To understand better the importance of the immigration to the USA, we should do a review of the process since the beginning.
Researchers believed that the first human being came to America about 20.000 years ago. Around the year 1000, a small number of Vikings arrived. The great European migration began 500 years later.
In those days, the journey cross the Atlantic was very hard. Migrants faced seasickness, overcrowding, limited food rations and disease. But, they wanted the available land, political and religious freedom and so they kept coming.
Besides the European, there was another kind of immigrants: the slaves from Africa. They were forced to come to the new world since 1619.
By the mid 18th century the British colonies had become the most prosperous in North America.
In 1776 the US won the War of Independence. About 6000 people a year immigrate to US in the early years of Republic. But in 1814, immigration from Britain, Ireland and Western Europe increased again. Between 1840 and 1850 there was a great immigration of Irish to escape famine that killed 1.5 millions people.
The slave trade was ending. The American economy was strong. The immigrants were welcome.
By the 1880’s, steam power had shortened the journey to America dramatically. Immigrants came from around the world: Middle East, Mediterranean, Southern and Eastern Europe and Canada. After 1892 nearly all immigrants came in through the new openly Ellis Island. Between 1880 and 1930 over 27 million people entered the US, about 20 millions through the Ellis Island.
American attitudes towards immigration changed when the World War began in 1914. Nationalism and suspicious of foreigners grew. Laws were passed to limit the flow of immigrants.
When the great depression began, few people had the means or incentive to come to the US. During the Second World War, Germans and Italian residents were detained. Japanese aliens and American-born citizens of Japanese descent were interned.
During and after the war a lot of refugees wanted to enter in the USA. In 1948, the congress passed “The Displaced Person Act, offering to hundreds of thousands entry into the US.
Around 1960, people in the US asked the government to reform the laws of immigration. The Immigration and Naturalization Act, in 1965, changed the quota system. In the old one Western European had preference. The new law offered hope to immigrants from all continents. Within five years, Asian immigration would more than quadruple. Since this time until now, the government has given preference to professionals like doctors, nurses, scientists and hi-tech specialists. California now receives most of immigrants from Asia, Philippines and Central America. Their influence is noticed in Silicon Valley.
Illegal immigration has been a constant topic of political debate. American economy need workers that come from other countries but on the other hand the US has been increasing the barriers against immigration. In 1994, a security wall was built in the US-Mexico border. Until 2004, at least 3000 people dead trying to cross the border through the desert and the mountains.
How to keep border controls and national security without restricting the flow of labor?
Does America have a duty to keep its doors open to the world?
Researchers believed that the first human being came to America about 20.000 years ago. Around the year 1000, a small number of Vikings arrived. The great European migration began 500 years later.
In those days, the journey cross the Atlantic was very hard. Migrants faced seasickness, overcrowding, limited food rations and disease. But, they wanted the available land, political and religious freedom and so they kept coming.
Besides the European, there was another kind of immigrants: the slaves from Africa. They were forced to come to the new world since 1619.
By the mid 18th century the British colonies had become the most prosperous in North America.
In 1776 the US won the War of Independence. About 6000 people a year immigrate to US in the early years of Republic. But in 1814, immigration from Britain, Ireland and Western Europe increased again. Between 1840 and 1850 there was a great immigration of Irish to escape famine that killed 1.5 millions people.
The slave trade was ending. The American economy was strong. The immigrants were welcome.
By the 1880’s, steam power had shortened the journey to America dramatically. Immigrants came from around the world: Middle East, Mediterranean, Southern and Eastern Europe and Canada. After 1892 nearly all immigrants came in through the new openly Ellis Island. Between 1880 and 1930 over 27 million people entered the US, about 20 millions through the Ellis Island.
American attitudes towards immigration changed when the World War began in 1914. Nationalism and suspicious of foreigners grew. Laws were passed to limit the flow of immigrants.
When the great depression began, few people had the means or incentive to come to the US. During the Second World War, Germans and Italian residents were detained. Japanese aliens and American-born citizens of Japanese descent were interned.
During and after the war a lot of refugees wanted to enter in the USA. In 1948, the congress passed “The Displaced Person Act, offering to hundreds of thousands entry into the US.
Around 1960, people in the US asked the government to reform the laws of immigration. The Immigration and Naturalization Act, in 1965, changed the quota system. In the old one Western European had preference. The new law offered hope to immigrants from all continents. Within five years, Asian immigration would more than quadruple. Since this time until now, the government has given preference to professionals like doctors, nurses, scientists and hi-tech specialists. California now receives most of immigrants from Asia, Philippines and Central America. Their influence is noticed in Silicon Valley.
Illegal immigration has been a constant topic of political debate. American economy need workers that come from other countries but on the other hand the US has been increasing the barriers against immigration. In 1994, a security wall was built in the US-Mexico border. Until 2004, at least 3000 people dead trying to cross the border through the desert and the mountains.
How to keep border controls and national security without restricting the flow of labor?
Does America have a duty to keep its doors open to the world?
Posted by Neide Silva
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