Why is immigration becoming a major concern for the US?

[Julie4]

The United States is known for being a land of immigration and welcome, and stories of immigrants coming to try their luck in the United States are not rare. However, it seems that more and more Americans are hostile to immigration, as the success of Mr. Trump proves.

Europe the same thing, but it is much less surprising because in Europe there are very strong national identities.


Just for fun, I share with you this speech.

https://youtu.be/2R8QxCD6ir8

[nightdrot]

Well, yes, the USA is a land of immigrants because it is a creedal nation. That is a nation that defines itself by a set of generally shared ideals and principles such as those articulated in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Gettysburg Address and other documents. A "nation dedicated to a proposition," as Lincoln put it.

That said, that does not negate the idea that immigration must be regulated and borders controlled. Any ideal cannot be applied in the abstract and where they are, the law of unintended consequences will always pertain.

For example, a "nation dedicated to a proposition" must have citizens and residents who are committed to those propositions and the culture that sustains them. If - this is a hypothetical for the purposes of illustration - tomorrow there was an influx of Nazis into the USA, how long would its' ideals last? Change the nature of the citizenry, and you change the nature of the state itself.

This being even true of the European Union. The idea behind the EU is that, whatever the differences in national identities across Europe, there are certain ideals inherent in the broader Western experience that those states share. (To be sure, those common ideals did not prevent two world wars and a host of other conflicts, but the idea was to elevate - mainly through a common economic system (that in itself being problematic) - the ideals above national identity.)

However, the native European population is aging - this is a normal demographic pattern, it says nothing about Europe per se - and as you import more immigrants from the Arab world, for example, there will be effects. For example, Muslim cultural prerequisites toward the treatment of women are VERY different from the European/Western model. If the EU comes to be demographically influenced or dominated by Arab/Muslim immigrants, this will likely have cultural and political impacts on the treatment of women socially and legally.

Not all at once and a complete shift, to be sure. However, the rule applies at the broadest level of generality. Change the demographics and you change the nature of the state.

Beyond that, there are practical implications. Import a lot of cheap labor and you intensify the challenges faced by the lower middle and working "blue collar" voters in the nation. Making it harder for them to raise their wages and find jobs.

Also, in the current case of the USA, the current ten thumbed Biden administration has badly mishandled the border. Borders are an attribute of sovereignty at the most basic level, yet right now the southern border of the USA in particular is almost as open as the internal borders of the European Union. Remove borders and you remove sovereignty and make the state the subject of forces that harm society.

Thus, for example, illegal drugs like Fentanyl are coming across the border in torrents, resulting in the deaths of literally hundreds of thousands. Crimes like human trafficking, cross border prostitution, gun running and, of course, the danger that terrorists may be able to infiltrate the nation are all either on the rise or a threat. (Also, hostile enemies like China are taking advantage of the open border to flood the USA with the aforementioned Fentanyl. See also the new "Opium War.")

To be fair, immigration - for a variety of reasons - not only divides Republicans from Democrats. It divides both parties internally, thus making a legislative solution difficult and, at least since the reforms of the 1980s under Mr. Reagan - who believed in immigration, effectively regulated - thus far impossible.

Yet Mr. Trump, whatever his other flaws, was fairly effective at adopting, below the legislative level, policies to control immigration. Yet Mr. Biden came in with few ideas - in any area really - to be anything other than not being Mr. Trump and thus tore up the Trump policies.

The result has been a border problem that Mr. Biden largely ignores and that is growing by the day. This then intensifying all the social tensions inherent in the immigration debate. Thus, the current immigration controversies in the USA.

[Julie4]

I don't know how to ask my question exactly, I prefer to give you an example to clarify my other question.

For example in France for a long time we had an immigration especially European what was already complicated enough to assimilate them note that I say assimilated and not integrated, today the nature of this immigration has deeply changed. We have today an immigration especially of people of Muslim and African origin, which has rather disastrous consequences for many European countries.

[Julie4]

Is there anything similar in the immigration to the USA?

[nightdrot]

Yes, the immigration problem in the United States is over a million this year alone. This including immigrants from Mexico, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Senegal and other parts of Africa and the Middle East.

