how to write an essay about immigration

Apr 10, 2023

How To Write Essays About Immigration (With Examples)

Immigrants bring diverse perspectives and skills that can enrich our societies and economies. If you want to gain insight into the impact of immigration on society and culture, keep reading!

Immigration, a subject deeply woven into the fabric of global discussions, touches on political, economic, and social nuances. As globalization propels many to seek new horizons, understanding the multifaceted impacts of migration is crucial. Crafting a compelling essay on such a vast topic requires more than just research; it demands the delicate weaving of insights into a coherent narrative. For those keen on delivering a polished essay on immigration, considering assistance from a reliable essay writing tool can be a game-changer. This tool not only refines the craft of writing but ensures your perspectives on immigration are articulated with clarity and precision.

Here are our Top 5 Essay Examples and Ideas about Immigration:

The economic impact of immigration on host countries, introduction.

In many nations, immigration has been a hotly debated issue, with supporters and opponents disputing how it would affect the home nation. The economic impact of immigration on host countries is one of the essential components of this discussion. Immigration's economic effects may be favorable or harmful, depending on many circumstances.

This article will examine the economic effects of immigration on the receiving nations, examining both the advantages and disadvantages that immigration may have. You will better know how immigration impacts a nation's economy and the variables that influence it after this article.

Immigration's effects on labor markets

An essential component of the total economic impact of immigration is how it affects labor markets. Immigration may affect labor markets, including shifting labor supply and demand, opening new job possibilities, and perhaps affecting local employees' earnings and prospects. This section will examine how immigration affects labor markets in receiving nations.

The shift in the labor supply is one of immigration's most apparent effects on labor markets. When more employees are available in the host nation due to immigration, there may be more competition for open positions. In fields that serve immigrant populations, such as ethnic food shops or language schools, immigrants can also generate new jobs.

Another significant impact of immigration on labor markets is its effect on wages and income distribution. Some studies have suggested that immigration can reduce wages for native workers, particularly those who are less educated or have lower skill levels. 

Immigrants can also contribute to economic growth and innovation, which can positively impact labor markets. Immigrants often have unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that can help drive innovation and create new job opportunities in the host country. Furthermore, immigrants are often more entrepreneurial and more likely to start businesses, which can generate new jobs and contribute to economic growth.

The effect of immigration on wages and income distribution

The effect of immigration on wages and income distribution is a crucial area of concern in the overall economic impact of immigration. Immigration can affect wages and income distribution in various ways, which can have significant implications for both native workers and immigrants. In this section, we will explore the effect of immigration on wages and income distribution in host countries.

One of the primary ways that immigration can impact wages and income distribution is by changing the supply and demand of labor. With an influx of immigrants, the labor supply increases, which can lead to increased competition for jobs. Some studies suggest that immigration harms wages for native workers, while others offer no significant effect.

Another way that immigration can impact wages and income distribution is through its effect on the composition of the workforce. Immigrants often fill low-skilled jobs in industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, which tend to pay lower wages. 

Immigration can also impact income distribution by contributing to the overall level of economic inequality in a host country. While immigration can lead to lower wages for some native workers, it can also lead to higher wages and increased economic mobility for some immigrants. Furthermore, immigrants may face various barriers to upward mobility, such as discrimination or lack of access to education and training. This can lead to increased income inequality between native and immigrant workers.

The contribution of immigrants to economic growth and innovation

Immigrants have historically played a significant role in driving economic growth and innovation in host countries. In this section, we will explore the contribution of immigrants to economic growth and innovation and the factors that enable them to do so.

One of the primary ways that immigrants contribute to economic growth is through their entrepreneurial activities. Immigrants are often more likely to start their businesses than native-born individuals, and these businesses can create jobs and drive economic growth. Immigrant entrepreneurs have contributed to developing industries such as technology, healthcare, and hospitality. Additionally, immigrants are often overrepresented in STEM fields, which is critical to driving innovation and economic growth.

Another way that immigrants contribute to economic growth is through their impact on the labor force. Immigrants tend to be more mobile than native-born individuals, which can lead to a more flexible and adaptable workforce. Immigrants also tend to fill critical roles in industries such as healthcare and agriculture, which are essential to maintaining the functioning of the economy. By filling these roles, immigrants contribute to the overall productivity and growth of the economy.

The costs and benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants

The issue of social welfare programs for immigrants has been a controversial topic in many host countries. In this section, we will explore the costs and benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants and the policy implications.

One of the primary benefits of social welfare programs for immigrants is that they can help reduce poverty and promote social inclusion. Immigrants often face significant barriers to economic mobility, such as language barriers and discrimination. Social welfare programs can help provide a safety net for those struggling to make ends meet and promote social cohesion by reducing inequalities.

However, social welfare programs for immigrants also come with costs. One concern is that these programs may attract immigrants primarily seeking to access social welfare benefits rather than contributing to the economy. This can strain public finances and create resentment among native-born individuals who feel their tax dollars are being used to support immigrants.

Another concern is that social welfare programs may create disincentives for immigrants to work and contribute to the economy. If the benefits of social welfare programs are too generous, some immigrants may choose to rely on them rather than seek employment. This can create long-term dependence and reduce overall economic productivity.

The impact of immigration on public finances and fiscal policies

The effect of immigration on public finances and fiscal policies is a topic of significant interest and debate. This section will explore how immigration affects public finances and how host countries can implement budgetary policies to manage the impact.

One way that immigration can impact public finances is through taxes. Immigrants who are employed and pay taxes can contribute to the tax base of the host country, which can provide additional revenue for public services and infrastructure. However, immigrants who are not employed or earn low wages may contribute fewer taxes, which can strain public finances. 

Fiscal policies can be used to manage the impact of immigration on public finances. One guideline is to increase taxes on immigrants to offset the costs of public services they use. However, this can create a disincentive for highly skilled and educated immigrants to migrate to the host country. Another policy is to increase spending on public services to accommodate the needs of immigrants. However, this can strain public finances and lead to resentment among native-born individuals who feel their tax dollars are being used to support immigrants.

In conclusion, the economic impact of immigration is a complex issue with both costs and benefits for host countries. Immigration can impact labor markets, wages and income distribution, economic growth and innovation, social welfare programs, public finances, and fiscal policies. 

The social and cultural implications of immigration

Immigration has social and cultural implications that affect both immigrants and host countries. The movement of people from one place to another can result in a blending of cultures, traditions, and ideas. At the same time, immigration can also result in social and cultural tensions as different groups struggle to integrate and adjust to new environments. 

The social and cultural implications of immigration have become increasingly important in today's globalized world as the movement of people across borders has become more common. In this article, we will explore the various social and cultural implications of immigration and how they impact immigrants and host communities.

The impact of immigration on social cohesion and integration

Immigration has a significant impact on social cohesion and integration in host countries. Social cohesion refers to the degree to which members of a society feel connected and share a sense of belonging. In contrast, integration refers to the process by which immigrants become a part of the host society. Immigration can either enhance or hinder social cohesion and integration, depending on how it is managed and perceived by the host society.

Another factor that can impact social cohesion and integration is the level of diversity within the host society. Increased diversity can lead to greater cultural exchange and understanding but also social tensions and the formation of segregated communities. Promoting social interaction and cooperation among diverse groups can help mitigate these tensions and promote social cohesion.

The perception of immigrants by the host society also plays a significant role in social cohesion and integration. Negative stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes can hinder integration and create barriers to social cohesion. On the other hand, positive attitudes towards immigrants and their contributions to society can facilitate integration and promote social cohesion.

The role of language and communication in the integration of immigrants

Language and communication play a crucial role in integrating immigrants into host societies. Immigrants may need the ability to communicate effectively with others to overcome significant barriers to social and economic integration. Language and communication skills are essential for accessing education, finding employment, and participating in civic life.

Language is one of the primary barriers immigrants face when integrating into a new society. Without proficiency in the host country's language, immigrants may struggle to understand instructions, participate in conversations, and access essential services. This can lead to social isolation and hinder economic opportunities.

Language training programs are one way to address this issue. Effective language training programs can help immigrants learn the host country's language and develop the communication skills necessary for successful integration. These programs can also give immigrants the cultural knowledge and understanding essential to navigate the host society.

The effect of immigration on cultural diversity and identity

Immigration can significantly impact the cultural diversity and identity of both host societies and immigrant communities. The cultural exchange resulting from immigration can enrich societies and provide opportunities for learning and growth. However, immigration can also pose challenges to preserving cultural identities and maintaining social cohesion.

One of the primary ways in which immigration affects cultural diversity and identity is through the introduction of new customs, traditions, and beliefs. Immigrant communities often bring unique cultural practices, such as food, music, and art, that can enhance the cultural landscape of the host society. Exposure to new cultures can broaden the perspectives of individuals and communities, leading to greater tolerance and understanding.

The challenges and benefits of multiculturalism in host countries

Multiculturalism refers to the coexistence of different cultural groups within a society. It is a concept that has become increasingly important in modern societies characterized by race, ethnicity, religion, and language diversity. 

Multiculturalism is often promoted to promote tolerance, social cohesion, and the celebration of diversity. 

Challenges of multiculturalism

Multiculturalism presents a range of challenges that can impact host societies. These challenges include social division, discrimination, language barriers, and cultural clashes. For example, when immigrants share different values or traditions than the host society, this can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. Similarly, language barriers can limit communication and make it difficult for immigrants to integrate into the host society.

Benefits of multiculturalism

Multiculturalism can also bring a range of benefits to host societies. These benefits include increased cultural awareness and sensitivity, economic growth, and exchanging ideas and perspectives. For example, cultural diversity can provide opportunities for host societies to learn from different cultural practices and approaches to problem-solving. This can lead to innovation and growth.

Social cohesion

Social cohesion refers to the ability of a society to function harmoniously despite differences in culture, ethnicity, religion, and language. Multiculturalism can pose a challenge to social cohesion, but it can also promote it. Host societies can foster social cohesion by promoting the acceptance and understanding of different cultural groups. This can be achieved through policies and programs that promote intercultural dialogue, education, and community-building.

Discrimination and prejudice

Multiculturalism can also increase the risk of discrimination and prejudice. Discrimination can take many forms, including racial, religious, and cultural bias. Host societies can combat discrimination by implementing anti-discrimination laws and policies and promoting diversity and inclusion.

Economic benefits

Multiculturalism can also bring economic benefits to host societies. The presence of a diverse range of skills and talents can lead to innovation and economic growth. Immigrants can also get various skills and experiences contributing to the host society's economic development.

In conclusion, immigration has significant social and cultural implications for both host countries and immigrants. It affects social cohesion, integration, cultural diversity, and identity. Host countries face challenges and benefits of multiculturalism, including economic growth, innovation, and social change.

The role of immigration in shaping national identity

Immigration has always been a significant driver of cultural and social change, with immigrants often bringing their unique identities, values, and traditions to their new homes. As a result, immigration can play a crucial role in shaping national identity, as it challenges existing cultural norms and values and introduces new ideas and perspectives. 

In this article, we will explore the role of immigration in shaping national identity, including its effects on cultural diversity, social cohesion, and political discourse. We will also discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by immigration to national identity and the importance of embracing a diverse and inclusive national identity in today's globalized world.

Immigration and the evolution of national identity

The relationship between immigration and national identity is complex, as immigration can challenge and reinforce existing national identities. As immigrants bring new cultural practices and values, they challenge the existing norms and values of the host society, prompting a re-evaluation of what it means to be part of that society. This can create a more inclusive and diverse national identity as different cultural traditions and practices are recognized and celebrated.

At the same time, the influx of new immigrants can also create a sense of fear and anxiety among some members of the host society, who may view the changes brought about by immigration as a threat to their cultural identity. This can lead to calls for stricter immigration policies and a more limited definition of national identity, which can exclude or marginalize certain groups.

The role of immigrants in shaping cultural diversity

Immigrants have played a significant role in shaping cultural diversity in many countries. Their arrival in a new land brings their customs, traditions, beliefs, and practices, which contribute to society's richness and vibrancy. 

One of the key ways in which immigrants have shaped cultural diversity is through their contributions to the local community. Immigrants bring a wealth of knowledge, skills, and talents that can benefit the societies they move to. For example, they may introduce new cuisines, music, art, and literature that add to the cultural landscape of their new home. This can create a more diverse and inclusive society where different cultures are celebrated and appreciated.

Another important aspect of cultural diversity is the challenges immigrants face when adapting to a new culture. Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience, especially if the culture is vastly different from one's own. Immigrants may struggle with language barriers, cultural norms, and social customs that are unfamiliar to them. This can lead to feelings of isolation and exclusion, which can negatively impact their mental health and well-being.

