Immigration and the United States
Of Melting Pots and Border Fences
Dr. Markus Hünemörder, LMU München
you can download this presentation at www.amerikahaus.de/immigration
The United States: A Nation of Immigrants
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the United States is literally a nation of
immigrants
ethnic and cultural diversity have shaped
American society
biggest immigration waves:
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1840s-1880s: esp. Ireland and Germany, also China
1890s-1920s: esp. Southern and Eastern Europe
1990s-present: esp. Asia and Central America
on the whole, the United States is very
successful in integrating immigrants
however, immigration has also been at the
center of sharp social and political conflict
The Statue of Liberty herself is an immigrant: she was
constructed in France and gifted to the United States.
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Immigration and the United States
Much Apu About Nothing
(“The Simpsons”, 1996)
In this episode, Grandpa Simpson tells
the story about how he and his family
came to the US from “the old
country”.
That means that Homer Simpson is a
second generation immigrant (since
his father was born outside the US)!
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Immigration and the United States
What Brings Immigrants to the US?
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reasons for immigration are always
historically and individually specific
some factors remain remarkably
constant
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economic opportunity
freedom from political or religious
oppression
safety and the rule of law
citizenship: children born in the US are
American citizens
even today, more immigrants enter
the United States than any other
country
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One sector of the US economy that employs many immigrants is
agriculture. However, there are also many immigrants working in
high-skilled jobs like computer programming.
Immigration and the United States
The Myth of the Melting Pot
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Immigration and the United States
Conflicts over Immigration
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American society absorbed millions of
immigrants
however, the newest immigrants with
different cultures, religions, languages,
skin colors often faced anti-immigrant
backlashes
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1840-50s: backlash against Irish and Germans
1882: Chinese Exclusion Act
1920s: immigration restriction laws limiting
immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe
today: backlash against illegal immigrants from
Mexico and Central America
backlash movements have always been
temporary, US has remained relatively
open to immigrants
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The Irish were the first immigrants against who there was a
backlash movement.
Immigration and the United States
Cultural Integration: The Myth of the Melting Pot
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the traditional idea of social and cultural
integration in the US has been the melting
pot
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coercive version: immigrants should abandon their
native culture and assimilate into American culture
integrative version: by participating in the
American democracy, immigrants would join a
common national character
the “melting pot” was never truly a reality;
immigrants maintained many cultural
traditions
however, immigrants did adapt and
integrate: language, school attendance,
working in industry, voting in elections
integration has always been a two-way
street: immigrants become more American,
but they change American culture along the
way
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This 1889 cartoon portrays the idea of the melting pot, and
accuses the Irish of being particularly hard to integrate.
Immigration and the United States
The Melting Pot and Alternative Models
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today, there are many different ideas of how
cultural integration works
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melting pot: melts down ‘ingredients’ into a
homogeneous substance
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there are many ethnic identities, but little common
culture
stew: ‘ingredients’ stay identifiable, but they all
contribute to the ‘soup’
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ethnic identities vanish into a common culture and
identity
salad bowl: ‘ingredients’ stay visible and
separate, only lightly connected by the ‘sauce’
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‘ingredients’ mean ethnic identities
there is a common culture created by all, but ethnic
identities also remain
pizza: ‘ingredients’ stay visible, but they are all
held together by the ‘cheese’
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A comparison of the
“salad bowl” and “melting pot” concepts.
common identity is provided by the political system
Immigration and the United States
Much Apu About Nothing
(“The Simpsons”, 1996)
In this episode, there is a witch-hunt
in Springfield against illegal
immigrants.
Apu, an illegal immigrant from India
tries to hide by buying a fake passport
and pretending to be a native-born
American from Wisconsin. However,
abandoning his cultural heritage
proves too hard.
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Immigration and the United States
Modern Immigration
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Immigration and the United States
Reform in the 1960s, Origins of Modern Immigration
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modern immigration system was
created in 1965
immigration visa based on
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1990: diversity program
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family ties
high-skills employment
investment
“green card lottery” for countries with
low rates of immigration to the US
also: refugees
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historically many from Cuba, Vietnam
currently about 85,000 per year
President Lyndon B. Johnson signing the Immigration and
Nationality Act of 1965 in NYC.
Immigration and the United States
Immigration Today
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modern immigration is more numerous
and more diverse than ever before
roughly 1 million legal immigrants per
year
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most immigrants come from Latin
America or Asia
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some also from Africa and Middle East
immigration is more dispersed than in
previous centuries
economically diverse: from agricultural
laborers to engineers
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pretty constant for several years now
about 13% in US are foreign-born
25% of immigrants have a university degree
on the whole, immigration is a big
economic advantage for the US
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A permanent resident or “green” card
with modern security features. Green Cards holders can stay and work in
the US as long as they want and eventually become citizens.
