Immigration in the United States Essay Sample

Immigration has changed over the years. In the earlier times of the United States, America would welcome immigrants.“The new Colossus”, “Prospective Immigrants, Please Note” and a speech given by Erika Pinhiera shows the progressive change in the way America is towards Immigration and the way it has changed so horribly over time. Immigration is now a large threat to Immigrants here in America, and to Immigrants trying to come into America. 

“The New Colossus” written by Emma Lazurus in 1849 clearly welcomes anyone who wants or needs to come to America. “Send these, Homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” America used to want more people, used to want to take care of others, used to want those who struggle to live better lives. Now it's not like that anymore. American borders treat people like prisoners, this would have never happened in 1894, but it's happening now. 

Adrienne Rich wrote “Prospective immigrants, Please note” in 1929 as a warning to Immigrants. She warned them, if life is too bad where you are, there's no guarantee it will be better here in America. She says “The door itself makes no promises. It is only a door.” In America during this time, Immigrants were becoming more and more not welcome, this isnt the worst of it. The way things were during this time was only the beginning. 

In a Ted Talk speech given by Erika Pinhiero she tells us multiple stories from the border where she works at times. She works to help the people in the border “prisons”. She lives on the other side of the border in Mexico and Works on the American side. The United States was so angry about her helping immigrants that they suspended her travel licenses. She has fought and fought to get back to Mexico to her 10 month old son. This is wrong, no one should have to fight that hard to keep their family. The immigrants shouldn't have to fight that hard to keep their families either. No one is doing anything about it because they think it couldn't be them. This is only the beginning of it. 

“The new Colossus”, “Prospective Immigrants, Please Note” and a speech given by Erika Pinhiera shows the progressive change in the way America is towards Immigration and the way it has changed so horribly over time. The Immgaration process and separation process is only going to get worse over time, just like it has over these past years. Immigrants are becoming more and more unwelcome. We need to change that.