Sociology

The issue of immigration has existed in the United States since the day this country was established.  This country was founded on the premise of social and religious freedom.  Since then, the United States has been through many floods of immigrants coming to this country in search of a new and better life.  Specific areas of the United States seem to be more affected by immigration than others.  The ages and genders of the immigrants vary in number.  In essence, people are still coming to the United States in search of a better life, but it is uncertain as to whether or not the United States will continue this practice.
   
The evolution of immigration dates back to 1882 when the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed into law (Lochhead, 2006).  This Act banned any Asian laborer from coming into the United States (US).  From that point, the US government began the Bracero Program which lasted from 1942-1964.  This program allowed an estimated 4.5 million farmhands to come to the US due to the severe need of help following World War I and World War II (Lochhead, 2006).  In 1965, the US government passed into law the Immigration Act. This Act abolished the national origin quotas and established an immigration system based on family reunification in conjunction with job abilities.  This program was designed to enable the Italians, Poles, and other Europeans but the program failed miserably.

The only group of immigrants that seemed to benefit from the Act was the Asians and the Latin Americans.  Over one million refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia were admitted into the US following the Vietnam War.  Refugees were also admitted form Cuba, El Salvador, and Guatemala.  The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 sought to put sanctions against employers who hired illegal immigrants.  Immigration officials were bogged down with heavy caseloads, so in 1990 Congress extended amnesty to include immigrant family members (Lochhead, 2006).  The Diversity Lottery was the last immigration policy to be passed by the US government.  This policy allowed for a Visa to be used to correct the Irish and Italians from being left out.  By the time this policy was passed, the Irish and the Italians decided not to use it.  These Visas are now used by Africans and Middle Easterners (Lochhead, 2006).  Through a random lottery, which is slated for only a few countries, large numbers of immigrants are allowed into the US at one time.
   
Immigrants are entering into the US both legally and illegally.  In 2009, the US Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) reported the following figures for immigrant males entering the US  under age 18 0.7 million 18-24 age group 0.9 million 25-34 age group 2.3 million 35-44 age group 1.6 million 35-54 age group 0.5 million and 55-over age group 0.2 million.  The numbers are quite similar for female immigrants.  Females under the age of 18 were reported to represent 0.6 million, age 18-24 represented 0.5 million, 25-34 represented 1.4 million, 35-44 represented 1.3 million, 45-54 represented 0.5 million, and the 55-over group represented 0.2 million immigrants (United States Department of Homeland Security, 2009).  Since the recent earthquake disaster in Haiti, these numbers will certainly rise.  Immigrant projections are made by adding one million per year to the immigrant statistic as a whole (Campbell, Chilcoat,  Derby, 2004).  These figures are comprised yearly and made available to the public.
   
The number of legal resident population and illegal immigrant population is comprised by country of origin and state of residence.  The USDHS reported in 2008 that there were 8,160,000 immigrants who were eligible for naturalization and 4,440,000 immigrants in the US that were not eligible to naturalize (Rytina, 2009).  It is discerning to know that if an immigrant is not eligible for naturalization that they are allowed to remain in this country.  The entire legal resident population as of January 1, 2009 was estimated by the USDHS to be at 20,470,000 people.  The following chart depicts immigrants, both legal and illegal, in reference to country of origin and state of residence (Hoefer, Rytina,  Baker, 2009 Rytina, 2009)

2008-2009Country of OriginLegalEligibleIllegalState of Residenceto NaturalizeImmigrantsNumberPercentNumberPercentHaiti140,0001.701,570naMexico2,720,00033.306,650,00062.00Philippines300,0003.70270,0002.00California2,460,00030.102.6 mill.24.00New York950,00011.60550,0005.00Texas900,00011.001.7 mill.16.00Florida690,0008.50720,0007.00
It should be noted that the immigrants from Haiti did have the lowest number of illegal immigrants, but of that number 422 were deported for criminal activity, and 1148 were deported for non-criminal activity (United States Department of Homeland Security, 2008).  The immigrants who are eligible for naturalization should contact the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) , which is located in the US Department of Homeland Security Offices.  Also, the countries listed are the top three in popularity as to where immigrants arrive when coming to the US.  The ethnicity of these top four states is of Mexican and Pilipino decent.
   
