The Effects of Immigration Laws on the Latino Community - Research Paper Example

?Running head: What are the effects of Immigration laws/Reform on the Latino community? What are the effects of Immigration laws/Reform on the Latinocommunity? Insert Name Insert Grade Course Insert Tutor’s Name 31 May 2012 Introduction The effects of immigration laws on the Latino community are diverse in essence and implication making it a complex subject of discussion. Fundamentally, immigration laws define the regulatory framework of the movement of people and further determine social atmosphere of immigrants in the respective regions. The Latino community have moved to the US in large numbers and the community’s immigration patterns are pegged on the social environment in the country, which is in turn governed by the immigration laws and policies instituted by the government (Stickney, 1998). Several states have different legislations governing immigration. As a result, the effects of immigration laws on the Latino community vary from state to state. Immigration is common in every country or region and has merits and demerits in equal measure. Since immigration cannot be wished away, governments develop laws that describe or regulate immigration. Such laws provide a blueprint on the manner in which immigration takes place to minimize the problems associated with immigration. Immigration supplies labor to host states increasing the pool of workforce. However, immigration is a disadvantage to natives due to the aspect of competition for jobs. Other problems associated with immigration are crime and security implications. Strict immigration laws have led to the departure of illegal immigrants to other friendly areas (Fix & Tumlin, 1997). States with tougher legislations on immigration scare away immigrants thus reducing their presence. Such an exodus of immigrants has a multitude of effects on the respective regions mainly because of the reduction of the immigrant community’s size. For instance, in Arizona the tough laws have rattled the Latino community making the immigrants flee to other states as well as to Mexico. This has been contributed to by the perception that the state is hostile to the Latino community. Despite the fact that the law has not been implemented, the enactment of the legislation created tension among immigrant Latino community. The effects have been wide with employers lamenting the reduction of the immigrant community seeking employment. On the positive side, unconfirmed sources have cited a reduction in crime rates. The Significance of the Research Paper This research paper is of immense significance. This is because little information based on comprehensive research has been published on the implications of immigration regulations on the Latino community. The community has an immense presence in the United States making it one among the leading immigration groups in the country’s history. Several states have different regulations governing immigration of Latinos, but no efforts in establishing the inherent impact of the laws on the community. As a result, the research paper will fill the vacuum left by the failure to comprehensively analyze the precise implications of such laws on Latino community. Research Question The research paper will endeavor to provide succinct response to the already established research question, which will guide the entire discussion of the subject matter. The research question to be answered in the paper is as follows: What are the effects of Immigration laws/Reform on the Latino community? Literature Review In the past decades, the Latino community has been subjected to tough and restricting legislations by various states in the United States (Interpreter Releases, 1997). The effects of these legislations have been immense. The most common example of the plight of the Latino community is the insensitive immigration decree of Arizona. The state is an example of the consequences of immigration regulations for the Latino community. As US Supreme Court considers the legitimacy of some of the laws’ stipulations, many opine they are living in a situation of fear. Hispanic groups in Arizona exist in a state of practical siege. Civil privileges activists in the region warn that due to little-noticed stipulations in the cruel anti-illegal immigration regulation SB1070, that have by now been permitted to be implemented, the US Supreme Court will attend to spoken arguments involving five key basics of SB1070. These were obstructed by the junior courts in a continuing tussle over whether the national government or entity states ought to control immigration policy. The Supreme Court inquiry is a milestone, as it is probably going to set the course of immigration regulation in America for times to come. Nevertheless, on the ground in Phoenix, a 41% chunk of the population is Hispanic. Entities working in Hispanic communities say that the regulation is already having a chilling consequence on relations connecting residents and law enforcement. In particular, two sections of the regulation that were permissible to go ahead have encouraged law enforcement to take an ever more interventionist responsibility, which activists describe as racial profiling. Research Findings This research finds that the effects of immigration laws/reform on the Latino community revolve around the aspect of uncertainty and apprehension that emanate from the community’s perception of the states with cruel immigration laws. Similarly, the study concludes that the Latino community is averse to harsh rules and often shifts to friendlier states. The case offered in the paper regarding the state of Arizona is a clear example of the calculated response of the Latino community to any law deemed oppressive. Harsh legislations against the Latino community weaken the reputation and fabric of the respective state, which in turn faces isolation from others. Furthermore, the Latino community resorts to their home country whenever their security is threatened by such legal arrangements. In essence, any legislation against the community is not only discriminatory to the Latino group but also to any other immigrant cluster or cadre. Theory The pure libertarian theory is founded on individual rights alone and tends to describe immigration as administered by the role of government in permitting or restricting immigration. Therefore, the theory is premised on the following three considerations. Firstly, free