Venezuelan Immigration Problems in U.S - Case Study Example

Venezuelan Immigration problems in U.S Introduction Venezuelan immigration into the U.S problem has been escalating since the political, economic, and social changes in the country. Originally, Venezuela was an immigration destination for most individuals from Europe and other Latin countries from 1940-1970 (Seijas). However, changing political and economic ideologies have led to an influx in the number of Venezuelans migrants into the U.S. The problems faced by the U.S include social, legal, political, economic, and cultural, which will be discussed in this research paper (Fairus.org). The immigrants have faced legal and security issues in the America’s main entry points due to lack of authorized documents to prove their nationality and purpose. Venezuelan immigrants were financially stable during Hugo Chávez’s reign, and did not face any difficulties while settling in the U.S (Seijas). However, current immigrants are from middle and lower classes; hence, leading to more negative impacts on the U.S economy (Armario). Remarkably, the Venezuelan immigration trends, both legal and illegal, have positive and negative impacts on the American Society. Causes and factors contributing to the problem Political factors The Venezuelan government has undergone various changes in the past decade leading to reforms and change in philosophies (The Economist). Different leaders have contributed to the immigration process during their era due to perceptions and relations with the U.S government. For instance, Hugo Chávez introduced a socialist government in 1999 that established liberty, equality, solidarity, and social justice (Romero). Subsequently, there was an improvement in the political structure in Venezuela leading the need for education in most of the elites. The politicians and other powerful individuals sent their children to the U.S for further studies leading to high numbers of immigrants from Venezuela. The death of Chávez instigated violence in the country leading to political instability (Romero). Consequently, there was an increase in civil wars and political killings; hence, the need for citizens to flee Venezuela. According to fusion.net, there was an increase in the number of Venezuelans entering the U.S through Miami International Airport estimated at 19800 in two months after Chávez’s death. The political crisis has also led to the migration of activists in the U.S as an asylum due to extrajudicial killings. As a result, Venezuelan elites and lawyers in the U.S have supported the entry of the activists into the country through the requests to the Obama administration. The political crises have been going on for more than a year now, which have had a direct impact on the increase of Venezuelan immigrants into the U.S. Subsequently, the U.S has faced enhanced problems in various sectors within the government. Economic factors Venezuela constantly experiences economic issues despite the efforts that Chávez had put to handle the issue during his reign. The change in government and economic ideology has led to economic setbacks such as increased inflation and unemployment rates (Live and Mariana). The problem has contributed largely to the immigration of Venezuelans into the U.s due to the search for greener pastures. Political issues in the country have contributed to economic factors, for instance, when the country was economically stable under Chávez’s leadership, most of the immigrants to the U.S migrated only for educational and investment purposes. The individuals were economically stable, attained their degrees and then came back to make changes in their countries. On the other hand, investors moved into the U.S, purchased apartments, and were left with disposable incomes (Rojas). Consequently, the U.S did not face many problems at the time since the immigrants were financially stable. Lack of employments has further promoted the problem due to desperation and different individual perceptions about the U.S being an economic superpower (Grossman). Many Venezuelans leave their hometowns headed for the U.S in search of jobs. They enter the country as tourists or businesspersons, but do not exit after the expiry of their visas. Later, the immigrants find it hard to secure jobs due to lack of identity cards; hence, leading to an increase in the poverty levels in the U.S. Social factors Social issues are substantially based on political and economic factors. Political crises and killing of different activists have led to diversities in the society. Each party wants the public to follow its ideology; hence, leaving the governing party to utilize its powers by instilling fear to the citizens. Consequently, there has been social diversification and lack of peace at the society level. The social ideologies have turned neighbors against each other leading to hatred and killings. Additionally, the increase in poverty levels has also led to an increase in social ills such as robbery with violence and rape. For example, individuals can kill each other for a pair of shoes or a meal leading to an upsurge in the number of citizens absconding from the society in search of secure, better and peaceful communities. Cases of deteriorated health in Venezuela are rampant due to the political turmoil and corruption among most government workers. The situation has led to individual seeking enhanced health facilities in other countries including the U.S. The immigrants enter the country as patients, but later decline to leave seeking betterment of their lives. Food shortages are also common in Venezuela due to the high inflation rates. The available food is available only to the upper classes; hence, leading the lower classes to leave the country in search of food sources. Effects of the problem to the U.S Economic effects The U.S government has spent huge amounts of money in dealing with immigration problems. The funds have been allocated to border and immigration departments to curb illegal