Immigration and the United States
Immigration Today
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Immigration and the United States
Asian Immigration
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diverse group from different
countries
many Asian immigrants seek
economic opportunity and the rule of
law
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small (ca. 5%), but growing part of
the total US population
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also many political refugees (China,
Vietnam)
many live on Hawaii and on the west
coast
relatively successful in terms of
income, education, political and
societal integration
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Asian Population in the US
by Origin 2010
Japanese
5%
Other
15%
Chinese
23%
Korean
10%
Vietname
se
11%
Immigration and the United States
Indian
19%
Filipino
17%
Hispanic Immigration
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Hispanics are the largest group of
immigrants and the largest ethnic
minority (ca. 15% of U.S. population)
extremely diverse in terms of national
origin
75% of Hispanics speak Spanish at home
some of the time
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most Hispanics speak at least some English
different reactions in various states:
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some states offer bilingual schools and services
others have declared English their “official
language”, trying to push back Spanish
in some states, Hispanics have considerable
political influence
Hispanic Population in the
US by Origin 2010
Other
8%
South
American
5%
Caribbean
15%
Central
American
8%
Immigration and the United States
Mexican
63%
The Controversy of Illegal Immigration
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Immigration and the United States
Illegal Immigration
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each year, hundreds of thousands
immigrants come to the US illegally
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roughly 11 million undocumented
immigrants live in the US
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most for 10+ years
Bush and Obama administrations have
deported millions
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ca. 50% cross border, ca. 50% visa overstay
mostly from Mexico and central America
low-paid jobs: agriculture, day labor
big economic factor in some states
complete deportation is unrealistic,
economically problematic, inhumane
politically volatile issue
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legalization?
Immigration and the United States
Enforcement and the Border Fence
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Bush and Obama administrations
have increased
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old debate about border fence
US-Mexican border is 3.145 km long
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border patrol officers
crackdowns on employers of illegal
immigrants
deportations
about 1.000 km are fenced, but further
construction was halted due to costs
completing the fence is politically
popular but also controversial
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expensive
probably ineffective
Why stop with just the Mexican border?
Immigration and the United States
Coming to Homerica
(“The Simpsons”, 2009)
In this episode, the people of
Ogdenville immigrate to Springfield
when their barley-based economy
crashes. In Springfield, they find work
as day laborers, domestic servants
and other low-paid jobs.
In in satirical twist, the Ogdenvillians
are of Norwegian (not Mexican or
other Hispanic) ancestry.
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Immigration and the United States
The Politics of Immigration Reform
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full enforcement is unrealistic, therefore
debate about legalization is central
many Hispanic voters (US citizens) want
to stop deportations of (illegal) relatives
and friends
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politically important: largest and fastest
growing minority
most support the Democrats
but: relatively low voter participation
Democrats want to legalize most illegal
immigrants and offer a path to citizenship
Republicans used to be divided, but antilegalization is now dominant
Rejecting legalization will likely cost Republicans the Hispanic
vote for the foreseeable future – a demographic problem.
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Immigration and the United States
Immigration Reform: A History of Delay
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Congress has not passed major
immigration reform since 1986 despite
many attempts
August 2013: Senate passed a bipartisan
immigration reform compromise bill
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legalization for many illegal immigrants
more money for border enforcement
reforms to legal immigration system
it was blocked by the Republican majority
in the House of Representatives
Obama protected young illegal immigrant
(“dream generation”) through executive
action
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Immigration reform cannot seem to make any progress in
Washington.
Immigration and the United States
Trump, Illegal Immigration, and the Border Wall
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early in his campaign, Trump made
illegal immigration a key issue
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denounced Mexican immigrants as drug
dealers and rapists
called for ending birthright citizenship
promised complete deportation
promised a full border wall paid by
Mexico
mixed message since election
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talk about smaller number of
deportations
hardliner Jeff Sessions as attorney general
talk in Congress about using existing 2006
legislation to expand existing border fence
Trump’s no-compromise stance on illegal immigration helped
him win the Republican primaries.
Immigration and the United States
Donald and Melania Trump
Saturday Night Live, 2015
Comedians Taran Killam and Cecily
Strong portray Donald Trump and his
wife Melania.
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Immigration and the United States
Conclusion
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immigration is central to the
American experience
American culture and identity are
not static, but changing
over the centuries, US has accepted
millions of immigrants successfully,
but rarely without conflict
current system is in need of
pragmatic reform
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but with Trump in office, the question
is how bad the crackdown will be
Immigration reform is long overdue in the United States.
Immigration and the United States
Coming to Homerica
(“The Simpsons”, 2009)
In this episode, the people of
Ogdenville immigrate to Springfield
when their barley-based economy
crashes. In Springfield, they find work
as day laborers, domestic servants
and other low-paid jobs.
When the wall between Springfield
and Ogdenville is finally finished, the
people of Springfield realize their
mistake.
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Immigration and the United States
Thank You for Your Attention!
you can download this presentation (no videos, sorry)
at www.amerikahaus.de/immigration
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Immigration and the United States