The challenges of maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity

Strengthening social cohesion amidst diversity is a complex challenge many societies face today. Cultural, ethnic, religious, and language diversity can lead to tensions and conflicts if managed poorly. 

One of the main challenges of maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity is the need to balance the interests of different groups. This involves recognizing and respecting the cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity of society while also promoting a sense of shared identity and common values. This can be particularly challenging in contexts with competing interests and power imbalances between different groups.

Another challenge is the need to address discrimination and prejudice. Discrimination can take many forms, including unequal access to education, employment, housing, hate speech, and violence. Prejudice and stereotypes can also lead to social exclusion and marginalization of certain groups. Addressing these issues requires a concerted effort from the government, civil society, and individuals to promote tolerance and respect for diversity.

Promoting inclusive policies is another crucial factor in maintaining social cohesion amidst diversity. This includes policies promoting equal opportunities for all, regardless of background. This can involve affirmative action programs, targeted social policies, and support for minority groups. Inclusive policies can also create a sense of belonging and ownership among different groups, which helps foster social cohesion.

In conclusion, immigration profoundly influences the formation of national identity. As individuals from various backgrounds merge into a new country, they not only introduce their distinct cultural and ethnic traits but also embark on a journey of personal growth and adaptation. This process mirrors the development of key skills such as leadership, character, and community service, essential for thriving in diverse environments. These attributes are not only vital for immigrants as they integrate into society but are also exemplified in successful National Honor Society essays , where personal growth and societal contribution are celebrated. Thus, the experiences of immigrants significantly enrich the societal tapestry, reflecting in our collective values, beliefs, and practices.

To sum it all up:

To recapitulate writing a five-paragraph essay about immigration can be challenging, but with the right approach and resources, it can be a rewarding experience. Throughout this article, we have discussed the various aspects of immigration that one can explore in such an essay, including the economic impact, social and cultural implications, and the evolution of national identity. 

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Eight brilliant student essays on immigration and unjust assumptions.

Read winning essays from our winter 2019 “Border (In)Security” student writing contest.

For the winter 2019 student writing competition, “Border (In)Security,” we invited students to read the YES! Magazine article “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the “Constitution-Free Zone” by Lornet Turnbull and respond with an up-to-700-word essay. 

Students had a choice between two writing prompts for this contest on immigration policies at the border and in the “Constitution-free zone,” a 100-mile perimeter from land and sea borders where U.S. Border Patrol can search any vehicle, bus, or vessel without a warrant. They could state their positions on the impact of immigration policies on our country’s security and how we determine who is welcome to live here. Or they could write about a time when someone made an unfair assumption about them, just as Border Patrol agents have made warrantless searches of Greyhound passengers based simply on race and clothing.

The Winners

From the hundreds of essays written, these eight were chosen as winners. Be sure to read the author’s response to the essay winners and the literary gems that caught our eye.

Middle School Winner: Alessandra Serafini

High School Winner: Cain Trevino

High School Winner: Ethan Peter

University Winner: Daniel Fries

Powerful Voice Winner: Emma Hernandez-Sanchez

Powerful Voice Winner: Tiara Lewis

Powerful Voice Winner: Hailee Park

Powerful Voice Winner: Aminata Toure

From the Author Lornet Turnbull

Literary Gems

Middle school winner.

Alessandra Serafini

Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

Broken Promises

“…Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

These words were written by Emma Lazarus and are inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty. And yet, the very door they talk about is no longer available to those who need it the most. The door has been shut, chained, and guarded. It no longer shines like gold. Those seeking asylum are being turned away. Families are being split up; children are being stranded. The promise America made to those in need is broken.

Not only is the promise to asylum seekers broken, but the promises made to some 200 million people already residing within the U.S. are broken, too. Anyone within 100 miles of the United States border lives in the “Constitution-free zone” and can be searched with “reasonable suspicion,” a suspicion that is determined by Border Patrol officers. The zone encompasses major cities, such as Seattle and New York City, and it even covers entire states, such as Florida, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. I live in the Seattle area, and it is unsettling that I can be searched and interrogated without the usual warrant. In these areas, there has been an abuse of power; people have been unlawfully searched and interrogated because of assumed race or religion.

The ACLU obtained data from the Customs and Border Protection Agency that demonstrate this reprehensible profiling. The data found that “82 percent of foreign citizens stopped by agents in that state are Latino, and almost 1 in 3 of those processed are, in fact, U.S. citizens.” These warrantless searches impede the trust-building process and communication between the local population and law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, this lack of trust makes campaigns, such as Homeland Security’s “If You See Something, Say Something,” ineffective due to the actions of the department’s own members and officers. Worst of all, profiling ostracizes entire communities and makes them feel unsafe in their own country.

Ironically, asylum seekers come to America in search of safety. However, the thin veil of safety has been drawn back, and, behind it, our tarnished colors are visible. We need to welcome people in their darkest hours rather than destroy their last bit of hope by slamming the door in their faces. The immigration process is currently in shambles, and an effective process is essential for both those already in the country and those outside of it. Many asylum seekers are running from war, poverty, hunger, and death. Their countries’ instability has hijacked every aspect of their lives, made them vagabonds, and the possibility of death, a cruel and unforgiving death, is real. They see no future for their children, and they are desperate for the perceived promise of America—a promise of opportunity, freedom, and a safe future. An effective process would determine who actually needs help and then grant them passage into America. Why should everyone be turned away? My grandmother immigrated to America from Scotland in 1955. I exist because she had a chance that others are now being denied.

Emma Lazarus named Lady Liberty the “Mother of Exiles.” Why are we denying her the happiness of children? Because we cannot decide which ones? America has an inexplicable area where our constitution has been spurned and forgotten. Additionally, there is a rancorous movement to close our southern border because of a deep-rooted fear of immigrants and what they represent. For too many Americans, they represent the end of established power and white supremacy, which is their worst nightmare. In fact, immigrants do represent change—healthy change—with new ideas and new energy that will help make this country stronger. Governmental agreement on a humane security plan is critical to ensure that America reaches its full potential. We can help. We can help people in unimaginably terrifying situations, and that should be our America.

Alessandra Serafini plays on a national soccer team for Seattle United and is learning American Sign Language outside of school. Her goal is to spread awareness about issues such as climate change, poverty, and large-scale political conflict through writing and public speaking.

  High School Winner

Cain Trevino

North Side High School, Fort Worth, Texas

Xenophobia and the Constitution-Free Zone

In August of 2017, U.S. Border Patrol agents boarded a Greyhound bus that had just arrived at the White River Junction station from Boston. According to Danielle Bonadona, a Lebanon resident and a bus passenger, “They wouldn’t let us get off. They boarded the bus and told us they needed to see our IDs or papers.” Bonadona, a 29-year-old American citizen, said that the agents spent around 20 minutes on the bus and “only checked the IDs of people who had accents or were not white.” Bonadona said she was aware of the 100-mile rule, but the experience of being stopped and searched felt “pretty unconstitutional.”

In the YES! article “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’” by Lornet Turnbull, the author references the ACLU’s argument that “the 100-mile zone violates Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure.” However, the Supreme Court upholds the use of immigration checkpoints for inquiries on citizenship status. In my view, the ACLU makes a reasonable argument. The laws of the 100-mile zone are blurred, and, too often, officials give arbitrary reasons to conduct a search. Xenophobia and fear of immigrants burgeons in cities within these areas. People of color and those with accents or who are non-English speakers are profiled by law enforcement agencies that enforce anti-immigrant policies. The “Constitution-free zone” is portrayed as an effective barrier to secure our borders. However, this anti-immigrant zone does not make our country any safer. In fact, it does the opposite.

As a former student from the Houston area, I can tell you that the Constitution-free zone makes immigrants and citizens alike feel on edge. The Department of Homeland Security’s white SUVs patrol our streets. Even students feel the weight of anti-immigrant laws. Dennis Rivera Sarmiento, an undocumented student who attended Austin High School in Houston, was held by school police in February 2018 for a minor altercation and was handed over to county police. He was later picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and held in a detention center. It is unfair that kids like Dennis face much harsher consequences for minor incidents than other students with citizenship.

These instances are a direct result of anti-immigrant laws. For example, the 287(g) program gives local and state police the authority to share individuals’ information with ICE after an arrest. This means that immigrants can be deported for committing misdemeanors as minor as running a red light. Other laws like Senate Bill 4, passed by the Texas Legislature, allow police to ask people about their immigration status after they are detained. These policies make immigrants and people of color feel like they’re always under surveillance and that, at any moment, they may be pulled over to be questioned and detained.

During Hurricane Harvey, the immigrant community was hesitant to go to the shelters because images of immigration authorities patrolling the area began to surface online. It made them feel like their own city was against them at a time when they needed them most. Constitution-free zones create communities of fear. For many immigrants, the danger of being questioned about immigration status prevents them from reporting crimes, even when they are the victim. Unreported crime only places more groups of people at risk and, overall, makes communities less safe.

In order to create a humane immigration process, citizens and non-citizens must hold policymakers accountable and get rid of discriminatory laws like 287(g) and Senate Bill 4. Abolishing the Constitution-free zone will also require pressure from the public and many organizations. For a more streamlined legal process, the League of United Latin American Citizens suggests background checks and a small application fee for incoming immigrants, as well as permanent resident status for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients. Other organizations propose expanding the green card lottery and asylum for immigrants escaping the dangers of their home countries.

Immigrants who come to the U.S. are only looking for an opportunity to provide for their families and themselves; so, the question of deciding who gets inside the border and who doesn’t is the same as trying to prove some people are worth more than others. The narratives created by anti-immigrant media plant the false idea that immigrants bring nothing but crime and terrorism. Increased funding for the border and enforcing laws like 287(g) empower anti-immigrant groups to vilify immigrants and promote a witch hunt that targets innocent people. This hatred and xenophobia allow law enforcement to ask any person of color or non-native English speaker about their citizenship or to detain a teenager for a minor incident. Getting rid of the 100-mile zone means standing up for justice and freedom because nobody, regardless of citizenship, should have to live under laws created from fear and hatred.

Cain Trevino is a sophomore. Cain is proud of his Mexican and Salvadorian descent and is an advocate for the implementation of Ethnic Studies in Texas. He enjoys basketball, playing the violin, and studying c omputer science. Cain plans to pursue a career in engineering at Stanford University and later earn a PhD.  

High School Winner

Ethan Peter

Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Mo.

I’m an expert on bussing. For the past couple of months, I’ve been a busser at a pizza restaurant near my house. It may not be the most glamorous job, but it pays all right, and, I’ll admit, I’m in it for the money.

I arrive at 5 p.m. and inspect the restaurant to ensure it is in pristine condition for the 6 p.m. wave of guests. As customers come and go, I pick up their dirty dishes, wash off their tables, and reset them for the next guests. For the first hour of my shift, the work is fairly straightforward.

I met another expert on bussing while crossing the border in a church van two years ago. Our van arrived at the border checkpoint, and an agent stopped us. She read our passports, let us through, and moved on to her next vehicle. The Border Patrol agent’s job seemed fairly straightforward.

At the restaurant, 6 p.m. means a rush of customers. It’s the end of the workday, and these folks are hungry for our pizzas and salads. My job is no longer straightforward.

Throughout the frenzy, the TVs in the restaurant buzz about waves of people coming to the U.S. border. The peaceful ebb and flow enjoyed by Border agents is disrupted by intense surges of immigrants who seek to enter the U.S. Outside forces push immigrants to the United States: wars break out in the Middle East, gangs terrorize parts of Central and South America, and economic downturns force foreigners to look to the U.S., drawn by the promise of opportunity. Refugees and migrant caravans arrive, and suddenly, a Border Patrol agent’s job is no longer straightforward.

I turn from the TVs in anticipation of a crisis exploding inside the restaurant: crowds that arrive together will leave together. I’ve learned that when a table looks finished with their dishes, I need to proactively ask to take those dishes, otherwise, I will fall behind, and the tables won’t be ready for the next customers. The challenge is judging who is finished eating. I’m forced to read clues and use my discretion.

Interpreting clues is part of a Border Patrol agent’s job, too. Lornet Turnbull states, “For example, CBP data obtained by ACLU in Michigan shows that 82 percent of foreign citizens stopped by agents in that state are Latino, and almost 1 in 3 of those processed is, in fact, a U.S. citizen.” While I try to spot customers done with their meals so I can clear their part of the table, the Border Patrol officer uses clues to detect undocumented immigrants. We both sometimes guess incorrectly, but our intentions are to do our jobs to the best of our abilities.

