30 April 2008
Immigration Policies Generate Passionate Debate in United States
Podcast reviews U.S. presidential candidates' positions
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This is an issue update from America.gov.
A major part of President Bush’s domestic agenda for his second term was reforming America’s immigration policy. America’s economy and social diversity are built on the contributions of immigrants over successive generations. Despite the advantages presented by the acceptance of foreigners as students and professionals, the problem of illegal immigration, particularly across the Mexican border, creates passionate debate in America.
America’s policy on immigration has been unable to stop illegal immigration flows. Those trying to enter America do so at great risk, often paying smugglers to help them. This leads to human rights abuses and victimization of illegal immigrants. Once inside the United States, these immigrants sometimes face populist backlashes from U.S. citizens. In some areas, immigration contributes to downward pressure on wages and reduces the number of jobs available. Although economists agree that immigration benefits the U.S. economy, some sectors of the U.S. population can experience serious losses. Anti-immigration sentiment is reinforced by a rising sense of economic and social insecurity in many U.S. communities and rising crime in border states.
The debate on immigration into America creates political alliances not seen on other issues. Current levels of immigration are supported by businesses that profit from cheap foreign labor, ethnic lobbies seeking to increase their political base, and humanitarians who focus on human rights. Those who seek reform and limitation of immigrant flows include nativists who see immigrants as a threat to American culture, environmentalists who fear damaging population growth and those who fear that immigration is taking jobs from U.S. citizens. Immigration puts free market advocates in conflict with cultural conservatives, and civil rights advocates against environmentalists.
President Bush’s attempt to reform immigration policy failed. How would the presidential candidates deal with the issue?
Hillary Clinton supports allowing illegal immigrants an opportunity to apply for legal resident status. Clinton also voted for a bill to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border. As a New York senator, she voted in favor of increased border security, but she voted against a separate amendment that would make English America’s official language.
John McCain says that a secure U.S.-Mexico border is "an essential element of our national security." He believes that immigrants should learn English, American history and civics. McCain co-sponsored a bill that requires electronic employment-verification so that employers can verify a person's legal status. McCain supports a moderate approach to immigration which includes increased border security, a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, and a guest-worker program. His views have put him in conflict with his Republican colleagues.
Barack Obama is the son of a Kenyan immigrant and has voted on many immigration bills. He voted against making English the national language and supports allowing illegal immigrants who have not committed crimes to stay in the United States as long as they pay a fine and learn English. In the recent Senate Immigration Reform Bill, Obama proposed three amendments related to giving first choice of jobs to U.S. citizens, requiring businesses prove their employees’ right to work and improving immigrant background checks.
This podcast is produced by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Information Programs. Links to other Internet sites or opinions expressed should not be considered an endorsement of other content and views.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
