Cazares 1

James Cazares

Amanda Mixon

English 1320

27 March 2023

"Eliminating Borders to the American Dream: An Exploration of Immigration Policy"

Chavez, L. (2018). The Border: A Double Standard for Violence. American Quarterly, 70(3),

541-546. doi: 10.1353/aq.2018.0030

Chavez presents a strong argument in his paper that the existing immigration policy in the

United States is not only inefficient, but also fosters violence towards immigrants. He

emphasizes that the American Dream has always been exclusive, and that current

measures, such as ICE and Border Patrol, are intended to preserve power and control over

vulnerable communities. According to the author, the American Dream has always been

an ideal that only a select few can achieve, and current immigration policies have only

contributed to exacerbate this inequity. Chavez also claims that private detention facilities

for immigrants have devolved into places of cruelty and torture, undermining America's

image as a nation of opportunity. The article emphasizes the fact that these detention

centers are for-profit businesses, which incentivizes corporations to prioritize profits over

inmate well-being. This behavior runs counter to the idea of the United States as a

compassionate and just country. Overall, Chavez's paper presents an excellent critique of

the negative consequences of the United States' current immigration policy. The essay is

a call to action for legislators to reconsider existing immigration policies and propose
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reforms that are compatible with the principles of the American Dream.

Ewing, W. A. (2016). The Myth of Immigration's Negative Impact on the Economy. Journal on

Migration and Human Security, 4(3), 577-589. doi: 10.1177/233150241600400311

In his paper, Ewing makes a persuasive case that, contrary to common belief,

immigration does not threaten the American Dream. The author uses empirical evidence

to argue that immigrants are not a drain on the economy, but rather a big addition to it.

He claims that immigrants frequently fill important labor-force shortfalls and start new

firms that employ American employees. Ewing's evidence-based approach to

immigration helps to provide a positive alternative to fear-based rhetoric and supports a

more compassionate and overall pragmatic attitude. Ewing also says that establishing a

road to citizenship for illegal immigrants will assist not just them but also the economy

and the fight against poverty. The author claims that if undocumented immigrants were

granted citizenship, they would be more inclined to contribute to society and pay taxes,

hence increasing government income. Overall, Ewing's paper offers a new viewpoint on

immigration that contradicts the negative narrative that is frequently associated with it.

The author persuasively argued that immigration is an essential component of the

American Dream and is required for economic development and success. The essay is a

plea to politicians to reconsider their approach to immigration and implement laws that

reflect the principles of the American Dream.

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Fazel‐Zarandi, M. M., Feinstein, J. S., & Kaplan, E. H. (2018). The Economic and Political

Impacts of Migration in the United States. Washington, DC: National Academy of

Sciences. doi: 10.17226/25217

This paper provides an in-depth examination of the influence of migration on the

American economy and political system. The paper emphasizes that the present

immigration policy is incompatible with the values of the American Dream, which are

founded on the principles of equality and justice for everyone. The authors contend that

the bad rhetoric surrounding immigration is unsupported by evidence, and that

immigrants contribute significantly to the economy. According to the research, the

United States should alter its immigration policy to make it simpler for illegal immigrants

to obtain citizenship and to solve the challenges that they face. The authors argue that

granting illegal immigrants’ citizenship will enable them to contribute more to society,

pay taxes, and use social services, thus boosting the economy. The research also

underlines the negative consequences of the present immigration policy, such as family

separation, prisoner maltreatment, and immigrant communities' dread and worry. These

actions undercut the American Dream's principles and have social and economic

consequences. The paper advocates for a more humane and pragmatic approach to

immigration, one that recognizes immigrants' contributions and provides illegal

immigrants with a road to citizenship. According to the authors, such reforms would be

consistent with the goals of the American Dream and would aid the country in achieving

economic development and prosperity. Overall, this research makes a strong case for
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immigration reform and provides policymakers with real proposals for aligning

immigration laws with the principles of the American Dream.

Gonzalez-Barrera, A., & Krogstad, J. M. (2019). Key findings about US immigrants.

Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. Retrieved from

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/17/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/

The Pew Research Center research provides an in-depth look at the immigrant population

in the United States. The study contains useful data and statistics that may be used to

influence conversations and policy around immigration in the United States. The research

emphasizes the essential role that immigrants play in the American economy, with

immigrants making up a sizable share of the workforce, particularly in areas such as

farming, hospitality, and construction. The authors contend that the present immigration

policy ignores the tremendous contributions that immigrants contribute to American

culture. The research also underscores the difficulties that immigrants experience in the

United States, such as discrimination, restricted access to education and healthcare, and

complications with their legal status. The authors argue that governments should address

these challenges by revamping the immigration system to give illegal immigrants with a

route to citizenship and to increase access to social services. Ultimately, the paper makes

a persuasive argument for acknowledging immigrants' substantial contributions to the

United States and argues that immigration rules must be altered to better correspond with

the principles of the American Dream. The study serves as a great resource for

policymakers and the public to better understand the role of immigrants in American

culture by giving data-driven insights regarding the immigrant community in the United

States.
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Johnson, K. (2019). How Immigration Restrictions Hurt U.S. Workers: Lessons from the

Bracero Program. Washington, DC: Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved from

https://www.epi.org/publication/how-immigration-restrictions-hurt-u-s-workers-lessons-

from-the-bracero-program/

Johnson's paper presents a historical perspective on the Bracero program, a guest worker

program that permitted Mexican workers to come to the United States during World War

II to work in agricultural. He claims that this initiative benefited both Mexican laborers

and US farmers by providing farm labor and economic prospects for the employees. Yet,

he acknowledges that the scheme was defective and resulted in worker abuse and

mistreatment. The author then applies the historical backdrop to present immigration

challenges, arguing that current policies are harmful to both American workers and the

economy. According to Johnson, the existing system, which limits the number of visas

available and makes it difficult for immigrants to get legal status, causes a labor scarcity

and inhibits firms from recruiting the people they require. This, in turn, harms American

workers by maintaining low wages and hindering job development. Johnson believes that

immigration regulations should be changed to make it simpler to get citizenship and to

solve the challenges that illegal immigrants face. He claims that a more open immigration

policy would benefit the economy and safeguard American jobs. The author believes that

the existing immigration policy is incompatible with the principles of the American

Dream, which stress opportunity and inclusion, and that revisions are required to preserve
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these values. Overall, Johnson's paper makes a convincing case for the United States'

immigration policy to be more inclusive and humane.

Rodriguez, N. (2018). ‘American Dream’ or ‘Immigrants’ Nightmare’? Latino Migrant Workers

and the Construction of the ‘Illegal Alien’ Narrative. In M. Koenig & A. B. Litowitz

(Eds.), The Global Refugee Crisis: Roots and Routes (pp. 123-142). Palgrave Macmillan.

doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-92090-2_7

Rodriguez's chapter offers a critical examination of how the "illegal immigrant" narrative

has affected immigration debate in the United States. He claims that this narrative has

portrayed immigrants as a danger to the American Dream and has promoted negative

perceptions about them. This story, according to the author, is not new and has its roots in

historical racism and xenophobia toward non-white immigrants, notably those from Latin

America. Rodriguez contends that the present immigration policy, which frequently

criminalizes and demonizes immigrants, is incompatible with the principles of the

American Dream. According to the author, the Dream is founded on the concepts of

opportunity and inclusion, which should be extended to all individuals regardless of their

rank or background. The chapter underlines how portraying immigrants as criminals and

risks to society runs counter to this ideal and reinforces damaging prejudices.To address

the challenges confronting illegal immigrants and to promote the principles of inclusion

and opportunity, the author believes that a more humanitarian approach to immigration

policy is required. Rodriguez contends that a more compassionate and inclusive approach

would benefit both immigrants and American culture. The chapter advocates for a shift in

immigration rhetoric and the acknowledgement of the humanity and dignity of all
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persons, regardless of their status or history. Overall, Rodriguez's chapter makes a strong

case for a more just and equitable immigration policy in the United States.