These situations are uncomfortable. I certainly do not enjoy interrupting a conversation to get someone’s dishes, and I doubt Border Patrol agents enjoy interrogating someone about their immigration status. In both situations, the people we mistakenly ask lose time and are subjected to awkward and uncomfortable situations. However, here’s where the busser and the Border Patrol officer’s situations are different: If I make a mistake, the customer faces a minor inconvenience. The stakes for a Border Patrol agent are much higher. Mistakenly asking for documentation and searching someone can lead to embarrassment or fear—it can even be life-changing. Thus, Border Patrol agents must be fairly certain that someone’s immigration status is questionable before they begin their interrogation.

To avoid these situations altogether, the U.S. must make the path to citizenship for immigrants easier. This is particularly true for immigrants fleeing violence. Many people object to this by saying these immigrants will bring violence with them, but data does not support this view. In 1939, a ship of Jewish refugees from Germany was turned away from the U.S.—a decision viewed negatively through the lens of history. Today, many people advocate restricting immigration for refugees from violent countries; they refuse to learn the lessons from 1939. The sad thing is that many of these immigrants are seen as just as violent as the people they are fleeing. We should not confuse the oppressed with the oppressor.

My restaurant appreciates customers because they bring us money, just as we should appreciate immigrants because they bring us unique perspectives. Equally important, immigrants provide this country with a variety of expert ideas and cultures, which builds better human connections and strengthens our society.

Ethan Peter is a junior. Ethan writes for his school newspaper, The Kirkwood Call, and plays volleyball for his high school and a club team. He hopes to continue to grow as a writer in the future. 

University Winner

Daniel Fries

Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

Detained on the Road to Equality

The United States is a nation of immigrants. There are currently 43 million foreign-born people living in the U.S. Millions of them are naturalized American citizens, and 23 million, or 7.2 percent of the population, are living here without documentation (US Census, 2016). One in seven residents of the United States was not born here. Multiculturalism is, and always has been, a key part of the American experience. However, romantic notions of finding a better life in the United States for immigrants and refugees don’t reflect reality. In modern history, America is a country that systematically treats immigrants—documented or not—and non-white Americans in a way that is fundamentally different than what is considered right by the majority.

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment states,“No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” When a suspected undocumented immigrant is detained, their basic human rights are violated. Warrantless raids on Greyhound buses within 100 miles of the border (an area referred to by some as the “Constitution-free zone”) are clear violations of human rights. These violations are not due to the current state of politics; they are the symptom of blatant racism in the United States and a system that denigrates and abuses people least able to defend themselves.

It is not surprising that some of the mechanisms that drive modern American racism are political in nature. Human beings are predisposed to dislike and distrust individuals that do not conform to the norms of their social group (Mountz, Allison). Some politicians appeal to this suspicion and wrongly attribute high crime rates to non-white immigrants. The truth is that immigrants commit fewer crimes than native-born Americans. In fact, people born in the United States are convicted of crimes at a rate twice that of undocumented non-natives (Cato Institute, 2018).

The majority of immigrants take high risks to seek a better life, giving them incentive to obey the laws of their new country. In many states, any contact with law enforcement may ultimately result in deportation and separation from family. While immigrants commit far fewer crimes, fear of violent crime by much of the U.S. population outweighs the truth. For some politicians, it is easier to sell a border wall to a scared population than it is to explain the need for reformed immigration policy. It’s easier to say that immigrants are taking people’s jobs than explain a changing global economy and its effect on employment. The only crime committed in this instance is discrimination.

Human rights are violated when an undocumented immigrant—or someone perceived as an undocumented immigrant—who has not committed a crime is detained on a Greyhound bus. When a United States citizen is detained on the same bus, constitutional rights are being violated. The fact that this happens every day and that we debate its morality makes it abundantly clear that racism is deeply ingrained in this country. Many Americans who have never experienced this type of oppression lack the capacity to understand its lasting effect. Most Americans don’t know what it’s like to be late to work because they were wrongfully detained, were pulled over by the police for the third time that month for no legal reason, or had to coordinate legal representation for their U.S. citizen grandmother because she was taken off a bus for being a suspected undocumented immigrant. This oppression is cruel and unnecessary.

America doesn’t need a wall to keep out undocumented immigrants; it needs to seriously address how to deal with immigration. It is possible to reform the current system in such a way that anyone can become a member of American society, instead of existing outside of it. If a person wants to live in the United States and agrees to follow its laws and pay its taxes, a path to citizenship should be available.

People come to the U.S. from all over the world for many reasons. Some have no other choice. There are ongoing humanitarian crises in Syria, Yemen, and South America that are responsible for the influx of immigrants and asylum seekers at our borders. If the United States wants to address the current situation, it must acknowledge the global factors affecting the immigrants at the center of this debate and make fact-informed decisions. There is a way to maintain the security of America while treating migrants and refugees compassionately, to let those who wish to contribute to our society do so, and to offer a hand up instead of building a wall.

Daniel Fries studies computer science. Daniel has served as a wildland firefighter in Oregon, California, and Alaska. He is passionate about science, nature, and the ways that technology contributes to making the world a better, more empathetic, and safer place.

Powerful Voice Winner

Emma Hernandez-Sanchez

Wellness, Business and Sports School, Woodburn, Ore.

An Emotion an Immigrant Knows Too Well

Before Donald Trump’s campaign, I was oblivious to my race and the idea of racism. As far as I knew, I was the same as everyone else. I didn’t stop to think about our different-colored skins. I lived in a house with a family and attended school five days a week just like everyone else. So, what made me different?

Seventh grade was a very stressful year—the year that race and racism made an appearance in my life. It was as if a cold splash of water woke me up and finally opened my eyes to what the world was saying. It was this year that Donald Trump started initiating change about who got the right to live in this country and who didn’t. There was a lot of talk about deportation, specifically for Mexicans, and it sparked commotion and fear in me.

I remember being afraid and nervous to go out. At home, the anxiety was there but always at the far back of my mind because I felt safe inside. My fear began as a small whisper, but every time I stepped out of my house, it got louder. I would have dreams about the deportation police coming to my school; when I went to places like the library, the park, the store, or the mall, I would pay attention to everyone and to my surroundings. In my head, I would always ask myself, “Did they give us nasty looks?,” “Why does it seem quieter?” “Was that a cop I just saw?” I would notice little things, like how there were only a few Mexicans out or how empty a store was. When my mom went grocery shopping, I would pray that she would be safe. I was born in America, and both my parents were legally documented. My mom was basically raised here. Still, I couldn’t help but feel nervous.

I knew I shouldn’t have been afraid, but with one look, agents could have automatically thought my family and I were undocumented. Even when the deportation police would figure out that we weren’t undocumented, they’d still figure out a way to deport us—at least that was what was going through my head. It got so bad that I didn’t even want to do the simplest things like go grocery shopping because there was a rumor that the week before a person was taken from Walmart.

I felt scared and nervous, and I wasn’t even undocumented. I can’t even imagine how people who are undocumented must have felt, how they feel. All I can think is that it’s probably ten times worse than what I was feeling. Always worrying about being deported and separated from your family must be hard. I was living in fear, and I didn’t even have it that bad. My heart goes out to families that get separated from each other. It’s because of those fears that I detest the “Constitution-free zone.”

Legally documented and undocumented people who live in the Constitution-free zone are in constant fear of being deported. People shouldn’t have to live this way. In fact, there have been arguments that the 100-mile zone violates the Fourth Amendment, which gives people the right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures of property by the government. Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court has consistently upheld these practices.

One question that Lornet Turnbull asks in her YES! article “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’” is, “How should we decide who is welcome in the U.S and who is not?” Instead of focusing on immigrants, how about we focus on the people who shoot up schools, rape girls, exploit women for human sex trafficking, and sell drugs? These are the people who make our country unsafe; they are the ones who shouldn’t be accepted. Even if they are citizens and have the legal right to live here, they still shouldn’t be included. If they are the ones making this country unsafe, then what gives them the right to live here?

I don’t think that the Constitution-free zone is an effective and justifiable way to make this country more “secure.” If someone isn’t causing any trouble in the United States and is just simply living their life, then they should be welcomed here. We shouldn’t have to live in fear that our rights will be taken away. I believe that it’s unfair for people to automatically think that it’s the Hispanics that make this country unsafe. Sure, get all the undocumented people out of the United States, but it’s not going to make this country any safer. It is a society that promotes violence that makes us unsafe, not a race.

Emma Hernandez-Sanchez is a freshman who is passionate about literature and her education. Emma wan ts to inspire others to be creative and try their best. She enjoys reading and creating stories that spark imagination. 

  Powerful Voice Winner

Tiara Lewis

Columbus City Preparatory Schools for Girls,

Columbus, Ohio

Hold Your Head High and Keep Those Fists Down

How would you feel if you walked into a store and salespeople were staring at you? Making you feel like you didn’t belong. Judging you. Assuming that you were going to take something, even though you might have $1,000 on you to spend. Sometimes it doesn’t matter. This is because people will always judge you. It might not be because of your race but for random reasons, like because your hair is black instead of dirty blonde. Or because your hair is short and not long. Or just because they are having a bad day. People will always find ways to bring you down and accuse you of something, but that doesn’t mean you have to go along with it.

Every time I entered a store, I would change my entire personality. I would change the way I talked and the way I walked. I always saw myself as needing to fit in. If a store was all pink, like the store Justice, I would act like a girly girl. If I was shopping in a darker store, like Hot Topic, I would hum to the heavy metal songs and act more goth. I had no idea that I was feeding into stereotypes.

When I was 11, I walked into Claire’s, a well-known store at the mall. That day was my sister’s birthday. Both of us were really happy and had money to spend. As soon as we walked into the store, two employees stared me and my sister down, giving us cold looks. When we went to the cashier to buy some earrings, we thought everything was fine. However, when we walked out of the store, there was a policeman and security guards waiting. At that moment, my sister and I looked at one another, and I said, in a scared little girl voice, “I wonder what happened? Why are they here?”

Then, they stopped us. We didn’t know what was going on. The same employee that cashed us out was screaming as her eyes got big, “What did you steal?” I was starting to get numb. Me and my sister looked at each other and told the truth: “We didn’t steal anything. You can check us.” They rudely ripped through our bags and caused a big scene. My heart was pounding like a drum. I felt violated and scared. Then, the policeman said, “Come with us. We need to call your parents.” While this was happening, the employees were talking to each other, smiling. We got checked again. The police said that they were going to check the cameras, but after they were done searching us, they realized that we didn’t do anything wrong and let us go about our day.

Walking in the mall was embarrassing—everybody staring, looking, and whispering as we left the security office. This made me feel like I did something wrong while knowing I didn’t. We went back to the store to get our shopping bags. The employees sneered, “Don’t you niggers ever come in this store again. You people always take stuff. This time you just got lucky.” Their faces were red and frightening. It was almost like they were in a scary 3D movie, screaming, and coming right at us. I felt hurt and disappointed that someone had the power within them to say something so harsh and wrong to another person. Those employees’ exact words will forever be engraved in my memory.

In the article, “Two-Thirds of Americans Live in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’,” Lornet Turnbull states, “In January, they stopped a man in Indio, California, as he was boarding a Los Angeles-bound bus. While questioning this man about his immigration status, agents told him his ‘shoes looked suspicious,’ like those of someone who had recently crossed the border.” They literally judged him by his shoes. They had no proof of anything. If a man is judged by his shoes, who else and what else are being judged in the world?

In the novel  To Kill a Mockingbird , a character named Atticus states, “You just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let’em get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change.” No matter how much you might try to change yourself, your hairstyle, and your clothes, people will always make assumptions about you. However, you never need to change yourself to make a point or to feel like you fit in. Be yourself. Don’t let those stereotypes turn into facts.

Tiara Lewis is in the eighth grade. Tiara plays the clarinet and is trying to change the world— one essay at a time. She is most often found curled up on her bed, “Divergent” in one hand and a cream-filled doughnut in the other.

Hailee Park

 Wielding My Swords

If I were a swordsman, my weapons would be my identities. I would wield one sword in my left hand and another in my right. People expect me to use both fluently, but I’m not naturally ambidextrous. Even though I am a right-handed swordsman, wielding my dominant sword with ease, I must also carry a sword in my left, the heirloom of my family heritage. Although I try to live up to others’ expectations by using both swords, I may appear inexperienced while attempting to use my left. In some instances, my heirloom is mistaken for representing different families’ since the embellishments look similar.

Many assumptions are made about my heirloom sword based on its appearance, just as many assumptions are made about me based on my physical looks. “Are you Chinese?” When I respond with ‘no,’ they stare at me blankly in confusion. There is a multitude of Asian cultures in the United States, of which I am one. Despite what many others may assume, I am not Chinese; I am an American-born Korean.

