America and Immigration

America is sometimes referred to as a "nation of immigrants" because of our largely open-door policy toward accepting foreigners pursuing their vision of the American Dream. Recently, there has been a clamor by some politicians and citizens toward creating a predominantly closed-door policy on immigration, arguing that immigrants "threaten" American life by creating unemployment by taking jobs from American workers, using much-needed social services, and encroaching on the "American way of life." While these arguments may seem valid to many, they are almost overwhelmingly false, and more than likely confused with the subject of illegal immigration. In the three stories, Nick Milano's "Citizenship for Christmas", Esmeralda Santiago's "A Blanco for New Yorikans" and Quynh Nguyen's "Being a Recent American" explains logical reasoning for Immigration. Based on the Milano's story, do the other authors feel as though his thoughts on the subject on immigration logical or illogical? Does Milano passage compliments the Immigration laws we have in effect, Or is it a satirical matter of opinion? How should the other authors react to his passage on immigration?

In the story of "Citizenship for Christmas", Milano throws the idea that using the idea of feeling the "Christmas Spirit" the debate on illegal immigration should be given a second look. From what I see, there are issues that arise within the immigration process and these hinder or lead to a drawback to the immigration services. Illegal immigration is one of the serious problems that face America but according to my own perception, I think immigration process is good whether legal or illegal. This is because not all people who are illegal immigrants are harmful but some find themselves in this situation due to the prevailing problems they face (Pro-Immigration and Anti-Immigration Groups in the United States, Para 1). A passage from Nguyen's "Being a Recent American" agrees with this statement. "My mother, father and older siblings fled our homeland to the safety of the U.S Soil; They were running from mass murder, starvation and a Communist regime hell bent on crushing those who opposed them" (Nguyen 1). There are various problems that people face in life that can make them run away from their mother country to seek or find help elsewhere especially to other countries (Pro-Immigration and Anti-Immigration Groups in the United States, paragraph 1).

In the next few lines Milano states that the United States as no exception to the rule, have been marred by years of slavery, manipulation, and racism. The blatant exploitation of Native Americans went hand in hand with the importation of African Slaves. Knowing that makes in my opinion has made it harder for people to incorporate their culture into The "American Dream". Nguyen ties in my opinion and Milano's logic by agree with the fact that it is hard to mix in his culture with his identity of being American. "I have found it difficult to accommodate my culture and my background with my identity as an American" (Milano 8). However in Santiago's "A Blanco Navidad for New Yorikans" found it very easy to incorporate their Christmas in Puerto Rico in to the American Christmas; "In our New York-based family, whom we celebrate our American Christmas by trying to recreate Las Navidades as we knew them on the island" (Santiago 3). They showed their easy transition into the American Christmas by cooking their Puerto Rican Dishes and exchanging gifts on Christmas Day instead of Three Kings Day. She explains how the children have fallen asleep as the gifts are passed around. As any eager child would have done during the hours before Christmas Day, anticipate the arrival of Santa Claus.

Another argument that Milano conveys is the human rights issue that plagues our generation is the treatment of illegal immigrants. Nguyen story also ties in with the fact that this generation does not in fact treat illegal immigrants as a welcomed people. "In Spite of the United States' long history with immigration, U.S. Culture has not found a way to embrace other cultures and welcome them into the fold. It's as if maintaining one's ethnicity is inherently un-American, and to forget it completely is the rite of initiation to Americaness" (Nguyen 8).

In fact, immigrants actually enhance American life by creating, not taking jobs, bolster social service funds through tax payments, and bring valuable technical knowledge and skills to our country. If we are to continue to excel as a nation, the traditionalists who fear an encroachment of foreign-born Americans must learn to accept that we achieved our greatness as a result of being "a nation of immigrants." Milano said it best, "Immigrants have dire circumstances in the search of a more hopeful future". For the most part, these people embark on the ruthless journey to the United States in the hopes of giving their children a better shot at life. Being that Nguyen was lucky enough to have the amenities of living the American Dream, he is simply feels guilt for being lucky. "Try reconciling the guilt with the drive to accomplish great things in college in order to make money to send home and spare members from poverty" (Nguyen 8).

A common argument among those opposing further immigration is that foreigners take U.S. jobs and cause unemployment among the displaced American workers. The myth was shattered when Milano goes in depth of why produce