How Government Can Improve America's Immigration System (Free Essay Sample)

Immigration has become a heated debate in U.S politics, but immigration usually involves push factors. Immigrating to another country has become crucial for many people to escape violent conflict, experience a higher standard of living, receive preferable services, such as education, or regain environmental safety. Many have migrated or will migrate in their lifetime, searching for stability that they could not receive in their countries. However, countries like the United States have not made the residency procedure suitable for immigrants in recent years. Becoming a legal U.S resident or citizen has become more challenging due to increasing financial costs, language barriers causing further confusion, and racism towards non-white immigrants. The U.S government needs to improve the current immigration system by making it less lengthy and restrictive for immigrants to receive better opportunities.

In the United States, it is without a doubt that most things have a price tag attached to them, and immigrating there is no different. However, the financial expenses of immigrating can be overwhelming. The USCIS, U.S citizenship and immigration services, released their new costs for applying for their forms in December 2016. The costs illustrated at almost all their prices have increased. The expense to apply for being a permanent resident rose from $985 to $1,140, the amount for an immigration petition for an alien worker rose from $580 to $700, and the fee for reentry to the u.s after deportation rose from $585 to $930. Critically note that all applications do not promise an acceptance, so despite paying these increased amounts, many immigrants would have to file again to receive approvals. On top of the trial and error with applications, many immigrants tend to come with family members and have to pay for their applications. Another financial issue is the lack of well-paying employment for undocumented immigrants or processing immigrants. Newly arrived immigrants will have trouble understanding the job market and, as a result, are at a disadvantage. Employers also tend to discriminate against immigrants treating them as disposable or at a liability of getting deported, which increases their company's vulnerability. Many employers see immigrants as an opportunity to pay smaller wages due to their vulnerable state. With low wages, how can immigrants cover all their expenses? These immigrants have to file many applications, hire an immigration lawyer, and medical costs as the U.S requires examination, biometrics, transportation, and basic needs to survive. With their opportunities, the expected finances of upwards of $6,000 are absurd. Many will have to manage their low-paying jobs to get through the process while shifting to accommodate another language. 

Languages are a meaningful means of communication and belonging; however, how does the United States expect immigrants to handle a language they are unfamiliar with? Not comprehending what Immigration services need can make the duration annoyingly longer and emotionally tolling. Language barriers can lead to a list of emotional and mental turmoil. Language barriers can cause immigrants to feel isolated, hopeless, or run in circles because they are confused. These emotions can lead to a spiraling depression, which leads to less cooperation with officials and additional missteps. Another apparent concern with language barriers is substantial misunderstandings and confusion with immigration services resulting in numerous trials and errors. Undoubtedly, language barriers allow ineffective communication to foster where getting accurate information is critical for immigrants. The inability to effectively converse with their helpers leaves immigrants with reduced chances of success and opportunities as missteps are likely to occur. A mix of misunderstanding and emotional frustrations will arise when people can barely understand one another. Speaking a non-western language can also spell out many issues for immigrants, especially ethnic minorities.

Discrimination continues to be a continuous part of American history, especially towards its ethnic groups and migrants. This discrimination is apparent when comparing differing treatment between white and minority immigrants. Illegal crossings were quite popular in the past decades, especially among white Europeans. Some Europeans crossed through indentured servitude, boarded ships illegally, crossed the Canadian border, or even created fake passports. Despite all the illegalities, most Europeans did not face repercussions. For a set number of years, these Europeans received protections from deportations and amnesties, which would likely not happen to today's immigrants. However, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act that did away with quotas based on nationality, causing a shift in the demographic of U.S immigrants. Additionally, many new restrictions were placed after this decrease in European and increase in ethnic immigrants. As immigrant restrictions on public benefits began in the 1970s, laws against hiring undocumented immigrants in 1986, and Congress ended the Bracero program, which allowed as many as 800,000 temporary migrants from Mexico to work in agriculture. The toughening of immigration laws alongside the shift in migrant demographics is apparent enough to understand the United State's bias. The United States actively tries to limit the lawful routes ethnic immigrants can pass through as Europeans migrate less into the country. These "lawful" limitations are deeply rooted in racism and encourage immigrants to take illegal paths.

In the many political debates, the opposing side argues that these limits strive to protect our country as immigrants are violent and take jobs from u.s citizens. These opposing arguments are either rooted in discrimination or proven false. Assuming that most immigrants tend to be violent is discriminatory, overlooking who immigrants innately are. As I mentioned in my second paragraph, migrants tend to have lower-paying jobs to avoid detection and are likely to compete with other immigrants for measly-paying jobs. A rather valuable question to ask the United States government is how much of these laws are limiting the opportunity of immigrants and how much should be allowed? The circumstances set in place are far too restricting for acquiring permanent residency, which is why solutions are required. To ease the burden of financial struggles, the U.S government should implement sustaining occupations for immigrants only while they are in the process. To battle language hindrances, the nation has to access programs for people with limited English proficiency, effectively educate its interpreters, or make an effort to educate some immigrants. For the United States, battling racism and discrimination has been met with slow progress, but the nation can make an effort by removing laws that restrict its POC populations. 

The legal process of becoming a u.s resident is absurdly tasking with the obstacles of increasing financials, lack of diverse language access, and created discrimination towards non-white immigrants. These factors foster widespread fear in immigrants stirring them to remain undocumented or use illegal routes because they aspired for opportunities. The U.S government requires a dire reform for its immigration system to provide equal possibilities for its aspiring immigrants.