Immigration and the History of Immigration Law

Started by red_dirt, June 04, 2015, 08:58:20 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

red_dirt

One of the unforeseen benefits of getting up to speed on America's immigration history is that  the study reveals so much about the American character. It lends understanding of why things are the way they are. In particular, we witness a thread of national pride, national interest, the dangers of open society, and the deeply religious nature of the people that tends to give us the faith and courage to press on to what we believe is right, in spite of the dangers.

One of the underlying issues is Professor Dan Robinson's claim that we have forgotten what it means to be an American. Here are a couple of notes:

Opinion:

Myth: America is a nation of immigrants.
Truth: We didn't have a formal immigration policy until 1875. Prior to that, the land was settled by explorers and migrants, later, by colonists. Basically, all anyone had to do was to get here.  Usually that was easier said than done.

Myth: Immigration policy was based on needs of businesses.
Truth: Above all, America needed people who yearned to breathe free. The job opportunities simply  enabled that. Being an American meant more than just coming to America to make money.

Myth: The most important qualities of an immigrant, in the eyes of America, are to bring a skill  and work cheaply.
Fact: America could always get along just fine without hyphenated Americans. The immigrant  generations usually struggled along. The payoff has always come with succeeding generations, the ones who grew up here and went to school here. That is where the free system really shines.

Myth: Immigrants are always hoping to organize and vote themselves benefits.
Truth: While the immigrant family typically struggled and worked for better lives for their children, there is one contribution that only the immigrant may possess, a contribution of
inestimable value. That is the first hand knowledge of how life  in America compares with life
under the regimes they fled. This is the reason America has always been very open to refugees,
especially political refugees from dictatorships.

I'll share some of the research if anyone is interested.