This changed in the 1970s and 80s, when many nations closed their borders to immigrants and Italy became popular as a temporary and permanent stop for many immigrants (Caritas 2002). This created many of the same problems that the United States faces, including a large number of illegal immigrants entering and/or remaining in the country as well as the economic burden of vastly increased numbers of people -- legal and otherwise -- dependent on state services and competing for the available jobs, which are not always plentiful in the country (Caritas 2002; BBC 2009). Current immigration policy consists of regionally-distributed work visas, with permanent immigration to the country far more difficult to achieve (BBC 2009). In fact, the laws regarding illegal immigration have also become much harsher in recent years in response to the growing national threat that the large immigrant numbers are seen to constitute, with Italian citizens facing up to three years in prison for knowingly harboring illegal immigrants and massive fines as well as deportation and imprisonment being used to discourage the continuing influx of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers into the country (BBC 2009). Still, many would rather brave the fierce Italian anti-immigration laws then continue life in their own countries, and they continue to pour into the country.

Conclusion

Globalization has drastically changed the issue of immigration worldwide in terms of both the factors influencing...

The recent global economic downturn has also increased pressures on many nations, as developed nations are less able to accommodate or handle the ongoing influx of immigrants arriving from less developed countries. Only time will tell if this trend will persist.
References

BBC. (2009). "Italy's immigrants despair at new laws." BBC News. Accessed 15 November 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8170187.stm

Caritas, Z. (2002). "Immigration in Italy." Accessed 15 November 2010. http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Gbcsut1UO_IJ:www.joensuu.fi/tkk/projektit/koli/files/esit01.rtf+immigration+in+italy&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari

Columbia. (2007). "Italy: History." Highbeam Research. Accessed 15 November 2010. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0858953.html

Spartacus. (2010). "U.S. Immigration." Accessed 15 November 2010. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAimmigration.htm

USCB. (2010). "Immigration data." U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed 15 November 2010. http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/immigration.html

USCIS. (2010). U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services. Accessed 15 November 2010. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis

USICE. (2010). U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Accessed 15 November 2010. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0858953.html