“Then… are you Japanese?” Instead of asking a broader question, like “What is your ethnicity?,” they choose to ask a direct question. I reply that I am Korean. I like to think that this answers their question sufficiently; however, they think otherwise. Instead, I take this as their invitation to a duel.

They attack me with another question: “Are you from North Korea or South Korea?” I don’t know how to respond because I’m not from either of those countries; I was born in America. I respond with “South Korea,” where my parents are from because I assume that they’re asking me about my ethnicity. I’m not offended by this situation because I get asked these questions frequently. From this experience, I realize that people don’t know how to politely ask questions about identity to those unlike them. Instead of asking “What is your family’s ethnicity?,” many people use rude alternatives, such as “Where are you from?,” or “What language do you speak?”

When people ask these questions, they make assumptions based on someone’s appearance. In my case, people make inferences like:

“She must be really good at speaking Korean.”

“She’s Asian; therefore, she must be born in Asia.”

“She’s probably Chinese.”

These thoughts may appear in their heads because making assumptions is natural. However, there are instances when assumptions can be taken too far. Some U.S. Border Patrol agents in the “Constitution-free zone” have made similar assumptions based on skin color and clothing. For example, agents marked someone as an undocumented immigrant because “his shoes looked suspicious, like those of someone who had recently crossed the border.”

Another instance was when a Jamaican grandmother was forced off a bus when she was visiting her granddaughter. The impetus was her accent and the color of her skin. Government officials chose to act on their assumptions, even though they had no solid proof that the grandmother was an undocumented immigrant. These situations just touch the surface of the issue of racial injustice in America.

When someone makes unfair assumptions about me, they are pointing their sword and challenging me to a duel; I cannot refuse because I am already involved. It is not appropriate for anyone, including Border Patrol agents, to make unjustified assumptions or to act on those assumptions. Border Patrol agents have no right to confiscate the swords of the innocent solely based on their conjectures. The next time I’m faced with a situation where racially ignorant assumptions are made about me, I will refuse to surrender my sword, point it back at them, and triumphantly fight their ignorance with my cultural pride.

Hailee Park is an eighth grader who enjoys reading many genres. While reading, Hailee recognized the racial injustices against immigrants in America, which inspired her essay. Hailee plays violin in her school’s orchestra and listens to and composes music. 

Aminata Toure

East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

We Are Still Dreaming

As a young Muslim American woman, I have been labeled things I am not: a terrorist, oppressed, and an ISIS supporter. I have been accused of planning 9/11, an event that happened before I was born. Lately, in the media, Muslims have been portrayed as supporters of a malevolent cause, terrorizing others just because they do not have the same beliefs. I often scoff at news reports that portray Muslims in such a light, just as I scoff at all names I’ve been labeled. They are words that do not define me. 

In a land where labels have stripped immigrants of their personalities, they are now being stripped of something that makes them human: their rights. The situation described in Lornet Turnbull’s article, “Two-Thirds of Americans are Living in the ‘Constitution-Free Zone’,” goes directly against the Constitution, the soul of this country, something that asserts that we are all equal before the law. If immigrants do not have protection from the Constitution, is there any way to feel safe?

Although most insults are easy to shrug off, they are still threatening. I am ashamed when I feel afraid to go to the mosque. Friday is an extremely special day when we gather together to pray, but lately, I haven’t been going to the mosque for Jummah prayers. I have realized that I can never feel safe when in a large group of Muslims because of the widespread hatred of Muslims in the United States, commonly referred to as Islamophobia. Police surround our mosque, and there are posters warning us about dangerous people who might attack our place of worship because we have been identified as terrorists.

I wish I could tune out every news report that blasts out the headline “Terrorist Attack!” because I know that I will be judged based on the actions of someone else. Despite this anti-Muslim racism, what I have learned from these insults is that I am proud of my faith. I am a Muslim, but being Muslim doesn’t define me. I am a writer, a student, a dreamer, a friend, a New Yorker, a helper, and an American. I am unapologetically me, a Muslim, and so much more. I definitely think everyone should get to know a Muslim. They would see that some of us are also Harry Potter fans, not just people planning to bomb the White House.

Labels are unjustly placed on us because of the way we speak, the color of our skin, and what we believe in—not for who we are as individuals. Instead, we should all take more time to get to know one another. As Martin Luther King Jr. said in his “I Have a Dream” speech, we should be judged by the content of our character and not the color of our skin. To me, it seems Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream is a dream that should be a reality. But, for now, we are dreaming.

Aminata Toure is a Guinean American Muslim student. Aminata loves spoken-word poetry and performs in front of hundreds of people at her school’s annual poetry slam. She loves writing, language, history, and West African food and culture. Aminata wants to work at the United Nations when she grows up.

From the Author 

Dear Alessandra, Cain, Daniel, Tiara, Emma, Hailee, Aminata and Ethan,

I am moved and inspired by the thought each of you put into your responses to my story about this so-called “Constitution-free zone.” Whether we realize it or not, immigration in this country impacts all of us— either because we are immigrants ourselves, have neighbors, friends, and family who are, or because we depend on immigrants for many aspects of our lives—from the food we put on our tables to the technology that bewitches us. It is true that immigrants enrich our society in so many important ways, as many of you point out.

And while the federal statute that permits U.S. Border Patrol officers to stop and search at will any of the 200 million of us in this 100-mile shadow border, immigrants have been their biggest targets. In your essays, you highlight how unjust the law is—nothing short of racial profiling. It is heartening to see each of you, in your own way, speaking out against the unfairness of this practice.

Alessandra, you are correct, the immigration system in this country is in shambles. You make a powerful argument about how profiling ostracizes entire communities and how the warrantless searches allowed by this statute impede trust-building between law enforcement and the people they are called on to serve.

And Cain, you point out how this 100-mile zone, along with other laws in the state of Texas where you attended school, make people feel like they’re “always under surveillance, and that, at any moment, you may be pulled over to be questioned and detained.” It seems unimaginable that people live their lives this way, yet millions in this country do.

You, Emma, for example, speak of living in a kind of silent fear since Donald Trump took office, even though you were born in this country and your parents are here legally. You are right, “We shouldn’t have to live in fear that our rights will be taken away.”

And Aminata, you write of being constantly judged and labeled because you’re a Muslim American. How unfortunate and sad that in a country that generations of people fled to search for religious freedom, you are ashamed at times to practice your own. The Constitution-free zone, you write, “goes directly against the Constitution, the soul of this country, something that asserts that we are all equal before the law.”

Tiara, I could personally relate to your gripping account of being racially profiled and humiliated in a store. You were appalled that the Greyhound passenger in California was targeted by Border Patrol because they claimed his shoes looked like those of someone who had walked across the border: “If a man is judged by his shoes,” you ask, “who else and what else are getting judged in the world?”

Hailee, you write about the incorrect assumptions people make about you, an American born of Korean descent, based solely on your appearance and compared it to the assumptions Border Patrol agents make about those they detain in this zone.

Daniel, you speak of the role of political fearmongering in immigration. It’s not new, but under the current administration, turning immigrants into boogiemen for political gain is currency. You write that “For some politicians, it is easier to sell a border wall to a scared population than it is to explain the need for reformed immigration policy.”

And Ethan, you recognize the contributions immigrants make to this country through the connections we all make with them and the strength they bring to our society.

Keep speaking your truth. Use your words and status to call out injustice wherever and whenever you see it. Untold numbers of people spoke out against this practice by Border Patrol and brought pressure on Greyhound to change. In December, the company began offering passengers written guidance—in both Spanish and English—so they understand what their rights are when officers board their bus. Small steps, yes, but progress nonetheless, brought about by people just like you, speaking up for those who sometimes lack a voice to speak up for themselves.

With sincere gratitude,

Lornet Turnbull

Lornet Turnbull is an editor for YES! and a Seattle-based freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter  @TurnbullL .

We received many outstanding essays for the Winter 2019 Student Writing Competition. Though not every participant can win the contest, we’d like to share some excerpts that caught our eye:

After my parents argued with the woman, they told me if you can fight with fists, you prove the other person’s point, but when you fight with the power of your words, you can have a much bigger impact. I also learned that I should never be ashamed of where I am from. —Fernando Flores, The East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

Just because we were born here and are privileged to the freedom of our country, we do not have the right to deprive others of a chance at success. —Avalyn Cox, Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

Maybe, rather than a wall, a better solution to our immigration problem would be a bridge. —Sean Dwyer, Lane Community College, Eugene, Ore.

If anything, what I’ve learned is that I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to change our world. I don’t know how to make a difference, how to make my voice heard. But I have learned the importance of one word, a simple two-letter word that’s taught to the youngest of us, a word we all know but never recognize: the significance of ‘we.’ —Enna Chiu, Highland Park High School, Highland Park, N.J.

Not to say the Border Patrol should not have authorization to search people within the border, but I am saying it should be near the border, more like one mile, not 100. —Cooper Tarbuck, Maranacook Middle School, Manchester, Maine.

My caramel color, my feminism, my Spanish and English language, my Mexican culture, and my young Latina self gives me the confidence to believe in myself, but it can also teach others that making wrong assumptions about someone because of their skin color, identity, culture, looks or gender can make them look and be weaker. —Ana Hernandez, The East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

We don’t need to change who we are to fit these stereotypes like someone going on a diet to fit into a new pair of pants. —Kaylee Meyers, Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

If a human being with no criminal background whatsoever has trouble entering the country because of the way he or she dresses or speaks, border protection degenerates into arbitrariness. —Jonas Schumacher, Heidelberg University of Education, Heidelberg, Germany

I believe that you should be able to travel freely throughout your own country without the constant fear of needing to prove that you belong here . —MacKenzie Morgan, Lincoln Middle School, Ypsilanti, Mich.

America is known as “the Land of Opportunity,” but this label is quickly disappearing. If we keep stopping those striving for a better life, then what will become of this country? —Ennyn Chiu, Highland Park Middle School, Highland Park, N.J.

The fact that two-thirds of the people in the U.S. are living in an area called the “Constitution-free zone” is appalling. Our Constitution was made to protect our rights as citizens, no matter where we are in the country. These systems that we are using to “secure” our country are failing, and we need to find a way to change them. —Isis Liaw, Brier Terrace Middle School, Brier, Wash.

I won’t let anyone, especially a man, tell me what I can do, because I am a strong Latina. I will represent where I come from, and I am proud to be Mexican. I will show others that looks can be deceiving. I will show others that even the weakest animal, a beautiful butterfly, is tough, and it will cross any border, no matter how challenging the journey may be. —Brittany Leal, The East Harlem School, New York City, N.Y.

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101 Immigration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Immigration has been a hot-button issue in recent years, with debates raging over border security, refugee resettlement, and the economic impact of immigration. If you're tasked with writing an essay on immigration, you may be struggling to come up with a topic that is both interesting and relevant. To help you get started, we've compiled a list of 101 immigration essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing.

