Immigration in January of 2010 Haiti Suffered

Immigration

In January of 2010 Haiti suffered a 7.0 magnitude earthquake which destroyed much of the country and left the population devastated. When this tragedy occurred, Haiti was "already the poorest in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty." ("CIA") As a Haitian with little prospects of having a decent life, or making a decent living, I have decided that I want to emigrate to the United States. After much consideration, including researching the immigration and naturalization process, but most importantly the costs, I have discovered that it will be very difficult for me to emigrate. The costs alone are much more than a poor Haitian like myself to pay. It costs over $1,000 U.S. just to apply for a Green Card, and this will only grant me residency, and another $680 U.S. just to apply for citizenship. And there is no guarantee that I will be granted a Green Card in the first place. The Americans also charge $1,130 U.S. To apply for temporary resident status if my application for permanent residency is not approved. And this will only allow me to live in the United States, if I want to work there I have to get approval for employment, and of course the application costs $380 U.S.. (USICS) The constant charging of fees, some of which are as much as a poor Haitian makes in a year, is the most difficult obstacle to my goal.

With this in mind, I feel that the United States Government should change its immigration policies to favor people from poor countries who just want to work hard and have a better life. After all, there were not many wealthy people who passed through Ellis Island, most of the immigrants that made America a great country were poor people who just wanted to make a better life. And American is the one place in the world where a person can make it strictly on their own merit. I know that in America, if I work hard and have a little luck, I can have a much better life than in Haiti. American needs people who are poor and have nothing, we are the ones who will work the hardest.

There are many who say that economics is not justification for allowing people into America, that it would be better to allow political refugees, or the most educated, but America already had enough educated, and even in places where political freedom is not allowed, at least they get to eat regularly. Haiti is a place where its people are lucky to get a decent meal, and most live each day with hunger. It is those who are in need that America should stretch out its helping hand, those who are the poorest, the "huddled masses, yearning to be free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, & #8230;the homeless, tempest tossed." ("Statue of Liberty Inscription")