[Vision2020] Immigration Reform: Path to citizenship won't be easy

[Ron Force]

Interestingly enough, this follows the patterns of immigration in the previous century. Here's a summary of stuff I've read elsewhere:

The 1920s unfolded at the tail end of the greatest wave of immigration in American history. Between 1880 and 1920, more than 25 million foreigners arrived on American shores, transforming the country. The immigrant surge of the late 19th and early 20th century was distinctive in its size, its demographics, and its impact upon American culture and society.

More than 80% of the arrivals after 1890 were so-called "New Immigrants," natives of Southern and Eastern Europe, culturally and ethnically perceived to be quite different from the Germans and Britons who had embodied the bulk of the immigration into the United States in earlier periods. Italians, Poles, Jews, and Slavs—ethnic groups rarely encountered en masse earlier in American history—arrived in large numbers.

They also departed in large numbers. The New Immigrants were distinctive from earlier migrants in that most didn't want to stay. These immigrants, mostly male and mostly young, hoped to earn enough money during a temporary stay in America to be able to afford an increased standard of living upon returning to their homeland. Something between 50% and 80% of the New Immigrants are believed to have eventually returned to their countries of origin. The exceptions were Jews (who mostly came from Russia, and only 4% of whom repatriated) and Irish (9%), two groups that tended to stay in America permanently because they faced religious persecution, political oppression, and economic privation back home.

http://www.shmoop.com/1920s/immigration.html


 One of the theories of why recent immigration hasn't followed the same pattern is that we've so militarized and fortified the southern border that undocumented migrants can't take the chance to leave because it's too much risk to cross again if they ever wanted to come back. 
 
Ron Force
Moscow Idaho USA



>________________________________
> From: Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com>
>To: Joe Campbell <philosopher.joe at gmail.com> 
>Cc: viz <vision2020 at moscow.com> 
>Sent: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 9:58 AM
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Immigration Reform: Path to citizenship won't be easy
> 
>
>
> 
>First of all, there has been on talk I hope of just 'giving illegals citizenship'.  Even Tom specifically wrote that he wants a 'path to citizenship' offered for illegals.  A common path for non-citizens to follow presently is to first obtain a Green Card.
>
>As for your question of 'what supports your claim that illegals don't want citizenship?', the answer is due in part that even legals don't want citizenship. The naturalization rate  of LEGAL immigrants from Mexico who are eligible to become citizens is only 36% which is a rate that is half that of legal immigrants from all other countries combined.
>
>You can read more about 'the path not taken' at:
>
>http://www.pewhispanic.org/2013/02/04/the-path-not-taken/
>
>I am in favor of a path for illegals to first become 'documented' and put on a path toward Green Card and citizenship, but if they choose for any reason to not to file for any such documentation, then that would be their choice alone to remain 'undocumented'.  And if they choose to become 'documented', but to not to follow the path to citizenship, then that would again be their choice.  It's like abortion.  Women should be offered that choice, but not have it forced upon them against their will.
>
>-Scott
>
>
>
>________________________________
>Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 07:45:14 -0700
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Immigration Reform: Path to citizenship won't be easy
>From: philosopher.joe at gmail.com
>To: scooterd408 at hotmail.com
>CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
>
>
>Why do you say they don't want it? If they don't want citizenship, then it is a non-issue. Give it too them, and they'll just give it back. What is the harm? My guess is that a lot of illegals would file for citizenship but they are afraid of being arrested if they try. Maybe I'm wrong about that but what supports your claim that illegals don't want citizenship?
>
>
>
>
>On Sun, Aug 18, 2013 at 4:07 PM, Scott Dredge <scooterd408 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>The Path to Citizenship doesn't address the root of the problem which is how do you force citizenship on people who don't want it?  It's almost as difficult as trying force democracy on the Iraqis.
>>
>>http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20130527/immigration-reform-path-to-citizenship-wont-be-easy
>>
>>"It's certainly not a bill that we would have written ourselves,'' said 
Laura Vazquez, a legislative analyst at the National Council of La Raza,
 who nevertheless said it "makes significant improvements to our broken 
immigration system. "
>>
>>"The ultimate goal of the legislation we believe is to get as many 
people to move from undocumented status into a path to citizenship,'' 
Vazquez said. "That has to be met by having a process that is real and 
accessible.''
>>
>>
>>
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