The problem is that the Biden administration's policies have, in effect, created an open border. Such that anyone who gets across the border is admitted. Theoretically, all who are admitted must subsequently appear before an immigration court. However, once on US soil, the immigrants are not tracked and therefore are free to move about - and thus avoid appearing before an immigration court or other legal agency.

Suffice to say, beyond the cultural and legal issues I mentioned above, this opens the door to massive security risks. This getting worse when factored in are those who - with US border forces already badly overstretched - sneak into the country without going through any clearance process.

With that effectively open border, needless to say, people from all over the world are going to Mexico - which admits them as tourists - and then crossing into the United States. Mr. Trump responded to this with a "remain in Mexico" policy that obliged immigrants to wait for their immigration hearings on Mexican soil.

However, Mr. Biden declared that policy inhumane and racist and thus abolished it. Throw in that a US court recently declared the COVID pandemic over and thus outlawed the health restriction on immigration and, at this point, the border is as close to wide open as it can be short simply declaring that there is no border.

Heck, at this point, you could go to Mexico, cross into the USA, and run wild your free yourself. Want to come over for a visit? (That was a joke.)

So we have the problem France had - and then some.

[Julie4]

Okay thanks for the detailed answer ( as usual) 🙂 hope you and your family are doing well 😊

Oh and I hope to be able to visit the Usa one day, and if it can reassure you I will go the Legal route and without going through Mexico 😅

[nightdrot]

We look forward to having you!!! All the best to you and yours'!!!

[KostasKouvalis]

Not really. If you believe America is racist now, you should have seen it in the 1900s. Most Conservative Americans are okay with their country being a land of LEGAL immigration. Though I'll tell you something, and even Tucker Carlson admitted this, that Americans only support immigration when they have something to gain from it. Back when they didn't wanna work the shitty industrial jobs, they had no problem taking immigrants from Poland or other European countries to do them. Same with agriculture. And Tucker Carlson admitted that at the moment, immigrants are of no use to us.

But at the same time, just as was the case with blacks and gay people, illegal Mexicans didn't bother anyone until they started demanding more and more rights. People are sick of them getting better treatment then citizens. But in reality, only Democrats support them. They're also pissing off legal immigrants, because people like my parents had to stay in a refugee camp in Austria, and wait years to get their case reviewed and their papers approved. While illegal Mexicans would just like to show up and magically become a citizen without filling out any paperwork or contacting the proper authorities. It's like they feel entitled.

But really, Americans should consider this a blessing, because the moment illegals stop coming is the moment our country has TRULY gone to shit! Yes, illegal immigration is bad, but at the same time, I take it as a compliment that so many people risk their lives to come here.

[BlueScorpio]

A lot people are hostile cause they feel like immigrants are being treated better than the American people and getting more opportunities. They also know corporations tend to take advantage and exploit immigrants morecause they will do anything and will work for crumbs underneath the table just to get by.

This makes Americans upset cause it sets us back yet again from making life and the cost of living easier for the everyday American. Corporations love immigrants who will work for pennies, they see it as cheap, easy labor they can save money on while leaving us Americans out in the cold cause they know most of us have gotten to smart to fall for the bs they've been pulling in this country for years/since day capitalism was birthed.

It doesn't help that some immigrants get entitled, want to change laws that fit their needs or the same laws that they had to flee from in their own country. Some immigrants have taunted Americans by calling us "lazy" cause we refuse to work for garbage pay or put up with unethical practices. They forget, that if it was as simple to get by in their country, they wouldn't of had the need to come to America just to make it. So those immigrants end up giving other immigrants a bad name and makes more Americans dislike them.

[Aerissa_Jade]

Keep in mind there is a HUGE difference between legal and illegal immigration, I have never met anyone who is against legal immigration, except maybe some of my Native American Ancestors.

It is only against illegal immigration that it is a problem, as I myself have been told in a job interview. Will you work under the table for less than minimum wage for this job? I have hundreds of illegals who will.

They are driving wages down and being used as slave labor too.

[exitseven]

yes, illegal immigrations are not good for the citizens on America.

[exitseven]

As President Trump has said many times, It is not immigration people object to it is illegal immigration.

All 4 of my grandparents were immigrants. They came to America legally, got jobs , became citizens and never took a dime from the government.

It is estimated that every illegal alien that comes across the southern border costs the taxpayers between $35,000 and $50,000 per person per year forever and ever. They are indeed the gift that keeps on giving. If you do the math it ends up being hundreds of billions of dollars. More than the budget of the VA.

