America's long, fractured history of immigration

This past Thursday, what was effectively the immigration law of the land throughout the pandemic expired, creating greater uncertainty along the U.S. border with Mexico. Correspondent Lee Cowan talks with experts about America's historical acceptance (or non-acceptance) of refugees, and how new immigration laws are needed to meet the challenges of today.
#immigration @RefugeesIntl

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[aguerra]

We spend billions on defense and on other countries' bellicose conflicts instead of investing in building up the quality of life on third world nations so that they will stay where they belong. Improving THEIR way of life would improve ours. Not only would it address the immigration issue but it would promote trading with the US as their economies improve.

[sammyp]

Everyone needs to take this issue seriously, regardless of party. We can’t help the entire world

[colleenmonfross]

The United States cannot take care of everyone. We have a duty to our own citizens first and anyone seeking to come here needs to do it legally and orderly. You cannot get away with rushing the border and hope for a good outcome. Respect our laws, file your petitions and wait your turn. Better yet, demand better from your own country and fix what is broken there. Meanwhile, we need to do the same here.

[phansam]

What? Asylum should be for those who are fleeing a war country. Like Ukraine, Haiti. Not for being scared off by gangs. We have gangs in the United States as well. So, is he going to go back if American gangsters go after him?

[lalah]

Just what, exactly, does an average American do about getting our ‘legal’ immigration system working at the high standard it should be at?

Has anyone else noticed that there are job openings everywhere? Does anyone consider that we’ve collectively lost over a million people to Covid in a very short time frame? If we don’t get the work visas and asylum seekers on a path to being here, how many small businesses, farms, and even towns will die off?

Undocumented immigrants are very vulnerable to being exploited and abused. Here and on the other side of our borders.

What happens as the environment becomes unable to sustain life? Where will we all go?


There has to be a better way.

[corneliusmakin-bird]

Why can't they fix their own problems internally instead of wanting to go to the USA? They also get angered then if the USA intervenes and tries to help them in their own country! When you realize that there is nothing you can possibly do to please them, then the answer is to just keep them out and tell them that the US is full and that it should not be our problem to take care of them.

[JonnyQ]

America had a near perfect Immigration policy with Ellis Island.. I remember there were 12 articles by which Immigrants had to comply in order to be considered for Citizenship..All 12 of these articles made the system work smoothly and fairly for everyone involved especially the United States which after all is how it should be..What we have today is God forbid something most people can't even get their heads around it is so complicated and undisciplined..I can't help but think of those who have filled out and turned in their paperwork and are just waiting to hear whether they will be invited to become American Citizens or not..What a disgusting way to treat those who I believe would make fine Citizens compared to those who feel they have the right to bombard the system so disrespectfully..

[anenglishmanplusamerican]

It really hurts me that the country that we fought to make, it's going to chaos.

[edyann]

Just fyi: A lot of them have money. I'm at the border on the Mexican side and they are ordering take out from our restaurants here with their fancy iPhones and leaving to the U.S. in Ubers. And they have told me that they won't stop until they get to either the U.S. or Canada.

[cherylspencer]

We are full! We already have our AMERICAN tax paying people that are in distress!! Hungry, homeless, need dentists/medical. Wtf

[CarmenHernandez-cckz]

Those family members put all own children’s in danger ⛔️

[Sjm]

Very touching to include the " give us your huddled masses " bit on the statue of liberty .
Ive never read it but I dont think it includes drug cartels, murderers and criminals of every sort.

[aguerra]

Addressing their needs in their own countries is the SOLUTION. We have the resources!

[pohanahawaii]

🤔 I'm finding it hard to have sympathy for a young man like Henry Rivas Sibrian who have been here 6-7 years (plus probably a few years of prep before that when he planned to migrate to the US) but still barely speaks English now. It doesn't say enough "effort" to try to assimilate into America and sends the message that, because he's here, America is expected to make accomodations for him and others like him instead of the other way around.

[CB-soxd]

You would be able to afford a house if there wasn't 45 million first generation migrants in this country.

[jaklinhyde]

I have absolutely nothing against immigration and believe we should be able to move around in this world, with that said I never understood the logic of packing up and leaving an entire country for another just because you were harassed or threatened in one neighborhood or town or city. Was there nowhere else you could have moved to in your country? What happens if and when something bad happens to you here in America and the cops don’t do much about it? Are you going to pack up and leave for the next country?? 😂😂

[louisereinhart]

America has the right and duty to vet every person seeking to live here. I’m all for immigration, but it has to be organized and immigration rules adhered to. I don’t care if it takes several years for the process to legally enter the US, if coming to the US means that much to the individual then the wait should be worth it.

[safety_sid]

To a certain degree we need a population influx that are willing to start at the bottom of the economic ladder and do the jobs that natural born citizens will literally become homeless before doing. Like a cleaner at a motel, or a night cook, or other back breaking low pay jobs.

[RichGallagher-jouq]

Rich Gallagher
1 second ago
Our local news reported that bilingual newcomers can get free supervisor/management training in food service and construction trades. Their valuable skills communicating with all empoyees will significantly contribute to productivity. Starting range, I think they said 19 to 23 dollars an hour.

[diablito]

I understood why, but the rules are made in congress. And congress has failed. And I'm part of the immigrants. Why do I say this? I graduated in criminal justice with a minor in constitutional law