Immigration: What's Really Happening In America | Unite for Dignity

America is actually a country of immigrants; yet these days, the topic of immigration is quite controversial. The matter divides communities and politicians alike due to the many misconceptions that abound surrounding this matter. The United States currently houses a more substantial population of undocumented migrants than at any point in its history. During the 1990s, greater than 9 million legal immigrants were admitted to the U.S. In 2005, 11 million foreign-born people had been residing in the country with an undocumented status.

Based on the American Immigration Lawyers Association, these migrants are generally alienated from the rest of American society, economically vulnerable, and fearful of contact with social institutions that provide health care and education. ?America?s immigration system is broken and must be reformed to ensure that immigration is legal, safe, orderly and reflective of the requirements of American families, businesses and national security,? said Deborah Notkin, president of AILA. While the large numbers of immigrants have led some to conclude that the country has lost control of its borders, officials at AILA say that the actual causes and dynamics of immigration can?t be so easily compartmentalized.

Five Widespread Myths Regarding Immigration In America

Doris Meissner, from the Migration Policy Institute, recently shared these five immigration myths in The Washington Post:

1.Immigrants takes jobs from American workers.
2. Immigration has reached an all-time high, and the majority new immigrants came illegally.
3.Today?s immigrants are not integrating into American life like past waves did.
4. Cracking down on illegal border crossing?s will make us safer.
5. Immigration reform can?t happen during an election year.

Norkin claims we must start creating successful immigration policies. This requires overcoming the prevalent myths about immigration. One misperception, Notkin said, is that migration occurs because there is a lack of economic development in migrants? home countries. In fact, international migrants don?t originate from the world?s poorest nations,but in the ones that are developing and growing dynamically. Mexico, for instance, the largest single source of U.S. immigrants, isn?t a poor nation by global standards. It has an industrialized, $1 trillion economy and a per capita income of virtually $9,000.

An additional myth is the fact that migrants are attracted to America by generous public benefits. In reality, immigrants are less likely than natives to use public services, and 5 percent or less report making use of food stamps or welfare.

There also is the misunderstanding that most immigrants plan to settle permanently in the United States, Notkin said. Mexico-U.S migration continues to be historically circular, with 80 percent of Mexican immigrants reporting that they made no more than three trips to the United States and three-quarters staying less than a couple of years.

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