• The history of immigration in the United States
• The impact of immigration on American culture
• Immigration policies and their effects on immigrant communities
• The economic benefits of immigration
• The social challenges faced by immigrants
• The role of immigration in the labor market
• Immigration and crime rates
• The ethics of border enforcement
• The challenges faced by undocumented immigrants
• The impact of immigration on public health
• The experience of refugee resettlement
• The impact of immigration on education
• Immigration and the environment
• The politics of immigration reform
• The role of immigration in shaping national identity
• The impact of immigration on urban development
• Immigration and globalization
• The impact of immigration on family dynamics
• The role of immigration in the spread of disease
• The impact of immigration on social welfare programs
• Immigration and human trafficking
• The impact of immigration on rural communities
• Immigration and the criminal justice system
• The impact of immigration on housing markets
• The role of immigration in international relations
• Immigration and national security
• The impact of immigration on healthcare systems
• Immigration and labor rights
• The impact of immigration on income inequality
• The role of immigration in shaping political ideologies
• Immigration and climate change
• The impact of immigration on technology and innovation
• Immigration and economic development
• The role of immigration in addressing demographic challenges
• Immigration and social mobility
• The impact of immigration on language diversity
• Immigration and social cohesion
• The role of immigration in shaping cultural identity
• Immigration and food culture
• The impact of immigration on public transportation
• Immigration and urban planning
• The role of immigration in revitalizing declining communities
• Immigration and gentrification
• The impact of immigration on small businesses
• Immigration and entrepreneurship
• The role of immigration in addressing labor shortages
• Immigration and education disparities
• The impact of immigration on rural economies
• Immigration and agricultural production
• The role of immigration in addressing healthcare shortages
• Immigration and environmental conservation
• The impact of immigration on social services
• Immigration and income inequality
• The role of immigration in cultural exchange
• Immigration and the arts
• The impact of immigration on sports
• Immigration and media representation
• The role of immigration in shaping public opinion
• Immigration and social media
• The impact of immigration on voting patterns
• Immigration and civic engagement
• The role of immigration in community organizing
• Immigration and social justice movements
• The impact of immigration on political participation
• Immigration and activism
• The role of immigration in shaping public policy
• Immigration and civil rights
• The impact of immigration on political polarization
• Immigration and the role of government
• The role of immigration in international development
• Immigration and conflict resolution
• The impact of immigration on peacebuilding efforts
• Immigration and humanitarian aid
• The role of immigration in addressing global challenges
• Immigration and sustainable development
• The impact of immigration on human rights
• Immigration and social change
• The role of immigration in promoting diversity
• Immigration and cultural preservation
• The impact of immigration on indigenous communities
• Immigration and gender equality
• The role of immigration in addressing social inequalities
• Immigration and intergenerational mobility
• The impact of immigration on social cohesion
• Immigration and social welfare
• The role of immigration in addressing poverty
• Immigration and social justice
• The impact of immigration on human development
• Immigration and social inclusion
• The role of immigration in promoting social progress
• Immigration and social integration
• The impact of immigration on community resilience
• Immigration and disaster response
• The role of immigration in addressing humanitarian crises
• Immigration and conflict prevention
• The impact of immigration on peacebuilding
• Immigration and human security
• The role of immigration in promoting global peace
• Immigration and international cooperation
• The impact of immigration on sustainable development goals
• Immigration and the future of humanity

These are just a few examples of the many immigration essay topics you could explore in your writing. Whether you're interested in the social, economic, political, or cultural aspects of immigration, there is no shortage of compelling topics to explore. So pick a topic that resonates with you, do some research, and start writing!

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Immigration Issues in the United States Essay

Introduction, national concerns, self-identity, benefits of immigration, discussion and recommendations.

Immigration is a vital context of the American Dream and national identity. However, the outdated immigration system and globalization trends have led to a shift in perception of immigration as white nationalism is on the rise. There are socio-political concerns about the impact of immigration on self-identity and security of the United States. This report seeks to investigate these fears and compare them to the benefits for the country to determine if immigration should be curbed. A discussion is held regarding the perceptions and realities of international migration and its principles from a political and ethical perspective. Recommendations are then provided regarding reform of the national immigration system.

Immigration is the foundation of the United States as a country. It was built on the labor, ideas, and cultural melting pot of immigrants coming to the US in the hopes of achieving the American dream, finding a new life, and establishing a home for their families. This report seeks to investigate whether the United States should be defined as a nation of immigrants or should it take extensive efforts to curb foreign entry into the country. The United States has built its self-identity on immigration and its extraordinary socio-economic and technological progress depends on it, but in the realities of an unstable global society, measures should be taken to ensure neutrality and competence in immigration policy.

The US has one of the largest immigrant populations in the world, exceeding 40 million individuals, which is around 14% of the total population (Migration Policy Institute, 2019). In recent years, there has been a rise in nationalism which places the blame on the nation’s socio-economic issues on immigration and challenging the concept of the US self-identity. There is an overwhelming public debate and policymakers are commonly unable to reach an agreement on immigration due to the complexity of economic, security, and humanitarian concerns.

From an economic standpoint, anti-immigration critics consider immigrants to be taking away jobs and creating a strain on public services funded by taxes. Security is being challenged as a significant amount of violence and drug crime is attributed to immigrants, particularly those illegally entering the country. The current Trump administration was elected and continues to gather massive support on its strong anti-immigration policies, particularly targeting Muslim and Hispanic migrants for security purposes (Felter & Renwick, 2018).

The words of an identity crisis are unheard of in other parts of the world where everyone is classified based on their characteristics, family, or religion. Mukherjeee (1997) recalls “The concept itself — of a person not knowing who he or she is — was unimaginable in our hierarchical, classification-obsessed society” (par. 6). However, the United States and many countries in Europe have been or becoming increasingly culturally pluralistic and diverse.

As a result of populations and cultures intertwining, influences and opinions coming from many directions, and new generations being born into varied mixed backgrounds, identity is becoming lost. Some regions are experiencing violence, instability, and lack of direction due to immigration and pluralism (Chua, 2007). This is concerning for the core white population of the United States, not just due to the concern about the loss of control and privilege, but also the prolonged effect immigration has on national stability, value system, and institutions.

Immigration has been studied for centuries, and in the United States, it has been a vital part of cultural and economic development. First, it is considered to be almost universally by experts to be an economic driver to the country by contributing to demographic growth, human capital, talent acquisition, and innovation. If the immigrant flow is managed flexibly and efficiently, it can generate U.S. economic growth at times of relative stagnation.

A restrictive policy is detrimental as the legislation limits legal work-related immigration among highly-educated scientists and engineers as well as the less educated labor force in construction and agriculture that few core Americans would participate in (Orrenius, 2016). The mobility, specialization, and motivational drive of immigrants have proven continuously to be a significant economic benefit.

In terms of self-identity and national culture, immigration holds various benefits as well. It introduces new customs, beliefs, and ideas into the general folklore and traditions of the nation. Many of the things that are considered innately American have their origins from immigrants bringing these aspects into the country for centuries and celebrating them in local communities. Immigrants are also known for their rich and active culture and civic lives as they participate in the American democratic process and local communities, allowing for the establishment of international and tolerant networks.

Furthermore, it is important to consider that migrants often link together, and a healthy immigration base in the country that actively engages in the aspects described above ensures that incoming immigrants are more likely to do so and less willing to participate in radical or criminal activity (McCarthy, 2018).

In a modern liberal society, free movement is considered to be an inalienable right, which if limited would provide a precedent for limitation of other human rights. However, these rights are realistically only observed within country borders. International migration is often done to improve lives and those of their families; therefore, instilling a system of migration control would be coercion, that has historically and will continue to produce violence at the borders. This not only applies to border checkpoints and building the “Wall”, but various aspects such as measures that peaceful migrants attempt to gain entry into the country and threats that they face once settled down, for both legal and illegal aliens (Waldinger, 2018).

The reality is that there is no country without borders, and although such boundaries do imply discrimination, it is necessary to protect U.S. citizens. In a world where the number of immigrants exceeds the capacity of a country to take them in, choices must be made regarding admissions criteria of whom the country would be willing to accept as residents. This remains to be the primary socio-political debate from which the U.S. society will never find an escape. However, should be considered that immigration serves as both, a source for international integration and national fragmentation (Waldinger, 2018).

In the context of immigration, with its threats and benefits, it is evident that the immigration system requires comprehensive and intelligible reform. In her essay, Chua (2007) suggests, “if the U.S. immigration system is to reflect and further our ethnically neutral identity, it must itself be ethnically neutral, offering equal opportunity to [all]” (p. 3). Based on the discussion earlier, there should be more concrete criteria that would allow for a modern rules-based approach to immigration.

Most Americans support legal immigration and accept it as part of the American social contract despite the highly emotional nature of it. Historically, there have always been regulations in place regarding nationality and family ties, with very few people being able to afford passage to the United States. These rules were relaxed in the late 20th century, and it is ultimately left to the voters whether a new system should be re-established again.

The U.S. should bring forward incentives for immigration that were present in the past while laying down harsh penalties for violations of the law by individuals and companies. The aspects of immigration that are commonly exploited such as birthright tourism should be eliminated. Meanwhile, incentives such as professional opportunities under a legal status and safety if following proper refugee procedures would help establish a competent system (Gray, 2019). Although there would be challenges and undoubtedly, debate, the system eventually will balance out if a non-ideological and politically correct approach is taken to reforming it.

Immigration is a critical issue in the current political agenda. There are legitimate national concerns regarding security and national identity. However, immigration brings tremendous benefits economically, socially, and culturally, allowing to form a unique melting pot that promotes inclusivity and tolerance while driving forward economic growth and innovation. Nevertheless, the United States had been built on immigration and it should not be curbed significantly, but rather strong measures taken in policy reform to incentivize legal and dedicated immigrants while eliminating those seeking to use it for enrichment or illegal purposes.

Chua, A. (2007). The right road for America? Washington Post. Web.

Felter, C., & Renwick, D. (2018). The U.S. immigration debate . Web.

Gray, M. W. (2019). America’s immigration policy needs an overhaul . National Interest. Web.

McCarthy, J. (2018). 5 ways immigration enhances a country’s culture . Global Citizen . Web.

Migration Policy Institute. (2019). Frequently requested statistics on immigrants and immigration in the United States . Web.

Mukherjee, B. (1997). American dreamer . Mother Jones . Web.

Orrenius, P. (2016). Benefits of immigration outweigh the costs . The Catalyst, 2 . Web.

Waldinger, R. (2018). Immigration and the election of Donald Trump: Why the sociology of migration left us unprepared … And why we should not have been surprised. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 41 (8), 1411-1426. Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, June 8). Immigration Issues in the United States. https://ivypanda.com/essays/immigration-issues-in-the-united-states/

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Bibliography

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5 Essays about Immigration

According to the UN, the number of international migrants surpassed 270 million in 2019. This represents an increase of 51 million since 2010. Nearly half of all international migrants moved to one of 10 countries. 19% of the world’s total immigrant population lives in the United States. One of every seven international migrants is younger than 20 years old. What are the stories behind these statistics? What does the world think of immigrants? To start answering these questions, here are five essays about immigration:

“Out of Eden Walk” (2013-present) – Paul Salopek

At the time of this 2019 essay, Paul Salopek has been walking for seven years. In 2013, he started from an ancient fossil site north of Ethiopia. His plan? Cover 21,000 miles over ten years, retracing humankind’s walk out of Africa. While he’s walking through the past, his project is also timely. Numbers-wise, we’re living with the largest diaspora in human history. More than 1 billion people are on the move, both within their own countries and beyond borders. During his journey, Salopek covers climate change, technological innovation, mass migration, and more. Through essays, photographs, audio, and video, he creates a vivid tapestry of stories from people rarely heard from. This essay is a great introduction to Salopek’s “slow journalism.” You can find more at OutofEdenWalk.org.

Journalist and writer Paul Salopek is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. He has reported for publications like The Atlantic and National Geographic Magazine. John Stanmeyer, who took the photos for this essay, is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker and photographer.

“Mohsin Hamid: why migration is a fundamental human right” (2014)

Author Mohsin Hamid was born in Pakistan and educated in the US. He lives in the UK. In this essay, he explains how he wishes for “a world without borders.” He believes the right to migrate (which includes emigration and immigration) is as vital as other human rights, like freedom of expression. People have always moved, crossing borders and sharing cultures. Humans are also migrants in that simply by living, we move through time. Unfortunately, this human right has been denied all over the world. Hamid looks forward to a day when migration is respected and welcomed.

Mohsin Hamid is the author of several books, including Discontent and Its Civilizations: Dispatches from Lahore, New York, and London. He writes both fiction and nonfiction.

“I’m a Dreamer. Ask my 80+ Employees if I should be deported.” (2020) – Victor Santos

Young and brilliant, Victor Santos is the founder of Airfox, a Boston-based tech startup. On the surface, Santos is living the American Dream. In this essay in the Boston Globe, he describes that for the past 10 years, he’s worried about ICE taking him away. He’s an undocumented immigrant dependent on DACA. Santos briefly describes his experience growing up in the US, working through college, and getting opportunities because of DACA. Following the publication of this piece, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration cannot immediately end DACA. For now, Santos and the other hundreds of thousands of Dreamers are protected.

Victor Santos is the founder and CEO of Airfox, a loan app that uses mobile data to estimate credit risk. He was on the list of MIT Technology Review in Spanish’s Innovators Under 35 Latin America 2018.

“My Life As An Undocumented Immigrant” (2011) – Jose Antonio Vargas

Vargas opens this essay describing how, at 12-years old, he left the Philippines for the US in 1993. At 16, while going to get his driver’s permit, he was told his green card was fake. He realized he was undocumented. In this essay from 2011, partially inspired by four students who walked from Miami to Washington to lobby for the DREAM Act, he spoke out. The essay describes Vargas’ life and career in America, navigating the system with his secret. It’s a vivid, personal look at Vargas’ experience of “hiding” in plain sight and an act of courage as he owns his story.

Jose Antonio Vargas is a former reporter for the Washington Post. He shared a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the Virginia Tech shooting. He is also a filmmaker, writer, and immigrant rights activist. He founded Define American, a nonprofit that strives for dialogue about immigration, in 2011.

