Immigration in an age of Globalization

Throughout history, immigration has continued to be practiced in every part of the world. However, the major continuities have been in the increasing volume of immigration, its sources, and the incompetence of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The major changes in the immigration trend happened to be the attitude towards immigrants and the laws and regulations. I think it’s amazing that the total population of immigrants that came to a nation was ninety two million.

            Individuals immigrate across the world in search of a better future. Whether its to find a better paying job, better education, or better living conditions, immigrants are willing to overcome numerous obstacles to achieve their purpose in the foreign country. As Daniels stated in the book, the educational achievements of contemporary immigrants are impressive: some two thirds of those twenty-five years of age and older are at least high school graduates as opposed to almost seven eights of the native born. A 1995 study looked at the United States residents with a PhD. and found that twenty three percent of the science and engineering PhD’s and twelve percent of nonscience were foreign born. About 55 percent of the immigrants with PhD’s were naturalized U.S. citizens. As an immigrant myself, I am pleased to hear that those of us who immigrate to receive a better education actually achieve it.

            Along with the legal immigrants come various groups of “non immigrants” or temporary immigrants that enter the United States with various kinds of visas that do not entitle them to apply for permanent resident status and which have expiration dates. I know various individuals who currently have visas. Some are for work, business, traveling, and school.

            As expected along with immigration, come illegal immigrants. I love how Daniels calls this section of the book mission impossible. Regardless of what the government does to try to keep illegal immigrants from entering the nation, nothing will stop them. If the borders get higher, more border patrol, electrical system, nothing can stop an immigrant that is in search of a better future. I have heard of horrific and tragic stories of people who have lost their life’s attempting to achieve their American dream. The ambitious immigrants look for alternative, life-threatening ways to enter the land of opportunity.

            I was definitely able to relate to the chapter of immigration in an age of globalization. I myself am an immigrant, who thanks to my father, have had the opportunity to work on achieving my American dream. He himself had to risk his life, at one point, and cross the border that separates the United States and Mexico illegally to provide his family a better future and more opportunities than he had growing up. Thankfully, he was able to apply for permanent residents and come to the United States with the rest of the family. We are all now naturalized American citizens, and are taking advantage of all of the opportunities that this country provides.