Article review of immigration and border control

Name:

Course:

Article Name: Immigration Has Been a Defining, Often Contentious, Element Throughout U.S History

Article Link: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/immigration-shaped-united-states-history

Date: 16-Februray-2022

1. Describe the main social problem discussed in the article?

The social problem discussed in the article is multifaceted in nature. Here the primary theme of the article is related to immigration and its economic benefits to society. The article also discusses the economic considerations that have caused a heavy resistance to immigration. This resistance, according to the article, has been fostered through a litany of circumstances including politics, unions, and racism. All of these issues, were underpinned by the economic considerations of current American citizens and their resistance to those who they believed threatened their livelihoods. These concerns where exacerbated by an already troubling economic transition from that of an agriculture society to that of a much more industrialized society. This same economic unrest is occurring today society transitions from an industrialized society to one based heavily on technology. In both of these economic transitions, immigrants where heavily blamed for the lost of jobs, wages, and wealth that occurred as a result of antiquated skills being replaced with more efficient means of production.

2. Identify if or how a sociological perspective is present in the way the article presents the issue or problem; if so, what is it?

Yes, sociology is heavily present in the article perspective. In fact, it is present throughout the ordinary public discourse related to immigration. Here, slight biases, heuristics and prejudices seek into the general psyche of those who heavily resisted immigration. When reviewing the article, I personally found the sociological influences between anti-immigration rhetoric in the 1920’s very similar to that of the 2020’s. Here, there is an aura of society that permeates throughout the sociological influences of immigration throughout society. These thoughts, particularly during the Trump administration where intensified as then president Trump called Mexicans crossing the border, “Killers, Rapists, and Murders.” Here, the immigration argument quickly shifted to national security concerns which disguised the real economic issues why people resisted immigration. Here, the middle class was fearful of losing already declining manufacturing jobs and wanted to blame immigrants for the demise of their jobs. The same occurred in the 1920’s as African Americans and Hispanics were willing to work for less wages and longer hours those placing pressure on middle class Americans to do the same or suffer job loss. Here, the sociological issue is related to minorities looking for a better life and willing to take lower pay than those, primarily white Americans who are looking to maintain their style of living with diminishing or antiquated skills. This dynamic forced many established workers to resist entrants into the labor force, for fear of losing their own economic position and standing.

3. Choose one sociological concept or theory that would improve the content or context provided about that issue or problem (this includes defining the concept)?

The functionalist perspective would help improve the sociologic issues presented above. Here, the functionalist perspective looks at how relations and systems are interconnected (Allan, 2005). This is particularly useful for immigration and its impact on society, the labor force and wages. Here, immigration is actually very useful for society as it forces labor participants to continually improve their skills or risk having their wages decline. This improvement ultimately helps other systems throughout society by having a much more efficient and talented workforce. This also increases wages, increases productivity, and allows the economy to prosper. Immigration is just one facet of this transition which will occur with or without the heavy resistance to low wage manual labor. As the economy continues to transition, the labor force must continue to evolve with it. Immigration, from both high skilled and low skilled market participants helps to speed the process along.