“A Young Immigrant Has Mental Illness, And That’s Raising His Risk of Being Deported” – Christine Herman

Immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants, deal with a variety of challenges. One of them is the mental health care system. Those with untreated mental illnesses are at higher risk of getting in trouble with the law. When the person who is mentally ill is also undocumented, things get even more complicated. Deportation to a country with an even worse mental healthcare system could be a death sentence. This story from NPR is about a specific family, but it highlights issues that affect many.

Christine Herman is Ph.D. chemist and award-winning audio journalist. She’s a 2018-2019 recipient of a Rosalyn Carter fellowship for mental health journalism.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Immigration Essay

Are you looking for the ultimate guide on how to write an immigration essay? Whether you’re applying for a visa, citizenship, or another immigration-related program, you need to be able to craft a persuasive and convincing essay.

Writing an immigration essay can be daunting, especially if you’re not sure where to start. But don’t worry! This blog post will provide you with the information and advice you need to write a stellar immigration essay. We’ll discuss the format, topics, and sources of evidence to include, as well as tips on how to make your essay stand out.

Let’s get started!

Brainstorm the topic for your immigration essay

When it comes to writing an immigration essay, the most important thing is to start with a topic that speaks to you and that you can research easily. Brainstorming is key to finding a great immigration essay topic. Take some time to brainstorm ideas, write down keywords, and think of stories that might inspire your essay.

Start by considering why immigration is important to you, what immigration means to you, or how immigration has affected your life or someone else’s. Once you have some ideas, think about narrowing your focus to a specific group or type of immigration (e.g. illegal immigration, asylum seekers, refugees). Then, look for possible sources of information such as articles, books, and interviews that can help you better understand the topic. The more research you do, the more compelling and detailed your essay will be.

Finally, take the time to consider different perspectives and sides of the argument and then choose one to defend in your essay. Research both sides of the debate before making up your mind on which position you want to take. Make sure you back up all of your points with evidence from credible sources; this will make your essay stronger and more convincing.

Research the immigration essay topic

Before you start writing your immigration essay, it is important to do your research. You need to understand the history and current state of immigration in the United States and around the world. You should also familiarize yourself with the laws, regulations, and policies related to immigration. Researching the topic will help you understand the different perspectives on immigration and help you form your own opinion.

Make sure to use reliable sources for your research. A good place to start is government websites, such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, as well as academic journals and articles.

You may also want to look into organizations and advocacy groups for more information about immigration issues. With a comprehensive understanding of the issue, you’ll be able to write an informed and compelling essay.

Choose a side to support in your immigration essay

When it comes to writing your essay, it’s important to keep your main argument in mind. Make sure that all of your points lead back to your main argument and support it. It’s also important to remember to stay objective and unbiased. While it’s okay to include personal experiences or stories, try not to make sweeping statements or grand claims without providing evidence.

Make sure you use facts and data from reliable sources to back up your points. This will make your essay more credible and compelling. Additionally, remember that the purpose of the essay is to convince the reader of your point of view; use persuasive techniques such as logic and rhetoric to make a convincing argument. Immigration essays are often focused on particular countries or regions.

If you are focusing your essay on a particular region or country, make sure to include information about its economic conditions, culture, politics, demographics, and any other factors that could affect immigration patterns. Additionally, explain how these factors contribute to migration flows in terms of push and pull factors. For example, explain how political unrest, economic crises, environmental changes, or cultural differences are driving people to move away from their home countries. If relevant, include statistics on the number of people who have left the region due to these factors.

In addition to researching the external factors affecting migration flows, it’s important to explain the motivations behind people migrating. Different people will have different reasons for migrating and it’s important to explore these motivations in order to gain a full understanding of why people move. Common motives behind migration include safety concerns, economic opportunity, educational prospects, family reunification, and religious freedom.

Write your thesis statement

An immigration essay should begin with a thesis statement, which serves as a brief introduction to the paper and its contents.

A thesis statement typically includes the main point and purpose of the essay and should be able to stand alone as a concise summary of the paper’s main ideas.

When writing a thesis statement for an immigration essay, it is important to clearly state your position on the issue and to focus your argument in a way that will be beneficial to the reader. Additionally, it is important for the thesis statement to be concise and clear so as not to distract from the body of the paper. Once you have written a strong thesis statement, you can move on to the next step in writing your immigration essay.

The next step is to outline the structure and content of your essay. This can include any details or points that you want to make throughout the paper, including evidence or facts that back up each statement or claim. Make sure to consider any potential counterarguments or opposing points of view, and factor these into your essay structure.

This will ensure that all sides are considered throughout your paper. Additionally, having a well-defined structure helps keep your writing organized and allows readers to follow your line of reasoning.

Support the immigration essay thesis with strong body paragraphs

When writing the body of your immigration essay, it is important to use clear and concise language that is easy for readers to follow. Make sure to include evidence that supports the argument or points you are making. This can include statistics, examples, quotes, and personal anecdotes.

Additionally, be sure to thoroughly explain the evidence or facts that you provide so that readers understand why they are important. Remember, the goal of the essay is not just to provide information but also to persuade readers that your argument is valid and should be taken seriously.

Transition words for body paragraphs are essential to help ensure the flow of your essay is natural and consistent. These transition words help readers go smoothly from one idea to another, creating a smooth connection between ideas. Examples of transition words can include: moreover, however, furthermore, additionally, despite this, therefore, etc. Additionally, pay attention to grammar and syntax when writing your immigration essay.

While many people think that grammar doesn’t matter much in academic papers, this simply isn’t true; a poorly written essay can turn off potential readers or weaken the strength of your arguments.

Write your conclusion

Writing a conclusion for your immigration essay is your last opportunity to make an impact and draw your readers in. It’s important to write a powerful conclusion that resonates with the reader. The conclusion should provide a sense of closure by summarizing the main points of your essay. Begin your conclusion by restating your thesis statement. Then, review the main arguments you discussed throughout your essay and summarize them. Be sure to avoid introducing any new information or making any unsubstantiated claims.

Finally, end your essay on a positive note with a thought-provoking statement or a call to action that encourages readers to consider their own views on immigration. With these tips, you can craft an engaging conclusion that will leave your readers with a lasting impression. The success of your immigration essay depends on several factors such as structure, organization, topic selection, evidence gathering, and persuasive writing. When starting an immigration essay, it’s important to create an outline so that you know what topics to cover within each section of your paper.

An effective outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, begin by providing some context about the issue you are discussing and then introduce your thesis statement. In the body paragraphs, discuss relevant facts about the issue, use evidence to back up your argument, and analyze the facts using data from reliable sources. And finally, in the conclusion, briefly recap the main points of your argument and emphasize why this issue matters. By following this format and including relevant evidence from reliable sources, you can create an effective argumentative essay on immigration.

Edit the immigration essay

Once you’ve written your immigration essay, it’s time to go through the editing process. This is one of the most important steps when writing an essay. During this step, you will check for spelling and grammar errors, as well as clarity and consistency. You should also look for any factual or statistical inaccuracies. When editing your essay, it is important to take your time.

Read through the entire essay slowly and carefully. Check for any errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Make sure the essay is consistent throughout and that there are no gaps in logic or structure.

Another important aspect of the editing process is to make sure your essay flows logically. If you have included quotes or statistics, make sure they are correctly attributed to their original sources. Furthermore, consider if any of the paragraphs could be improved or reworded to make them clearer and more effective. Finally, make sure your essay is free of any bias or personal opinion. An immigration essay should be written objectively and factually, so it is important to remain unbiased when presenting your arguments.

By taking your time to edit your essay, you can ensure that it is well-written, factually accurate, and logical in its argumentation. This will help you create an immigration essay that will make a lasting impression on your reader. Additionally, once you’re done editing your essay, get another set of eyes to proofread it for accuracy. Have someone else read over the essay and ask them to point out any potential issues. Additionally, if possible, get someone who is knowledgeable about immigration laws to review the essay. Having another perspective may help you identify any mistakes you may have missed during the editing process.

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Immigration essay as a kind of educational assignment

Academic writing

Essay paper writing

Nowadays, immigration is getting more wide-spread in the world than it was a couple of decades ago. The reason for this is the progress in economic and technological spheres. Besides, the gap between poor and rich increases, favoring the further growth of migration. That’s why the theme of immigration becomes more acute these days, and educators choose essays about immigration as assignments for their students.

There are multiple aspects of the migration process that can be enlightened in the paper. However, before that, do not forget that in your work, you should follow certain guidelines, which remain the same for each kind of assignment. In this article, we will see in more detail how to approach a research paper regarding immigration.

Like any other kind of essay, immigration essay should be adequately planned, contain relevant data and facts, and be well-cited. Research topics about immigration are variable: you can touch upon the history of the process, its advantages and disadvantages, its influence on the society, the illegal aspect of the process, as well as legislation and costs.

Reasons and causes for immigration

Nowadays, migration is a global issue from the point of economy and business. The population of many states is expanding due to the immigrants who come to new places looking for a better life. Some people even immigrate in search of adventures or desire a different place for living and retirement.

Still, leaving a native land in favor of another country is often considered as an act of courage. Moving to a new place means getting accustomed to another culture and a different lifestyle; besides, the cost of living in a hosting country is often higher. In addition to leaving the family, the foreigners face such problems as unemployment, abuse, lack of governmental support, and non-acceptance by society. There are lots of reasons why people decide to change the place to live in. In the case of migration, factors can be social, economic, political, and environmental. In your causes and effects of migration essay, you may pay attention to some of these aspects:

• Safety reasons prompt individuals to immigrate due to the danger posed to them or their families. These concerns may be variable: persecution and discrimination based on religion, race, nationality, political views, or social status. Other reasons could be war or one’s criminal activity.
• Economic factors are common for immigration, and they may be either seasonal or permanent. People often move from poor developing countries to wealthy areas to find a job and earning opportunities. In your immigration college essays, you can deal with this aspect.
• Lack of fundamental human needs and desire to attain a better quality of life are social factors that lead to the growth of migration. The individuals thus try to acquire better prospects for their families and themselves. Sending children to a better educational institution or getting a job which guarantees additional paybacks and career growth are among the social reason that force people to migrate. People may also look for certain services, like medical treatment or a life-saving surgery, which may be unavailable in their native country.

Immigration to the United States and European Union

The United States and the EU have both accepted working immigrants from poor regions and have already established good labor relations with employees. Nevertheless, the immigration pressure on European countries and the US is quite different. While Europe experiences the influx of incomers from Africa and the Middle East, the USA undergoes gradual population growth due to the entrants from the adjacent territories. You may study the information more carefully and reveal it in a separate why do immigrants come to America essay.

After 9/11, American immigration laws became tougher; as to the European Union, the same was caused by the Eurozone crisis. Identifying the major tendencies of immigration to the USA in the coming years will be helpful for anybody working on the papers on immigration in America. Even though the schemes of natural disasters, civil conflicts, or potential macroeconomic disturbances are difficult to predict with any accuracy, the changes in labor supply are one of the significant determinants of immigration pressure, which is quite easy to foresee. There are 2 main reasons for it: those who are going to join the working force in 20 years have already been born. Besides, the further population growth is likely to be smooth, and it allows experts to forecast with certain accuracy the amounts of those going to enter the market of workforce 3 to 4 decades from the present moment.

If you have an assignment of creating a research paper on immigration in Europe, you should mention that Europe will contract demographically, and people from high population growth regions, like Central Asia, Iraq, Iran, North, and sub-Saharan Africa, in particular, will relocate. Most likely, migration destinations like Italy, Spain, and the UK will experience an increase in the number of first-generation immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa, while the USA will see a gradual decline in the newly arrived residents. The inflows to the USA will mostly be from India and China.

Immigration Pros and Cons

Moving from one place to another has both positive and negative sides, so the advantages and disadvantages of immigration essay is a rather popular educational assignment. With the modern processes of globalization and merging of the entire world, people are free to transfer for employment or business opportunities to any country, making immigration common and a large-spread phenomenon.

In your benefits of immigration essay, you can mention several positive aspects of the process:

• The improvement of the quality of living. The majority of those who immigrate look for more favorable employment conditions and earning opportunities, social security, and a crimeless environment.
• Better personal and professional perspectives. Moving to a different setting, the immigrants face various challenges: they become more independent and have to meet the new living standards. It also forces people to take on professional commitments and self-actions and work with new methods and standards, thus growing as professionals and gaining unique experience.
• Contact with new cultures and knowledge expansion. Immigrants have the opportunity to learn new cultures, traditions, and ways of living, diving deeper to know more about the cuisine and language of the hosting country.

