American government principles and institutions

¶ … United States immigration. The writer explores the topic and history of immigration and discusses some of the changes that have taken place over time. There were seven sources used to complete this paper.

The United States has proudly opened its arms to immigrants since its inception. There are millions of American residents who live in the states by way of immigration, and they have come here to make a new life for themselves. America has been known as the land of opportunity for over 200 years, which draws immigrants around the globe to its borders. Over the years the government's immigration policy has undergone several changes to accommodate political, economical and other needs. The history of immigration has been driven by the way the federal government felt about other nations. Those feelings used to control that was and was not allowed in the states, but in the last four decades it has changed.

Before 1929 there were mass movements of immigration from Europe to the United States of America. After 1929 when the Johnson-Reed Act was implemented, which slowed the influx of immigrants, but still allowed and encouraged their arrival. "The new restrictive laws and the end of economic prosperity in America simultaneously spelled the lessening of the "pull" of the United States as well."

The federal government provides quota numbers for each country about how many of their residents are allowed to apply for and receive visas to live in the United States.

One of the biggest changes in the early immigration system can following the Great Depression. It was at that time that many immigrants chose to return to their native nations. "Not only did the Depression make America less attractive to many potential immigrants, but the Hoover Administration intentionally used the "likely to become a public charge" section of the 1917 literacy test immigration act to effectively bar many who might otherwise have come. By stringently interpreting the clause, immigration and consular officials kept out all but wealthy Europeans during the 1930s. "

The government's policy on all immigrants is that they have to have the permission of their government before they can leave and come to America. There is one exception to the policy, and that is if the immigrant is seeking political asylum. This means that the immigrant is in immediate danger if he or she stays in the former nation, because of their political beliefs. Those who stand up against dictators and other forms of government and stand the chance of being executed or jailed for their beliefs can come to America and defect, which means to claim political asylum. Political asylum is not an easy thing to prove. The U.S. government has very strict requirements for its use because it prevents immigrants who otherwise are not allowed to leave their country from claiming political asylum without cause.

The quota system of allowable visas is directly connected to the way the federal government views that nation. The federal government sets the number of visas allowed as well as the reasons that those visas can be obtained.

One prime example of the policy of the government when it comes to countries it is not pleased with is the China quota following WWII. Before the war China was banned from having their residents come to the states to live. The federal government did not like the Chinese government. However, during the war when China acted as an ally to the United States the government felt it owed China a change in policy regarding immigration and did so reluctantly.

Apparently the idea of excluding a major ally from immigration because of alleged racial inferiority was too embarrassing, so a tiny crack in the door was opened for the Chinese during the war. They were granted a minuscule quota-only 105 places for all immigrants of Chinese ethnicity no matter what the country of origin -- and the 1882 exclusion act was repealed. Perhaps most significantly, the bar against Chinese naturalization was finally dropped, clearing the way for immigrant Chinese to become citizens."

Another evidence about the federal government basing its immigration policies on the feelings for the nation in question is the way the nation of Mexico has been handled through the immigration office policies. The official attitude of the United States regarding Mexico and its immigrants has been guided by economic and political pressures. One can look through history and find evidence of the open arms and arms reach attitude that has occurred. "This has only recently begun to change to any significant degree because of the economic and political organization of the huge numbers of Mexican-American (and other Hispanic) citizens."

During the Cold War between the former Soviet Union and the United States the federal immigration policy was directly connected to the situation. Those nations that supported the Soviet Union during the Cold War were treated with less freedom and respect by immigration in the states. Those nations who sided with the United States against the Soviet Union were welcomed to the states with open arms.

In 1948 the federal government passed something that was called the Displaced Person Act which meant that there were a limited number of Europeans who were displaced by the war. The U.S. residents were afraid that a huge number of undesirable immigrants would come to the American borders and the nation would have to deal with it but the federal government placed protections in the way of that possibility.

In 1953, Congress enacted a Refugee Relief Act, mostly in response to a failed anti-Communist revolt in East Germany. Slightly more than 200,000 temporary visas were created to allow refugees to enter and live in the United States, although they were on a form of extended parole until they qualified as permanent resident aliens or as citizens."

Again, this is evidence that the federal government made its decisions about immigration based on its feelings for those who wanted to immigrate here. The government relationship between the two nations was the policy maker or breaker. These acts that have been established and rescinded have always been for the purpose of assisting those whose government is on the side of the U.S., and banning those that are not. It is the basis for political asylum, because the person seeking refuge is siding with the American government enough that their lives and the lives of their families are in danger.