[God_of_Thunder]

That depends on who you ask, really. There are basically three schools of thought on immagration in the US.

1) The kind of people that just don't like "foreigners," period. There's most likely an undercurrent of racism in these folks, and they're the ones screaming about "Mexicans taking our jobs!"

2) The kind of people who don't mind legal immigration, but take offense to the people that simply run the border, and essentially become undocumented aliens. They feel like these people took the "easy" route, and take advantage of the US, while not paying taxes.

3) The people who really just don't give a crap, at all, because they don't think it affects them, or they feel like everyone should just be able to walk in, no questions asked.

[DaveJord]

Because it's not 1800 any more... shit is filling up and inflation and economical issue are completely different today than they were 100 years ago. 200 to 100 years ago you come into the country seeking a better life and you either sunk or swam with it. If you succeed you were winner and if you didn't you starved and died, and nobody cared and nobody expected you care. It was just part of the risk you took in coming here.

But in today's world there is all these social programs, and all that cost money and when an immigrant dies we are expected to really give a shit, when honestly, we don't for the most part. I mean we care, but if means paying a few hundred more in taxes ever year... we would rather not care that much.

[Sixgunsound]

The US is happy to welcome people who immigrate LEGALLY, GET A JOB, PAY TAXES, and don't smuggle DRUGS or TRAFFIC HUMANS, and don't COMMIT CRIMES when they get here, and don't IMMEDIATELY BECOME A PUBLIC NUISANCE or BURDEN or WELFARE DEPENDANT or SPREAD DISEASE. For centuries these were considered reasonable requirements for anyone coming into the US. Now, expecting anyone to feed house or shelter themselves by their own efforts, or anything else I listed above, is somehow racist or whatever the leftist buzzword of the week-ist it is now. I don't think anything I ask, that my grandparents generation had to do, is truly unreasonable.

[Sixgunsound]

The powers that be seem to want a war between the mostly fighting age male colonizers and the colonized in America, just like the African and Arab Muslims seem to want in France as evidenced by the recent events.

[Sparks32]

In Australia we always hated immigration, Most politicians that have managed to slow it down became instantly successful, But now they opened the flood gates and the politicians declared us a proud multicultural nation but the people hate it and feel betrayed. White people are told we don't have a culture and it's racist to think we do though we must celebrate everyone else's. We are 2nd Class citizens in the country we build. Just because we are silenced through fear doesn't mean we like it. When a politician comes along brave enough to speak his mind and say what we are all thinking anyway of course he will do well.

[ODC2112]

America is a nation of immigrants, volunteers or otherwise. It seems strange that it is anti-immigration. However, it is necessary to analyze some relevant things.
While in Europe there is a welfarist immigration, ie immigrants emigrate with the incentive to exploit the welfare of the host country, this is absent in the USA where welfare is absent.
In the US, however, there is a greater impact of skill biased technological change, which has destroyed the former middle class by impoverishing many families who have fallen below the standard in the labor market. This has created a large, low-mid skilled working class that does not want competition from low- and medium-skilled immigrant workers. This does not create the effect of the theft of work, but of the decrease in salaries.

[Anonymous]

Simple, really. Back in the EARLY part of the US and through the 19th century or so, there wasn't a giant welfare state. It was totally fine for pretty much anyone to show up because they needed to work hard in order to support themselves since no one else would do it for them. To put it bluntly, either you worked hard or you died on the frontier. That was pretty much that.

HOWEVER since the 20th century--particularly since post-Great Depression era, we have an absolutely MASSIVE welfare state. So bringing in people who can't (or don't) support themselves imposes a cost on everyone else. So you can either have a nice fat welfare state (as we have now and as Europe has) and restrict immigration OR you can have pretty open immigration and little to no welfare state (as we used to have in the US).

[HighValue]

Many illegals are criminals from other countries, some being released from prison in their country to send them here. Plus many of them bring illegal drugs with them/are smugglers. That is why there are so many fentanyl deaths in the USA now. More than 100,000 fentanyl deaths in the last year among young people & kids.

[AmeerX]

I am not an immigrant or from US or Europe but I can say this the stories I heard of immigrants from my own country using the system is so disgusting that I think they would be shot dead for the same crime.