In disadvantages of immigration essays mention the following aspects:

• Racial intolerance and cultural differences. There are only a few countries, which are hospitable to foreigners; the aliens mostly become victims of racial discrimination or intolerance.
• Language barrier. Difficulties in communication are among the problems in a host country; that is why it’s better to learn at least some basic social terms, phrases for shopping, traffic signs meaning, and polite phrases in advance through online language training .
• Labor supply shortage. There are plenty of research papers about immigration work, as unemployment is a noteworthy problem the newcomers may face; particularly, if they choose to live in a new place without recognition and validation of their qualifications and skills.

Despite the advantages and disadvantages for those who immigrate, the process also has its benefits and drawbacks for countries which lose and which accept people.

The advantages for the native country are the following:

• The emigrants send money home, favoring certain economic improvement.
• The pressure on job positions and resources decreases.
• People may return with new useful skills.

The disadvantages are as follows:

• The potential amount of workforce inside the country reduces, as emigrants are often the individuals of working age.
• Gender imbalance sets in as men commonly leave in search of employment and earning opportunities, while the children and women stay.
• Brain drain happens in the states and areas, where lots of young and prospective workers leave.

With the host regions, the following advantages should be mentioned in your research paper on immigration:

• A labor shortage is reduced, and skills gaps are often filled.
• Low-paid and low-skilled jobs and services are performed by the immigrants.
• The new young workers are paying taxes that sustain economic growth.
• The people from abroad bring innovation and cultural diversity.

When speaking of disadvantages, you should not forget about the :

• Overcrowding, which may also cause additional pressure on public services.
• Unemployment and depression of wages as a result of the growing number of newcomers.
• Disagreement and tension between certain social, cultural, and religious groups.
• Increased risk of criminal and gang activity.

Topics for writing on immigration

As you could have already noticed, the immigration research paper topics for college students are variable. Here are some examples:

• How has the community growth and diversity been affected by immigration tendencies in the last 50 years?
• Are host countries’ population tolerant to the immigrants?
• What health concerns are the most vital in the communities with a large amount of the incomers?
• What kind of stress are the families of immigrants exposed to in regards to assimilation in new communities?
• Are security systems and modern immigration policies safe enough?

Research paper topics on immigration in America can be more narrow, but the most popular and disputable aspect will remain illegal immigration. Writing about the immigration issue in Europe, think about European migrant crisis.

Further on, you can see how to create a research paper on illegal immigration in more detail. Let us provide you some insights.

How to write a research paper on illegal immigration

Illegal immigration is a socio-political issue; that is why it is important to mention a particular legal state of affairs as well as the laws and acts preventing illegal entry into the area, the US in particular. Illegal immigration research papers can reveal both sides of the story, enlightening the issue from the migrants’ perspective and taking into consideration the position of the country they wish to move in.

You should make up your mind as to the topic you want to work on and set it forth. We can consider the following subject matter as a sample one - Illegal immigration and its influence on economic life in the USA.

When putting forward a thesis statement on illegal immigration, you can use a usual subject-description-triple content model of it.

Illegal immigration (subject) is prevalent immigration laws violation (description) taking various forms (content 1), having varied and complex reasons (content 2) and placing significant stress on the current economic superstructure of the USA, by supplying the cheap and effective workforce (content 3).

To make your work well-planned and structured, you should create an immigration research paper outline. The example below might be of help.           

I. Introduction

a. Capture the interest of the audience with the statistics: information on the number of people worldwide involved in the process, the countries which lose people most, and areas accepting foreigners.

b. Inform the readers about the process: some historical background, the current state of things, main concerns, and reasons why it still exists.

c. Set the thesis forward (you may use the thesis statement for immigration research paper already mentioned above): Illegal immigration is prevalent migration laws violation taking various forms, having varied and complex reasons and placing significant stress on the current economic superstructure of the USA, by supplying the cheap and effective workforce.

II. First point – the main types of unauthorized immigration. (Illegal entry, border crossing card violation, visa overstay, the undocumented workforce.)

a. Define the illegal forms of immigration to the US.

b. Focus on the main goals and reasons people migrate.

c. Point out the main groups of people immigrating to the country.

III. Second point – immigration laws violation. (Reveal the important aspects of the problem.)

a. Provide information.

b. Outline the major concerns.

c. Define the spheres associated with the problem.

IV. Third point – the influence on the economy.

a. Consider the stress caused to the American economy.

b. Look at the problem from the workforce resources point of view framework

c. Point out the possible measures as to the immigrants without documents.

V. Conclusion

a. Summarize the stated facts and arguments.

b. Emphasize the information.

c. Offer solutions to this issue.

As soon as our outline for research paper on illegal immigration is ready, you can proceed with the main part of your work – creating immigration introduction paragraph, main part, and conclusion. The introduction should capture your audience’s attention and engage them in reading your piece of writing up to the end.

The following facts on US illegal immigrants may help you grab the audience’s attention from the very start.

• In 2015, the illegal immigrants constituted 3.4% of the total population of the US.
• The peak in the number of incomers was fixed in 2007, exceeding 12 million people and making up 4% of the US total population.
• American workforce comprises 8 million illegal foreign workers, accounting for 5% of those who were occupied or out of work and looking for it. This quantity did not change in 2009 - 2015.
• Six states: California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, and New York account for almost 60% of unauthorized settlers.
• A rising share of the immigrants, which exceeded 65% of their overall number, has lived in the US for a decade.

Immigration essay content and structure

Following your immigration essay introduction, move to the body paragraphs. You may use the following information. Illegal immigration in the USA refers to the violation of the immigration laws and regulations by the citizens of foreign countries. It may happen through unlawfully crossing the country’s border or staying in the US without getting the necessary permission from the Governmental body. There are a number of reasons why one can be characterized as an unauthorized immigrant; they are as follows:

• Illegal US entry. Some individuals cross the country border with the help of specialized entities, which smuggle unauthorized incomers across the USA border. The majority enter through land borders; however, seaways and air routes can also be regularly employed. The weakest access point for the US incomers is the Mexico-American border; it was estimated that around 6.5 million settlers entered the USA in such a way. It’s actually a little less than half of the total amount of illegal American residents.
• Border Crossing Card Violators. Those who slip into this category constitute a relatively small group as the majority of the recorded non-immigrants enter the USA with the help of the Border Crossing Card - a proof of identity which allows crossing the American border for a limited period.
• Visa Overstays. Almost five million entrants came to the US without a proper visa and stayed beyond the allowed time period, thus violating the official terms of stay. The majority of such unauthorized residents are students or tourists, having a traveler or business visa type. Generally, visa overstayers have better educational and financial conditions than those who cross the border illegally.
• Undocumented workers, which are hired by US employers. As a rule, they are eager to work at low-income jobs and in adverse conditions. These individuals become susceptible to exploitation and are often abused at works like janitorial and household, clothing production, or alike. Ten years ago, 5% of the total workforce in the USA were constituted by unauthorized workers.

Proceeding to the next point of your immigration essay outline, pay attention to the legal aspect of the problem. In this article, we’ll touch upon this aspect only in the frame of our topic. However, argumentative essay on immigration reform can be an independent topic as well.

The US Government takes measures to clampdown on the influx of migrants. In case one has overstayed his or her visa or crossed the border violating the legal norms, the fact will be revealed, and the procedures of incarceration or extradition starts. The most usual methods, which the American authorities use to disclose the illegal migration, are border protection and the investigation at working places.

The main laws referring to the illegal entrance or overstay can be found in the US Code, Section 1325, under the title “Improper Entry of Alien.” It presupposes fines or imprisonments for the people who fall under one of the following categories:

• Those who try to move to the USA at the time or place not designated as due by the Government;
• People avoiding inspections of the immigration agents or those initiated by the American Administration;
• The entrants who attempt to cross the US border, providing fraudulent, fake, or misleading documents or willfully concealing certain facts.

In the US, there are detention centers annually holding about 300 000 unauthorized immigrants. Deportation is one more measure specified in the US immigration law and used by the American authorities. The proceeding of deportation is usually held by a special judge of the US Immigration Court. The person who commits the crime of unauthorized residency should be deported. There are also complicated cases when the parents live in the USA illegally, while their children are the US-born. By the way, should immigration laws be reformed essay is a popular assignment, which allows students to declare their point of view and defend their position. So using this info, you can ponder over this issue as well.

The American Customs and Border Protection agency bears responsibility for capturing people who make attempts to enter the country unlawfully. The Border Patrol is another law enforcement organization in charge of preventing, detecting, and arresting such incomers.

US-VISIT is a program, which helps to track those who have overstayed their visas. The abbreviation stands for the US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology, which collects personal, travel, and biometric information of the foreigners applying for the American entry. It requires an electronically readable passport with the necessary data, photo, and fingerprint.

The American Government makes regular audits on employment records initiated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). Any discrepancies in audit records may lead to the deportation of illegal employees. The employers are alerted of mismatches between workers’ names and social security numbers and the SSA’s records. Besides, immigrants’ visas are regularly tracked by the US administration.

In 1996, Congress passed the PRWORA - Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. Even though undocumented residents do not have access to public benefits, they are still entitled to immunizations, medical care, disaster relief, and k-12 education. The implementation of this Act, in fact, makes the shift towards personal responsibility for “public dependency” evident.

The maximum punishment for the 1st time caught in the violation of migration rules is 6 months’ imprisonment; each following offense stands for 2 additional years. The immigrants whose term of overstay is between 180 and 360 days, face a 3-year ban when trying to re-enter America; those who violated visa terms for the period exceeding one year, get 10 years ban.

Most essays about immigration in the United States touch upon its economic influence; we’ll also consider it as one of the major aspects. The economic impact of illegal immigrants is usually challenging to measure, being costly, and influencing the financial security of the native citizens in various ways. It is often claimed to cut wages, as unregulated workers can be paid less. Employers benefit from this, while it keeps wages at a lower level in certain occupations and regions. Moreover, usually, illegal aliens have bigger families, thus putting a financial burden on local resources and law implementation.

Immigration and effects on economy research paper of 2010 showed that the household of an illegal immigrant got about $25 000 in state services and benefits; however, they only paid about $10 500 in taxes, generating a yearly fiscal deficit of approximately $14 500 per family. The US citizens had to cover those costs. Nowadays, all illegal households together create a total annual deficit of around $55 billion.

Besides, the illegal foreign workers pay little or no taxes, at the same time sending money home, causing a huge wealth transfer from the USA. Moreover, they use food stamps and social services, such as free medical care and education.  

This situation can set back technological progress and diminish competition in domestic and international markets. However, in the papers on immigration, one may find the opposing views, stating that certain employment areas benefit from unauthorized foreign employees as the latter contribute to reducing prices in the industries such as agriculture, catering, and building. The research has revealed that illegal residents bring profit to the USA in the long run, due to their consumption of goods and services. They are also one-sided contributors to Medicare, Social Security, and insurance program on unemployment.

You may ask why people are reluctant to arrive in the USA legally. Why does the illegal migration problem still exist and remain a burning issue for years? You may say that lots of people enter the USA legally; however, they face processing delays and formalities connected to Congress established immigration quotas. This results in significant waiting time and severe frustration for potential immigrants and American employers as well. Most Americans do not understand what a significant time lapse foreign guests and business travelers have to wait in order to get the US visa.

The individuals “playing by the rules” might spend many years waiting to obtain the status of legal permanent US residents. In the past several years, the situation with green cards has also worsened considerably; an immigrant has to spend about 5 years waiting to become a legal resident, even if he or she is an expert in some sphere. In your essay about immigrants, you may suggest the key to solving the illegal immigration problem; for example, making the admission system more workable along with providing enough visas for the working and family reunification. You may also bring forward the fact that sometimes it is easier and faster to enter the country illegally than to wait for official permission, which is the major problem of immigration.

Your immigration essay conclusion should answer the thesis and generalize the information of the essay. So you may give a summary of the problem and offer your point of view as to its solution. For instance, you may claim that the US still needs more workforce, and that’s why it’s quite reasonable to increase the number of visas for foreign employees, who can help keep the American economy running. Besides, the incentive to enter the USA illegally should be reduced and illegal immigration control increased.

Immigration and the rate of crime in the host country

You can mention that the research paper about modern immigration and crime holds leading positions among educational assignments. The connection between immigration, especially illegal one, and the level of criminal activity in the region has always been the subject of heated discussions. In short, aliens were criminalized, and even new classes of “law-breakers” were created, which are only applied to foreigners. Donald Trump, in his persuasive speech about immigration, mentioned that there were 2 million criminal aliens in America several years ago.

