Immigration reform - Research Paper Example

of Learning: Immigration Reform Immigration reform is a change in the immigration policy of a nation which results from the passing of a law changing the immigration status of the nation. The process of immigration reform is, in most cases, politically instigated since immigration policies are controlled by the government. Immigration reforms are aimed at minimizing the negative consequences of immigration to a nation while being geared towards maximizing the benefits. In the United States, immigration reform is initiated through the Democratic vote where the proposed changes are presented by Congress and are voted on (Associated Press).

The United States Immigration Reform is focused on the population of immigrants currently resident in America, legal and illegal, aimed at managing the impacts of immigration, especially illegal immigration and overstaying of visas. Immigration Reform originated from the view that immigration has and still is, impacting the United States negatively and began with the 1986 Act. The large numbers of immigrants into the country who come seeking employment have resulted in a reduction of wages for American natives who have lesser skills while the costs incurred in providing such services as education, healthcare among others bear unforeseen negative impacts on the economy.

However, the high immigration rate has helped to compensate the low birth-rate and large aging population, helping to expand America’s workforce and their contribution to taxes and government programs for the aging like Medicare and Social Security have helped increase America’s help support (Schmidt, Shelley and Bardes 575). The 2012 Immigration Reform is influenced by the Republican and Democratic leaders’ positions that support a STEM immigration bill, and the IEEE-USA’s fight for a high-skill visa reform.

This 2012 Immigration Reform package includes such propositions as the issuing of 45,000 to 55,000 new green cards for international; graduate students, putting an end to country-cap restrictions within the EB visa program for skilled workers, a provision to extradite the family-visa immigrants’ process, and a new entrepreneur’s visa program for immigrants with plans to set up businesses upon immigration (Harrison). The proponents of the Immigration Reform believe that it presents an opportunity for legalization of undocumented immigrants and shall help to end workplace immigration raids.

The proponents of the Reform propose securing of the United States which they view as a chance to stem cross-border violence. Their proposal for the expansion of guest-worker programs and an end to birthright citizenship is seen as a positive step towards assimilation of immigrants who are an invaluable contribution to the American economy (Walsh). These proponents who include workers view Immigration Reform as a way to ensure better working conditions and fair pay. The proponents propose that the reforms offer a solution to the apartheid-like treatment of undocumented workers by employers.

They say the Immigration Reform is a critical humanitarian solution reaching out to stop the inhumane treatment towards immigrants. The reform is viewed as a way to help improve the working conditions and raise wages thus helping to deal with the challenges to economic stability and growth posed by the exploitation of undocumented workers (The New York Times). The opponents to the Immigration Reform are mostly immigration advocates who view the reforms as being of no significance to policy change rather an extension for the enforcement of the old policies.

The opponents argue that the reforms such as the Arizona law are infeasible solutions to the immigration problems America faces. Mass deportations and mass amnesty as well as the DREAM Act and the Rubio alternatives are viewed by the opponents as being weak and their provisions, a path to citizenship by the DREAM Act and legal status by the Rubio, as no true reforms to immigration. The opponents view the real immigration issues necessitating reforms in immigration as issues of border insecurity and the exploitation of cheap, undocumented labor by businesses.

The current propositions of the Immigration Reform are seen as the opponents as being merely fancy rhetoric and small ineffectual fixes that are obscuring the need for meaningful reform (Cetina). Other opponent arguments against the Immigration Reform come from some conservatives who protest against the proposition to give amnesty to illegal immigrants. The opposers argue that the poposition by the Obama administration to bring the illegal immigrants into the legal system by recognizing that they violated the law and imposing fines and other penalties befitting the offense is irrational as the illegal immigrants would want to escape these penalties and especially those penalties that spell a high cost to them.

This provision is also viewed as a loophole to terrorists as it gives them an equal chance into legalization and also since no terrorist would come out to seel legalization (Associated Press).The Immigration Reform is an important requirement for the United States immigration law, however its basis on politics and personal preferences poses a challenge to rational regulation of immigration. The propositions of the 2012 Reform leave out the views of some citizens and is mainly driven by the desire to please a particular section of the population.

The reforms do not offer practical solutions even to the immigrants and are just an extension of the old policies, serving just as a way to contain a few mishaps but not as a real solution. Works CitedAssociated Press. "A look at how Congress has dealt with immigration." 02 May 2012. WSAV On Your Side April Acts of Green. 02 May 2012 .Cetina, Daniel. "What is May Day 2012? Chance For Action on Immigration and Financial Reform." 01 May 2012. Policymic. 02 May 2012 .Harrison, Russ. "Immigration Reform Poised to Move in 2012.

" January 2012. IEEE-USA Todays Engineer. 02 May 2012 .Schmidt, Steffen W, et al. American Government and Politics Today 2011-2012. n.d.The New York Times. "Immigration and Emigration." 24 March 2012. The New York Times. 02 May 2012 .Walsh, James. "Obamas Failed Promise on Immigration Reform." 30 April 2012. Newsmax. 02 May 2012 .