immigration into the U.S. Most of the illegal immigrants are from the South American countries with Venezuela and Mexico topping the list (Semple). Most of the Venezuelan immigrants neither possess visit nor work visa; hence, they enter the country illegally. However, when the immigrants lack employment opportunities in the U.S, they live in poverty in most of the eastern cities of the U.S. Miami has been in the spotlight due to the increase in the number of Venezuelan immigrants. Most of the individuals that do not secure employments move to the interior towns where life is cheaper compared to the major ones. The increased poverty causes the government to invest more funds in these areas to cater for health and social amenities. Americans are at ease of securing jobs compared to the immigrants; hence, leading to low living standards in the affected areas. The government allocates more funds on immigrants compared to the amount it would spend while catering for its legal citizens. Poverty and unemployment lead to social crimes because of the need to satisfy immigrant’s basic needs. Statistics shows that there is increased crime from Hispanics, including Venezuelans, in their towns of residence and surrounding towns (Brown and Eileen). Consequently, there is the need for more funds to cater for the law enforcers that are allocated to the insecure areas. Additionally, insecurity further affects the financial situation of robbery victims. The U.S government has also been involved in providing relief and financial support to the Venezuelan authorities to prevent the number of immigrants leaving the country. Political effects Immigration activities affect a country’s reputation in the international environment. The impacts affect the political status negatively. For instance, Venezuelan immigrants in the U.S have been requesting the American government to provide asylum to some of the activists that are at danger of extrajudicial killings back in Venezuela (Pablo). Such requests without any response may tarnish the countrys reputation especially due to its role as a superpower. Additionally, the U.S has also been known to head international human rights organizations, which serves a role in helping out countries such as Venezuela (Grossman). It is important to note that some politicians in the U.S may use cases such as Venezuela’s immigration records as a tool in their political competition strategies against the Federal Government’s perspective on the problem (Fagenson and David). Despite the critics and alarming statistics on the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S, the government believes it has engaged in the required strategies to prevent the problem from escalating. Additionally, it has blamed some of the corrupt politicians and law enforcers in engaging in illegal immigration practices. The federal government, through Obama, announced that there was the need to extend temporary legal status to at least half the immigration population (Mazzei). Measures put in place to handle the problem There are legal measures that have been adopted to prevent the influx of illegal immigrants in the U.S. Deportation laws have been reviewed and made stricter than in the past. The government has ordered individuals to undergo the set procedures to obtain work visas and green cards. The national government has further channeled more funds in all entry zones to prevent the number of illegal immigrants due to their negative impacts on the U.S. economy. Conclusion Immigration of Venezuelans into the U.S has leads various problems resulting from an influx in the number of government-dependent immigrants. Most of the American-Society supports that some of the well behaving immigrants should be issued with temporary visas because most of them flee their countries due to non-voluntary circumstances. However, politics of immigration have been associated with new trends such as terrorism and insecurity. The issues have changed the perception of immigration in most countries leading to tight legal measures. Venezuelan immigration cases into the U.S have been motivated by the presence of economic instability and political crises in other South American countries. However, migration is not the solution to all of Venezuelas problems. Elites and other activists should come up with ideas on ways of changing the political and economic structures of the countries to ensure the accessibility of basic needs and public services. As a result, there will be the creation of employment leading to a reduction in the number of Venezuelans leaving the country. Importantly, the U.S should also be involved in restoring peace due to the problems caused by Venezuelan immigrants. Work Cited Armario, Christine. New Wave Of Middle-Class Venezuelan Immigrants Arrive In US. The Christian Science Monitor. N.p., 2014. Web. 12 June 2015. Brown, Anna, and Eileen Patten. Hispanics Of Venezuelan Origin In The United States, 2011. Pew Research Centers Hispanic Trends Project. N.p., 2013. Web. 12 June 2015. Fagenson, Zachary, and David Adams. Florida Politicians Call On Obama To Protect Venezuelan Activists. Mobile.reuters.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 June 2015. Fairus.org,. Illegal Immigration | Federation For American Immigration Reform. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 June 2015. Grossman, Sandra. The U.S. Should Do More To Help Venezuelan Immigrants. The Huffington Post. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 June 2015. Live, Fusion, and Mariana Atencio. Venezuelan Exodus: Middle-Class Flees For United States. Fusion. N.p., 2014. Web. 12 June 2015. Mazzei, Patricia. South Florida Dems To Obama: Venezuelans Should Be Part Of Executive Action On Immigration | Naked Politics. Miamiherald.typepad.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 June 2015. Pablo, Pedro. IMMIGRATION. Number of outgoing Venezuelans on the rise. N.p., 2015. Web. 12 June 2015. Rojas, Leslie. 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