1. The Immigration Debate
The American dream is the magnet that attracts
many different nationalities to the USA
The inscription on the statue of Liberty reads:
“Give me your tired, your poor,. Your huddled
masses yearning to breathe free “
The USA is often claimed to be a nation of
immigrants – due to its history of European settlers.
The only people that are truly ‘originally’ American
are the Native American Indian tribes. All others
were decedents/relatives of people who immigrated
to the USA.
However if current levels of immigration continue it is estimated that white people will
no longer be the largest ethnic group in the USA. Hispanics will have overtaken them.
Many see this as a threating reality check that immigration legal and illegal is out of
control. It has led to a debate over immigration to the USA.
Many people consider immigration to be a benefit to the USA; some even argue that
illegal immigrants who are in already in the USA should be allowed to stay.
Arguments FOR immigration
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2. Cheap labour
Employers in the USA want people to work
for wages, many immigrants do jobs that
Americas refuse to do because they are too
low paid. Many immigrants do these low paid
jobs as they are better than they had back
home.
Young and active
Immigrants are young and active, most
immigrants come to the USA to work they
want to work hard and live the dream – not
claim benefits
Cultural diversity
The US is a nation of immigrants and
diversity is enhanced by more immigrants,
through music, food etc
New Skills
Immigrants moving to the USA bring with
them new skills and create jobs for
Americans.
For Example
 In Texas and California immigrants
are vital for the economy esp in
farming work.
For Example
 It is estimated that immigrants
contribute around $30 billion a
year to the US economy
For Example
 Use of bagpipes in NYC with police
funerals.
 Italian food and culture thriving
in NYC
 RAP music from African Americans
For Example
 Asians in particular have set up
successful businesses and hired
Americans.
 Americans benefit from attracting
the best doctors etc to the USA
HOWEVER!!!
There are concerns that the current levels of immigration are not good for the
country
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3. By 2050 it is estimated that the Hispanic group, will be almost as large as the white
group in the USA = change in official language to Spanish?
Arguments AGAINST immigration
Wage levels kept low
Employers know that immigrants are willing
to work for low level of wages, therefore
wage levels are kept low putting Americans
off doing certain jobs
Unskilled and Uneducated
Many immigrants have poor education level
and lack in skills and therefore are only
able to basic low paid jobs. They end up
taking more out of the system than they
pay in, in tax.
Culture overwhelmed
It is believed by some that the current
levels of immigration are ‘swamping’
American culture. With many immigrants
unwilling to adapt i.e. many Hispanics cannot
speak English.
Crime
Levels of immigration can lead to tension
and conflict between people already in the
country and new immigrants. Current
immigrants may even feel threatened by
new arrivals willing to take their jobs this
can lead to crime
For Example
 There is competition for jobs in
farming, gardening and cleaning as
these are jobs many immigrants do
therefore wages are kept low as
there is always an immigrant willing
to do these jobs
For Example
 Immigration is costing the
taxpayer a lot of money, it its
estimated that around $30 billion
is spent on education, health and
welfare for legal immigrants
For Example
 Around 45 million people in USA
speak Spanish and there are many
TV channels which are in Spanish,
some feel threatened by this.
For Example
 The US state department
identified Mexican gangs as the
biggest crime threat to the
country
Activities
1. Why is the USA seen as a ‘nation of immigrants’?
2. Draw 2 pie charts – one showing the % of the different ethnic
groups in 2010 and one showing what the % will be by 2050
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3. Write two PEEL paragraphs explaining why some people think
continued immigration is a good thing

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