I think Europeans and Americans have a very flexible heart/system otherwise the same rigidity regarding freedom of expression would have gotten the same bunch in jail or worst.

So, people you represent us in other countries. Don't screw up our national image.

[Elliegirl]

The concern is not so much about immigration as it is about illegal immigration. We welcome those who come the legal way. The issue is there are those who come illegally, and they don’t play by the same rules we have to, such as paying taxes.

[Quigly]

Donald Trump was pro Immigration.

What's arriving at our borders is homeless people and criminals. They have no jobs, no place to live, no car and no skills to get a job in society. They can't support themselves.

Mexico is homeless dumping at our border.

You can't bring in this many homeless people to the streets of America without economic catastrophe.

Immigrants don't need homeless shelters cause they can get jobs and a place to live.

[jongreat46]

Because of conservatives who can't tell the difference between a legal immigrant and an illegal one if they looked at them in the face, they think illegals come from countries that speak Spanish and not white looking countries that speak French of German or Russian.

[PatriceONeal]

There's a difference between being "for immigration" and being for "illegal immigration". Your entire premise is wrong from the start.

The people you are referring to care about stemming (ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION). The people sneaking into the country, not going through the immigration process, is a problem. That's called (immigrating ILLEGALLY). Anyone who think otherwise has gone full retard, and you never go full retard.

[kespethdude]

Because the racist goat fuckers who love that Orange scumbag and insist he won the election (he didn't and their opinions don't matter) insist that there is a problem. In other words, it's all lies rooted in racism.

[Anonymous]

I will go ahead and say it. I don’t like the fact that we are being replaced. I am in favor of limiting immigration only to those who will be productive members of our country like doctors or engineers. but we shouldn’t be allowing America to turn brown. This is what is going to happen. The great replacement theory is happening in front of our eyes

[joeldalton]

There's no shame in wanting to preserve your culture.

[stellarhomes]

Immigrants make significant contributions to the U. S. economy. In addition to ensuring that essential services continue to be provided across the country, undocumented immigrants are also consumers whose spending power uplifts our national and local economies.

[JamesDiaz11]

Because the majority population isn't reproducing, and we're being subsumed by other minority groups who will begin changing the dominant culture to align with their own.

[dustybiker]

Fear and fear mongering. It's how makers of news gets view hits. And how people try to win elections.

[Ill_made_Knight]

And if the issue is VERY good at stoking the fear, the party that benefits at the polls is likely to have little interest in solving the problem, whatever it might be.

[humanearth]

Its a ploy to spread hate by the elites. If the mass public is fighting over fake shit. That takes the focus off them when they pass bullshit laws that takes peoples right

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

America is a sovereign country and has immigration laws like all sovereign countries.

Immigration isn't a problem most people have with, but rather uncontrollable illegal migration of foreigners is what people don't like to see.

[misogynistic_pig]

The United States will become a country of shit for the immigration of Mejicans, lucky I do not live in that country.

[jongreat46]

Go to hell.

[FunkyMonkee]

"BECOMING"? It's BEEN a major concern for years! Just not to Joe or any of his dipshit cronies.

[Adaeva]

It was a good speech but not applicable to today's immigration.

[Berethor]

In the past most immigrants come from good countries, not shithole countries, so it was good.

[SpokenTruth]

How many immigrants do you think a nation can handle before it becomes a different nation entirely?

[AngryCarl]

It's a concern for the Republican Party because apparently immigrants don't tend for vote for racist xenophobes.

[LiamJHayden]

Illegal immigration where you have no idea if criminals or terrorists are setting up shop is the real issue.

[RyanEC]

Personally I am against immigration because I don’t want my white American culture to be erased or replaced.

[joeldalton]

Do you understand that there is such a thing as legal immigration and illegal immigration and that those are two distinctly different things?

[12Volt]

Only a Chinese or Russian troll would ask this.
Have you EVER heard our president mention Fentanyl? He can't, because China owns him.

[PatriceONeal]

@12Volt you are lost I think..

[OddBeMe]

Because we have a large unskilled labor force who fear competing for jobs with immigrants, illegal or not.

[jimmy2]

Because millions have come over due to our dbass president let's go biden

[LazerBean]

Its not. Breaking the law, however, is a concern.