapts to the American way of life, but enriches it through diversity. Chavez underlines that immigrants integrate themselves much better into American life than is commonly believed. One indicator, for instance, is the population’s high rate of Hispanic intermarriage, where one quarter of Hispanics marries outside their ethnic group. Wattenberg and Zinsmeister conclude as follows:
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Socio-cultural, economic, and political benefits of legal immigrants
- How the benefits of legal immigration counterbalance its difficulties
- A point-system to guide the legal immigration reform
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to analyze the lasting value of legal immigration for the United States of America. It examines the socio-cultural, economic, and political benefits of legal immigration, showcasing how these advantages counterbalance the difficulties often associated with it. The paper also advocates for a point-system to guide immigration reform.
- Socio-cultural, economic, and political benefits of legal immigration
- How the benefits of legal immigration counterbalance its difficulties
- The role of diversity in enriching American culture
- The impact of legal immigration on the U.S. economy and labor force
- The need for a proper immigration policy and the potential benefits of a point-system
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This section provides a brief overview of the history of immigration in the United States, highlighting its significance and the various objectives of legal immigration policy. It also emphasizes the controversial nature of immigration debates.
- Socio-cultural, economic, and political benefits of legal immigrants: This section focuses on the positive contributions of legal immigrants to American society, including their cultural enrichment, scientific achievements, and active participation in the labor force. It also explores the economic benefits of immigration, particularly in terms of job creation and economic growth.
- How the benefits of legal immigration counterbalance its difficulties: This section delves into the complexities of immigration, acknowledging potential negative impacts on certain sectors of the labor force while highlighting the overall positive effects on society. It emphasizes the economic gains that outweigh potential losses for most Americans.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key terms and concepts explored in this term paper include: legal immigration, socio-cultural benefits, economic benefits, political benefits, diversity, labor force participation, economic growth, immigration reform, point-system, and the impact of immigration on American society.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main benefits of legal immigration for the USA?
Legal immigration provides significant socio-cultural enrichment through diversity, economic growth by increasing productivity, and political stability by maintaining balanced demographics.
How do legal immigrants contribute to the American economy?
Immigrants increase America's prosperity by participating actively in the labor force, fostering innovation, and contributing to the national standard of living.
Do immigrants integrate well into American culture?
Yes, research by experts like Linda Chavez suggests that immigrants integrate better than commonly believed, often adapting to American principles while enriching the culture with their own traditions.
What is the "point-system" proposal for immigration reform?
Proposed by George J. Borjas, the point-system aims to guide legal immigration by selecting candidates based on specific skills and attributes that benefit the U.S. economy and society.
Does legal immigration cause societal disruption?
The paper argues that the benefits of legal immigration far outweigh potential difficulties, as diversity strengthens societal coherence rather than disrupting it.
Why is the immigration debate so controversial in the United States?
Debates are often polarized due to concerns over labor market competition and cultural shifts, making it one of the most complex public-policy issues in recent history.
- Quote paper
- Julia Geigenberger (Author), 2007, The lasting value of legal immigration for the United States of America, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/87768