immigration, which involves the absence of border checks and permits all kinds of immigrants to enter a country; secondly, invited immigration that includes the existence of border checks to block the uninvited. Finally, restricted immigration that involves border checks to block the undesirables as described by certain standards. Among the three policies that form the basis of the theory, free immigration is the most appropriate with regard to the respect of personal rights. Case Study The harsh Arizona immigration regulation rattles state's Latinos; the law has resulted in some unlawful immigrants travelling elsewhere (Park et al, 2000). However, those who stay behind, along with law-abiding Latinos, are apprehensive of discrimination and even random immigration sweeps. Prior to the espousal of the harsh law, the centre attracted many immigrant workers in search for labor, but the number has gone down since the law came into effect. Therefore, the foremost effect of the harsh Arizona immigration law is the decrease in the Latino immigration community that directly reduced the available workforce. The implication is both social and economic in the sense that the absence of immigration labor will affect economic productivity and the immigrant perception of the state with regard to acceptability. In as much as some Latino population still resides in Arizona, there undoubtedly prevails a lot of uncertainty and apprehension among them. Among the major factors for uncertainly in the community is the worry regarding racial favoritism among a new Latino community. The ruthless law has changed the perception of Arizona among the Latino community. Certain sources indicate that the enactment of the law in Arizona led to the reduction of crime in the state. Perhaps this is due to the restriction of the Latino community in the state, which could have been a crucial factor in the increasing crime rates in the state. The adoption of the law was equally costly in the economic sense as businesses lost millions due to boycotts because of a negative perception associated with the law. Another significant implication of the law was the division among the residents population of Arizona who were split in two, i.e. those for the law and those against it. Hence, the legislation fixed the social and political fragment of the state. The Arizona saga can be described along the lines of the pure libertarian theory in which the state government of Arizona has the final say over immigration legislations (Chaves, 1999). Therefore, the strict law against Latino immigration perfectly elucidates the final consideration of the pure libertarian theory commonly referred to as restricted immigration through which the state government conducts thorough border checks to discourage random immigration. Perhaps the state government of Arizona should consider the basic premise of the pure libertarian theory. The theory insists on complete individual liberty through which all immigrants are to enter the state without any border checks. Such a situation will create an ambience of acceptability whereby the ladino community will feel welcome to the state for settlement, employment and other economic and social activities. The essence of the theory provides for an absolute respect of individual property rights. Ever since the state adopted the oppressive law against the ladino community there has been apprehension among the Latino people residing in the state and others left for other states and to Mexico due to the unwelcoming environment. Conclusion In conclusion, the pure libertarian theory has immense implications for the effects of immigration laws on the Ladino community. The theory elucidates the ability of the government to influence immigration through the three premises that govern the theory namely: free, invited and restricted immigration. In essence, the immigration laws and reforms have numerous effects for the Latino community. The laws adopted in respective jurisdictions regarding immigration of the Latino community affect the group in a number of ways, which include shifting of the community to other areas that have friendlier legislations. A typical example is the harsh immigration law against Latino community in Arizona, which has resulted in the mass movement of the community to other states and some community members returning to Mexico. Similarly, the remaining population of Latino community is apprehensive about their condition in the state creating tension and panic among them. The harsh regulation has drastically reduced the immigration labor force in the state and divided the residents of the state into those for the law and those against it. An open policy towards immigration is the solution to the pressing problems of immigration. Such a policy framework will consider the importance of immigration, the pros and cons and develop a sustainable strategy to allow immigration into the country or state without any discrimination whatsoever. Oppressive laws against Latino community like the case of Arizona are harmful to the relationship between the state/country and immigrants and create perception problems. The best way to handle such problems is through an open immigration schemes where immigrants are treated with dignity and respect befitting them. Other than discriminate or restrict immigration, states should develop mechanisms to address problems arising from immigration. References Chaves, M. (1999). “Religious Congregations and Welfare Reform: Who Will Take Advantage of ‘Charitable Choice,”’ American Sociological Review, 64:836-846. Fix, M. and Tumlin, K. (1997). “Welfare Reform and the Devolution of Immigrant Policy,” Assessing the New Federalism: Issues and Optionsfor States. Policy Brief A-1 5. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute. Population and Development Review, 23:776. Interpreter Releases. (1997). “State Department Provides Information on Public Charge Lookout System,” Interpreter Releases, June 9. Pp. 927-930. Park Sun-Hee, L., R. Sarnoff, C. Bender and C. Korenbrot. (2000). “Impact of Recent Welfare and Immigration Reforms on Use of Medicaid for Prenatal Care by Immigrants in California,” Journal of Immigrant Health, 2:5-22. Stickney, B. (1998). “Family-based Immigration after ‘Welfare Reform’: The Affidavit of Support Form and the ‘Public Charge’ Ground of Inadmissibility,” Immigration Newsletter, National Immigrant Project of the National Lawyers Guild, Inc., 24(3):1, 5-13 Read More