Immigration Policies and Laws
The development of immigration policies in the US has often, taken one direction that may be deemed effective in the 19th century, but not in the information age. Immigration policies were derived from the historical aspects of US nation establishment in the 17th century where, free white were only eligible for citizenship. This essay explores the other side of the truth, where Christian Parenti and the authors Rumbaut and Ewing share different view on the relationship of immigration, crime and policies in the US.
Christian Parenti, the author of the 2008 book Lockdown America: Police and Prisons in the Age of Crisis, describes immigration laws and policies in the US as largely a product of the police adaptability. Police in the US in the 1960s invested more on tactics, technology and equipment in order to tackle crime and wave of protests that rocked the country. Drug wars by both authorities and other gangs also gave the security apparatus more reasons to review laws and policies, which seem to target foreigners from the South American regions, the blacks and people from poor backgrounds (Parenti 24). This completely overshadowed the real issues that clouded facts on immigrants, and thus, policies and laws governing them.
Parenti further cites that the frequent sweeps in neighborhoods in the fight against drugs and petty crime created the perception that associated immigrants with crime. This is not entirely true as facts suggests otherwise. Still, immigration laws and policies continued to be influenced by this form of stereotyping of certain communities in the US.
The research by Ewing and Rumbaut paints a clear picture of actually wwhat is happening in the US, regarding the immigration polices and laws over time. In their special report to the Immigration Policy Centre they provide facts to show that the policies have been largely driven by anecdotal misconception. Their research shows that, from actual facts, incarcerations have been reported more among American natives than among foreigners, or immigrants. Their research therefore helps address the fact that immigration laws in the US might have been targeting the wrong group altogether. The authors further address the public misconception that immigrants have high affinity to crime and jail terms. They also observe that the risk of immigrants facing incarceration increases over time (Rumbaut & Ewing, 11). Their work therefore helps address the main problem, rather than the fear that security challenges in the US is primarily caused by foreign elements. The research shades more light to the need to shift attention from historically influenced immigration policies, to future ready laws that will be relevant to the era of mass immigration.
In Canada, immigration policies are not universal across the various provinces. The provinces have their own immigration laws and policies, which were coordinated with the federal government. Immigration policies in Canada have however taken the direction that allows structured immigration policies with discriminative effects. For instance, laws were enacted in 1978 to allow newcomers to Canada. Canadian immigration policies therefore show a sense nation building and innovative frameworks that are not discriminatory.
Unlike in the US where immigrants face stiffer penalties or scrutiny for security reasons, the Canadian policies seem to welcome more immigrants. This further suggests that the Canadian laws and policies will continue to assume the same direction. Canada facing less security challenges compared to US, it is unlikely that the policies will change to restrict immigrants in the near future. Immigration policies in Canada also seem progressive based on the fact that, for instance, they are largely aimed at strengthening the economy and adhering to international refugee protection obligations.
Works Cited
Parenti, Christian “Lockdown America: Police and Prisons in the Age of Crises”. New York: Verson, 2nd Edition 2008
Rumbaut, Ewing “The Myth of Immigrant Criminality and the Paradox of Assimilation: Incarceration Rates among Native and Foreign-Born Men”. Immigration Policy Center 2008
