Immigration
The United States has long prided itself on a liberal attitude towards immigration,
styling itself "a nation of immigrants." Indeed, as of 2006, the United States allows
more legal immigrants to become permanent residents than any other country in
the world. At the same time, many Americans regard illegal immigration with suspicion and hostility.
US politicians of all stripes must walk a fine line between reassuring nativist Americans that
their livelihoods are safe while also courting voters who are often the descendents of immigrants
or immigrants themselves: Immigration opponents charge that immigrants are stealing American
jobs, depressing American wages, overburdening American social services and diluting American
culture. In a time of general anxiety about their country's relationship to the outside world,
some Americans even fret that lax enforcement of immigration laws could allow the US to be
infiltrated by terrorists. Immigration advocates insist that the US economy depends on immigrants
contributing as much as $10 billion annually.
In the end, politicians set policy by taking no action. The three remaining candidates in the
presidential race - Republican John McCain, Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -
hold similar views, backing reform measures that would allow illegal immigrants to eventually
become legal US residents.
Jim Wallis
The San Francisco Chronicle, 9 May 2008
A crackdown on illegal immigration fails to assist US workers and draws sympathy for immigrants
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Paul Vitello
The New York Times, 9 May 2008
Politics frighten workers and put some growers out of business
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Branko Milanovic
YaleGlobal, 29 August 2006
Job loss and worry about identity make the West reconsider the value of trade and immigration
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Miriam Jordan
The Wall Street Journal, 14 July 2006
With stalemate in Congress, small-town America strives to eliminate illegal immigration
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