The number of immigrants, legal and illegal, receiving public assistance and federal assistance is a subject that should be addressed here.  Social Service public assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Stamps, Medicaid, Women and Infant supplemental nutrition program (WIC), public housing, and Earned Income Credit (EIC) are just some of the programs that immigrants are receiving (Camarota, 2003).  States like New York, California, Florida, and Texas are dealing with the most immigrants on public assistance.  The Mexican, Haitian, and Cuban ethnic backgrounds make-up the most immigrant recipient groups of public assistance.  The federal programs being dented by immigrants are the Federal Housing Program (HUD) and the Supplemental Security program (SSI).  Non citizen eligible immigrants are eligible for SSI if  they are lawful non-citizens for  6 years, applied to be permanent residents within 4 years prior to SSI application, a Cuban or Haitian immigrant, deportation is withheld, and noncitizen must be  18 years of age or  70 years of age (United States Department of Social Security, 2010).  The US government has recently extended the length of time that an immigrant can receive SSI from 7 years to 9 years.  The second federal program is HUD.  Currently, there are 29,570, or 0.4, immigrants on the program (Leonhardt, 2007).  This program is extremely difficult for American citizens to gain access to.  The waiting lists for American citizens range from 2-10 years.  Immigrants are using the program to their advantage and in New York City there are 2,471 ineligible citizens on the program out of 260,000 on a ten year waiting list San Diego is accommodating 658 ineligible citizens Miami Dade is furnishing 288 immigrant families (Leonhardt, 2007).  The figures for homelessness in reference to immigrants have yet to be specified by any government agency.  Instead the government uses the number of immigrants applying for federal public housing as their baseline.  The same is true in reference to mental health statistics of immigrants in hospitals and jails, although immigrants account for 27 of the prison population in the US.  It has been noted that emergency room care in California is overwhelming and draining the system as immigrants use the emergency room to treat routine conditions without paying (Leonhardt, 2010).
   
Immigrants wishing to apply for naturalization must complete the following process.  First, they must complete a Naturalization Eligibility Worksheet, which can be obtained online or at a local USCIS office.  Next, the applicant must complete form N-400, the application for naturalization.  Before submitting the application, the applicant must obtain the following  two photos, passport size form I-551, permanent residency card and form 6-28, Notice of Entry form. These items plus the fee of 675.00 must be mailed to a USCIS Lockbox Facility.  The fee must be sent in a certified check or money order as they will not accept cash.  The USCIS will notify the applicant via mail if any further documents are needed.  The applicant will then receive a letter of acknowledgement and an appointment date to be fingerprinted.  It is important for the applicant to take any identification and the appointment letter with them to be fingerprinted.  Following this appointment, the applicant will receive another letter from the USCIS informing them of another appointment for the Interview process.  Applicants are to take identification and all documents with them to this appointment.  Applicants will be asked a series of questions.  Upon completion of the interview, the applicant will take an English and Civics test.  Thus begins the waiting process.  Applicants will eventually be notified of their acceptance or denial for citizenship.  Upon being accepted, applicants will receive an appointment to take their oath and become a United States Naturalized Citizen.
   
There are so many people coming into the United States that it seems almost impossible to discern who is legal and who is illegal.  The statistics from the United States Department of Homeland Security are alarming, but nonetheless, the United States allows for everyone to pursue their dreams by coming here.  The USDHS is working hard to change the immigration laws, and there has even been talk of closing the US borders.  Until this does happen, immigrants who are eligible for naturalization should begin the process as soon as possible.  Those immigrants who are here illegally should contact their local USCIS office and begin the process to be recognized as having a legal right to be in the US.  This great country was founded by immigrants and for immigrants, it would be such a shame to see the foundation of this country shift .