In class we recently
discussed how different immigration laws and regulations have been passed depending on the agendas of different presidential administration. We mentioned
that sometimes immigration is not even truly part of the presidential agenda,as is the case with the Obama administration, because immigration has nothing to offer the nation (economically). For instance, with the Bush era immigrants were focused on and it was easier to obtain green cards because the
agricultural sector needed more labor workers (and immigrants could be more easily taken advantage of). In the U.S News’ article “Business Groups Not Backing Down on Immigration Reform”, Lauren Fox states that a new report actually demonstrates a new demand for immigrants since it is assumed that they will willingly fill in low-paying jobs. That is, there are many businesses that depend on low-skilled workers because they are willing to work for less. Furthermore, the study demonstrated the urgency of the issue by showing that there has also been a decrease in the number of Americans willing to work low-paying jobs. In fact, in the news we have recently been hearing all the demands for a raise in minimum wage. (A couple of days ago Connecticut even became the first state to raise the minimum wage.) Thus, businesses have spoken out to demonstrate that they are nothing giving up on an immigration reform because they would be the group most benefitted by the arrival of immigrants.
In the New York Times’ article “Asylum Fraud in Chinatown: An Industry of Lies“, brings light to the vast application for asylum by Chinese immigrants. That is, more Chinese immigrants apply for asylum in the United States, more specifically in New York, than any other group of immigrants. In fact, more than 62 percent of asylum cases presented in New York have come been filed by Chinese immigrants in 2012 alone. It must be noted, however, that the asylum application have become a problem due to the fact that in many cases Chinese immigrants present fake stories of persecution in order attain asylum.
A CUNY professor, Peter Kwong, has said that it is openly known within the Chinese community that the majority asylum applicants falsify documents and create fictitious stories in order to make their case seem more factual. That is, it has become so common to fabricate stories and counterfeit documents that this phenomenon is even called an asylum industry. For example, in 2010 federal officials, who were conducting an extensive investigation on immigration fraud, secretly recorded a conversation between a Chinese immigrant and her lawyer. The recording revealed that the lawyer urged his client to lie about being forced to abort in order to get asylum. From these findings a total of 30 people, including the lawyer, paralegals, interpreters and a church employee were accused of coaching Chinese asylum applicants on how to accurately lie about their reason for applying. This particular group of “coaches” trained the applicants in the basic doctrines of Christianity in order for the applicants to use religious persecution as an excuse.
A possible explanation for this fast-growing industry is that Chinese immigrants are increasingly trying to attain permanent immigration status in New York. This is due to the fact that immigrants who receive asylum are immediately allowed to work and within a year are able to apply for a greencard.
On February 12, 2014 residents of a small Nebraskan city voted to keep a measure, put place in 2010, which bans illegal immigrants from renting homes. The small city has been considered controversial for having voted for the ban in 2010 and even more so now that 60% of its residents have, once again, voted in favor of the ban. It must be noted that the number of residents in favor of the ban has gone up by 3% since it was originally instated, making the matter much more worrisome for illegal immigrants. The controversial measure prevents landlords from renting to any illegal immigrants. In fact in order, for any one to rent a home they must now apply for a permit from the police and prove that they are legally residing in the United States.
This measure is incredible detrimental to all of those hard-working families and sole individuals who have emigrated from their countries in hopes of a better life and even in some cases of asylum. Nebraska, which has proven to be one of the states enjoying a fair amount of economic health, has become increasingly menacing towards illegal immigrants over the years. Perhaps as a New Yorker and daughter of an immigrant mother, it seems outrages to see that immigrants, especially Hispanics could have their life dynamics go asunder. That is, many of the legal immigrants living not only in Nebraska but in most states have started of their lives as illegal immigrants and eventually gone on to become residents and even citizens. Thus, by passing bans such as this one, illegal immigrants’ chances of survival and perseverance are quickly diminishing.
This poster, which is now displayed at the entrance of the tenement building, reminds us that the Lower East Side was largely populated by German immigrants in the mid 1800’s.
This photograph not only shows the overcrowded life-style of Immigrants living in the Lower East Side but also the clash of styles.
Hello. I’m Sara Leonor Clemente. I would like to major in Spanish, concentrating on the Literature and Culture aspects rather than purely Language. Additionally, I plan on getting the Human Rights certificate. I also work at the Queens Central YW&YMHA as an afterschool counselor on weekdays. A lot of the children that I work with are first generation Americans, much like myself so I always hear interesting stories from many of them.
I recently turned 19 years old, while vacationing in Panamá with some friends. I really love traveling and getting to know different people from various cultures, which is why I decided to take a trip to Panamá in the first place. I was born in Stamford, Connecticut in 1995. About a week after I was born my mom took me back to her natal city, Cuenca, in Ecuador, where I grew up until I was 6 years old. My mom originally came to the United States to visit a friend but later realized that she had more opportunities here than she did in Ecuador. So, she soon became the first and only member of our family to move from Ecuador and come to the United States. Since then I have lived in Jackson Heights, Queens. I went to IS145 and then Townsend Harris High School in Flushing. Fortunately, I am quite in touch with my heritage and try to go to Ecuador every summer.
