The document discusses immigration rates and statistics in the United States. As of 2011, there were 40.4 million foreign-born people living in the U.S, including 15.5 million naturalized citizens, 13.1 million legal permanent residents, and 11.1 million unauthorized immigrants. The author believes immigration can expand cultural diversity if illegal immigration is addressed properly. They propose a program where immigrants regularly update the government on their work and contributions to society to prove they deserve legal status.

1. Erin Scott
Harold Blanco
FYS
March 31, 2014
A Solution for Immigration in the U.S
Every day as we speak, people from all over the world are crossing into America illegally.
Whether it’s to escape from the harsh homelands of their own, or to simply start a new one,
the immigration rate to the United States continues to drastically grow every year. As of 2011,
there was a total of 40.4 million foreign-born people living in the U.S alone. Out of that 40.4
million, 15.5 million were naturalized U.S citizens, 13.1 million were legal permanent residents,
and the last 11.1 million were those who were considered unauthorized immigrants or illegal
immigrants. Some may look at this as a growing problem or some may look at this as a move in
the right direction toward cultural diversity.
From my viewpoint, I see this increase in immigration to be a step in the right direction.
Illegal immigration? No. Residents who are here and authorized to be here should be seen as a
door to expand our diversity and culture in society. We as Americans, I feel like are very
judgmental and unaccepting when it comes to different races and cultures that conflict with our
own. In order to eventually put an end to illegal immigration, Americans need to understand
that raising security and allowing no exceptions to immigration whatsoever, just results in more
illegal acts and an increase in the amount of unauthorized citizens living here who have no
other option but to hide and live illegally. What if the government created a program for
immigrants that required them to keep up to date with the federal government every other
month, showing them their work ethic skills (able to keep a job) and contribution to society? By

2. doing this, the government would be reassured that they have good intentions and have
proved themselves and their right to live in America legally.