Immigrants in America Are Treated Differently

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Immigrants In America Are Treated Differently

        There is no doubt that immigrants played a very significant role in the establishment and development of the United States as a country. Historical significance of immigration is extremely difficult to overestimate because the country itself is believed to be founded by immigrants. Today, immigrants still preserve a noticeable influence on American economy, society, culture. However, during recent years concerns about the status of immigrants in the United States increased significantly as the government policy towards such people became severer. It already is obvious that immigrants are treated differently, what is caused by different factors.

        Obviously, social factors might play a decisive role in this problem because native-born Americans' attitude towards immigrants has an impact on the government's policies and immigration-related laws that are adopted. One of the main reasons of negative attitude towards immigrants is fear. Americans are afraid that immigrants can overtake their country and undermine main principles and lifestyle of their society. Americans sometimes are inclined to consider their culture and nation as vulnerable to potentially dangerous outside influence. However, these fears mostly are completely irrational as the country accepted millions of immigrants without any significant negative consequences. On the other hand, such fears historically were spread. The tradition of skeptical attitude towards immigrants has relatively long historical roots. Benjamin Franklin, for example, was one of the first skeptics and expressed concerns about a possible threat of cultural and demographic dominance of aliens. Moreover, many Americans descended from immigrants, what, however, did not prevent them from becoming opponents of immigration. Religious factors can play a significant role, as well. For example, the first anti-immigrant movements emerged in the 19th century because of the wave of immigrants from Ireland. The motives of such movements were clearly religious as Catholics were believed to be loyal rather to the Pope than America. Similar prejudices existed against other groups of immigrants, as well. Although these prejudices eventually were overcome, fear of foreign influence, obviously, remained.

        Americans' attitude towards immigrants is rather controversial because they have prejudices against people, which actually provide their country with numerous benefits. Politicians act in a controversial manner, as well. For example, during 2014 fiscal year 2,000,000 people were deported, what is the highest rate in the history of the country. That happened despite the fact that President Obama declared the intentions to promote more immigration-friendly policies. Although all prejudices were overcome, new ones emerged. Today, Americans are afraid not of Eastern Europeans or Italians, but Asians, Middle Easterners and Hispanics. Probably, this phenomenon might be explained with traditional conservatism of American society. Americans, obviously need some time in order to get used to the presence of aliens and accept them as members of their society.