US Immigration - Answers To Common Questions
US Immigration has become a very important issue for American citizens and those individuals or families wishing to come to America. Since the establishment of the first colonies in America, there have been immigrants desperately desiring their chance at freedom.
Elis Island was, for many, a portal to a new life through which they would pass and begin their journey. Hundreds of thousands of individuals fled persecution, poverty or inhumane conditions to come to the United States for a chance to live the "American dream" of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In this article, we will cover some of the basic questions regarding immigration that many have.
Who is in charge of immigration?
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service is the agency responsible for the legal processing of individuals wishing to become a United States citizen. Other agencies that work in conjunction with the USCIS are the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Naturalization Service and a variety of state and local law enforcement agencies.
What are the legal repercussions for illegal aliens?
Illegal immigrants, or known as illegal aliens, face deportation if they are discovered within the country illegally. There are circumstances where the individual or family is allowed to stay but those are solely up to the decision of the federal government.
What is the impact of illegal immigration?
Illegal immigration can severely affect the economic status of the community. The effects can range from criminal activity, illegal workers working for wages far beneath the minimum standard wage set forth by the state as well as a burden on the healthcare system if they do not have healthcare insurance.
Immigration seems to be a highly combustible political debate. What are the reasons behind this?
Many people are vehemently against immigration because they feel that American jobs are being taken from the American worker because so many immigrants are willing to work for far less. They also believe that higher crime rates and an increase of government assistance are contributing to the decline of society. Whether or not this is true is debatable. For every argument against allowing immigrants entrance into the US, there are arguments for them being allowed. The current controversy centers more on the influx of illegal immigrants rather than individuals seeking legal admittance to the United States.
By Travel Editor
