Land of Opportunity

By: Dillon Norman

Inquiry
How do immigrants from 3rd world countries
view the United States in terms of
opportunity?
Do we deserve to continue calling ourselves the
Land of Opportunity?

Crackdown of the United States

After September 11th, 2001 and the creation of Homeland
Security, the United States cracked down on immigration
control laws.
They made the United States a much more difficult place to enter, requiring
more strenuous background checks, strict security policies for borders and
airports, and a larger, stronger border patrol force.

The eligibility requirement for entrance into the United States

has been tightened, making it harder for an immigrant to gain
entrance legally.
Those who try to gain entrance through illegal means are usually caught by
the ever watchful Border Patrol, arrested, and deported back to their country.

Immigrants
Many immigrants of 3rd world countries
believe that America is the only place where
they, and their family, can succeed.
Gill M. from Djibouti sacrificed everything so that his daughter didnt
have to grow up in Africa. He was only 19 years old, with his daughter,
Asia, at the young age of 1 year old. He was forced to gain access
illegally, but he knew that he needed to get his daughter into America
at any cost. This journey occurred in 2006.
Finesse M. from Liberia dreamed of coming to America. The only thing
that she thought about when she thought of America was the
educational system. She also enjoyed the thought of being able to
freely practice her ethnic/cultural beliefs outside of her own country.

Act of Immigrating

The United States allows 140,000 unique visas a year for permanent
immigration. This is relatively high, considering that this allows for 140,000
people a year to be put on track to citizenship.

For someone who is coming to America to go from nothing to something, there is an issue. The limit for unskilled
workers (those who do not have a degree or experience in a specific job) is set at only 5,000 a year. The United
States strongly favors those from high educational backgrounds or experience in a unique field of work. Those
coming from 3rd world countries typically do not have this kind of background.
As was the case for Gill, many from 3rd world countries cannot afford to pay for

the means to actually travel to the United States. With this factor in place,
many have to gain access illegally by boarding cargo ships, utilizing a row boat
(In many cases with Cuba), or train hopping.

Their limited financial situation keeps them from legally gaining access into the United States.

Those who are forced to enter illegally, yet mean no harm, run the constant
risk of being caught and deported. This limits them from having a job in the
United States, unless they find an opportunity to work while being paid under
the table. This means they are not a documented worker, and often do not get
paid the wages that they should, being an employee in the United States.

My Perspective
The United States is too harsh with their
immigration policies.
The United States needs to support the less fortunate in countries where
they have no future, being the country with the highest GDP.
Our laws limit those who want to come here for a better education, yet
favor those who already have an education or wealth.
Those who live in a 3rd world country that are very hard working, with no
education, have a very difficult time gaining entry into the United States
due to their status group being limited to only 5,000 people a year.
Something needs to change!!

All statistical information is provided courtesy of the American Immigration Council

http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/how-united-states-immigration-systemworks-fact-sheet