However, century-long research proved the powerful truth: immigrants commit fewer crimes than the native-born and are less inclined to get into prison. The high rate of immigration correlates with a lower rate of property or violent crimes. The results are valid for legal and illegal immigrants, regardless of their native country or education. That’s why strict immigration regulations will not help in overcoming the criminality. Plenty of information can be found about the life and experience of Chinese, Italian, Swedish, and Vietnamese immigrants, who came to the USA at different times. You can write an immigrant assimilation essay touching upon the problem of crime as well.

Here are more facts to support the above-mentioned claim:

• Actually, the number of American entrants in recent decades was growing, while the rates of crime trended downward. Unauthorized US immigrants have more than tripled in the amount in the last 30 years. The official data indicates the decrease in the rate of violent crime for 48% in the same period, including the murder, rape, and robbery rates. The property crime rate dropped 41%. It was characteristic for most cities across the USA, especially for the so-called immigrant “gateways,” like Chicago, Miami, San Diego, and San Antonio.
• Besides, roughly 1.6% of immigrant males between 18-39 years old are incarcerated, while among the natives the percent is 3.3. This difference in incarceration rates was preserved for minimum 3 decades; though it fluctuated, it still showed 2 to 5 times higher rate of the native population imprisonments compared to that of immigrants.
• It’s essential to bear in mind that the majority of native prisoners are not in federal jails, while immigrants often get there because of immigration violations. In 2010 only 9% of all prisoners were kept in federal prisons.
• A study conducted 3 years ago revealed that immigrants are less likely to be involved in criminal affairs than native US citizens. Moreover, Americans almost 4 times more often demonstrated violent behavior than Asians and Africans and 3 times than Latin Americans.

You may explain the reason for this trend in your research paper about illegal immigration. Immigrants are, as a rule, goal-driven and highly motivated individuals. They leave their native countries, families, and friends in search of a better life, so they would rather work hard and stay out of trouble than get involved in criminal activities. They come to a foreign land to pursue learning and financial opportunities unavailable in their countries of origin, so they have little to gain and much to lose by breaking the law.

The studies on the correlation between immigration and crime in Europe showed that immigration increase generally does not influence crime level; however, it goes hand-in-hand with growing community anxiety and anti-immigration mood. Going deeper into the topic, you may consider working on an immigrant experience essay as well.

In the United Kingdom, the consequence of 2 immigration waves was examined in relation to the crime rate. When the workforce from Eastern Europe flew into the country, the impact on crime was minimal; however, the wave of asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia, which came in the 90s, corresponded to a slight increase in the number of property crimes at that time.

As you can see, the topic of immigration is vast and interesting to study. It’s not a problem nowadays to find a good immigration research paper example and create a proper piece of writing following the standard guidelines. So we wish you good luck in your research work!

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17 Essays About Immigration You Write Quickly

Discover 17 essays about immigration that you can use to help your writing project stand out.

America is a nation of immigrants. From its beginning, the majority of the people that made up America came from countries in Europe, rather than from within America. So, there are many topics you can consider as you look to write essays about immigration.

If you are assigned to write an essay about immigration, you have many options. You can discuss the Immigration Act, the immigration process, the challenges immigrants face, and the ethics of the immigration debate. To get you started, here are

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. Should Immigrants Assimilate to American Culture?

2. what the american dream looks like in reality, 3. should learning english be a requirement for immigration, 4. assimilation versus multiculturalism: which is better, 5. what my immigration experience was like, 6. how immigrants can retain the culture of their home countries while embracing america, 7. the problem of illegal immigration and how to fix it, 8. why don’t illegal immigrants come here legally, 9. is it hard to follow immigration law, 10. how immigrants have helped america, 11. does america have an immigration problem, 12. why many american immigrants seek economic opportunity, 13. the deportation of parents of naturalized citizen children, 14. what rights should non-citizens have, 15. immigrant contributions throughout history, 16. the impact of immigrants on america’s economy, 17. explore immigration trends from history.

Assimilation occurs when people come to a new country as an immigrant and embrace the new culture, beliefs, language, and values, often to the extent of losing their own ethnic identities. Is this something that immigrants should do to become Americans? Some argue yes, but others argue no. You can build an essay around your opinion on this topic.

As you discuss assimilation, decide whether or not you can have assimilation without losing culture. Can someone adopt the culture and behaviors of their new country without losing their own cultural identity, or are the two mutually exclusive? Answer these questions in your essay.

The American Dream, the idea that you can do and be anything within the borders of America, draws many immigrants to the country. But what is the reality of the American Dream? You can expound on this idea in your essay.

Sadly many new immigrants come to the country with grand ideas about what their life will look like, only ot find that achieving their dreams takes more hard work than anticipated. Yet is it possible if they put in the effort? Use your essay to answer this question with proof from your research.

Learning a new language is challenging. But if immigrants want to find success within America, they can benefit from learning conversational English. Should this be a requirement for immigration? In reality, most immigrants want to learn English , but it is hard and can cause significant delays in the citizenship process.

In your essay, answer this question and show why you chose that answer. Is this too stringent of a requirement, or does it make sense to make the immigrant’s path easier as they move forward with citizenship? This question is complex, and complex answers make interesting essays.

To help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

Assimilation is different from a multicultural view of America. With assimilation, the immigrant often loses their cultural background. If we view America as a multicultural country, we can embrace and value all of the cultures within our vast melting pot.

Which of these two views is the most realistic? Can we have a multicultural community while still being distinctively American? Decide which view you prefer, and then argue for its benefits in your essay.

Are you an immigrant or the child of immigrant parents? You can transform your life experiences into a personal essay about immigration. How did living as an immigrant shape who you are as a person, and what was your experience about getting legal immigrant or citizenship status like?

This type of essay provides a personal look at the realities of immigration. It can make it easier to explain why immigrants face challenges and what can be done to overcome those challenges.

One of the criticisms against assimilation is the danger of losing one’s home culture when assimilating into a new one. Asian immigrants want to retain their cooking and religious views, while Latinos may want to retain their art and holidays. Your essay can discuss how immigrant families can strike the right balance between assimilation and retention of their home culture.

This question is difficult to answer, so take some time to research it, so you understand the full extent of the problem. Be willing to insert some of your opinions into the discussion to make it valid and personal.

Of the approximately 44.8 million foreign-born people living in America, approximately 1/4 are here illegally . The problem may not be as large as some politicians make it out to be, but it is, in fact, a problem.

Your essay can discuss why we have an illegal immigration problem, how severe it is, and what potential solutions are. Is the solution to deport those living here illegally, or create an easier past to legal immigration status? Back your ideas with facts from your research to build a solid essay.

People have to come to the United States for the purpose of employment, humanitarian relief, or family reunification , and getting proof for each of these can be a huge challenge. Simply coming to seek a “better life” is not sufficient.

Many unfamiliar with immigration policies ask why immigrants don’t do things the “right” way. Your essay can explain why by outlining the challenges to becoming an immigrant. This essay could help build some compassion for the plight of people who want to come to America correctly, but simply can’t.

Why are there so many illegal immigrants in the country? One potential reason is that it is difficult to become a legal immigrant. Do some research on the process of immigration to see how hard it is, then answer this question in your essay.

If immigration law is difficult to follow, consider proposing immigration policy changes to help the problem. People coming to America to seek a better life, only to find the path blocked by many roadblocks, could become legal immigrants with just a few changes.

Immigrants are often criticized, but are there ways they have helped America, too? The answer is yes, and you can prove some of those helps in your essay. American immigration has helped strengthen the U.S. economy. many immigrants have brought scientific and political innovation to the country.

Focus on some of these benefits as you build an essay that supports the positive side of immigration.

Donald Trump was famous for saying he would fight the “immigration problem” in his presidency, but do we have a problem with the immigrant population in our country? Do immigrant groups hurt America, or help it?

Answering these questions can be an effective persuasive essay. You can have an opinion about whether or not we have a problem, and then prove your choice through your writing. If you decide that we have a problem, you can determine solutions and talk about those as well.

What draws people to America. For many, it is the promise of economic opportunity. In many countries, especially those with socialistic tendencies, entrepreneurship is not something the government encourages. In America, immigrants can pursue their passions and make something for themselves.

You can craft an essay that looks at the reality behind the economic opportunities for immigrants in America. While the potential is there, it can be challenging to reach it. This challenge is part of what makes this an excellent immigration essay topic because you can contrast the expectation of many immigrants against the reality they find when they get here.

One problem that hounds the world of immigration is the problem of minors who are born to immigrants within the United States. These children can have American citizenship because they were born in our land. Yet if their parents are illegal immigrants, they can face deportation.

This problem creates an ethical dilemma, and ethical dilemmas are great essay topics. Children need their parents, but undocumented immigrants always face the risk of deportation. With 4.4 million US-citizen children living with at least one undocumented parent, this problem is massive.

One of the criticisms against massive immigration is that some immigrants receive government help, even if they are not citizens. Is this simply an unfair argument? This problem sparks an interesting essay topic. As non-citizens, should immigrants have the same rights as citizens?

You can argue that basic human rights, like the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, are given to all people, regardless of immigration and citizenship status. However, some of the rights of a government-provided to its citizens are not. Decide your stance on this controversy, and then defend it in your essay. You can also discuss the reality behind this complaint .

When you look at America’s history, you can see that immigrants have had a significant role to play . For instance, Albert Einstein, the famous inventor, was a German immigrant. Sergey Brin, the founder of Google, is a Russian immigrant.

In this essay, you can look at immigration to the United States as a way our history has been built. You can then discuss specific people who made contributions to our history but were immigrants. In this way, you can show that immigration has some benefits for Americans.

One of the reasons many people fight having many immigrants in America is because of the supposed economic implications of undocumented immigrants and people working illegally without a green card. Yet what is the economic impact of immigrants on our country? This question is worth considering as the subject of your essay.

For instance, people sometimes criticize migrant workers for taking jobs away from American citizens . Still, in reality, they often take the work that citizens aren’t willing to do, such as hard labor on farms. Others criticize the economic impact of immigrants taking Welfare or participating in government programs, but those same immigrants also spend money at local businesses . You can look at this question from all sides to determine if immigrants are hurting or helping the American economy.

There are many instances in American history when immigration happened in huge numbers. During World War II and its aftermath, the Diaspora that occurred sent many Jews and Russians out of Europe and to America. After the Vietnam War, we saw an influx of Vietnamese immigrants.

For your essay, pick a historical time such as these and discuss how it impacted immigration. What political factors were in place that forced people from their homes, and what caused them to turn toward America as a result?

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Immigration to America — How Immigration Changed America

How Immigration Changed America

• Categories: Immigration to America

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Words: 605 |

Published: Sep 12, 2023

Words: 605 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The early waves of immigration, the melting pot and cultural fusion, economic growth and innovation, demographic changes and diversity, social and political changes.

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Expository Writing 20: Narratives of Immigration

Semester: , offered: .

Immigration has become a divisive topic in the U.S., as thousands of people fleeing violence and poverty in Central America arrive at the southern border each year. While conversations about immigration tend to focus on its economic, cultural, and political implications, the lived experiences of immigrants can get lost in the shuffle. Who are the people coming to the U.S. border? What has motivated their journeys? Once they arrive, what happens to them? Which of their experiences make it into the national conversation around immigration, and which are ignored? In this course, students will try to answer these questions, combining both standard academic inquiry with exploratory community engagement. Course participants will have the opportunity to meet with and pose questions to lawyers from the Harvard Law School Immigration Clinic, as well as representatives from the Dilley Pro Bono Project, who provide legal services to asylum seekers at the U.S. family detention center in Dilley, Texas. They will also exit the gates of Harvard to attend immigration court proceedings, visit local immigrant neighborhoods, and talk with activists about their hopes and frustrations regarding immigration reform. These experiences will then inform students’ academic writing, which will culminate in a research paper that seeks to bring national attention to some of the overlooked realities of the immigration system course participants have encountered.

In Unit 1, we will start by looking at concepts of nationhood and community, asking students to critique arguments for and against open borders, focusing on the libertarian, utilitarian argument made in favor of them by economist Bryan Caplan. In Unit 2, we will turn to the self-articulated experiences of immigrants to the United States, putting narratives of asylum seekers in conversation with former Attorney General Jeff Sessions’s definition of persecution in The Matter of A-B- . Finally, in Unit 3 students will write a research paper in which they synthesize their learning throughout the semester, contributing directly to the national conversation surrounding immigration, with the goal of submitting their work for potential publication. They will write this paper in conjunction with creating a capstone project: a two-minute, self-reflective video produced for the class’s community partners.

For more information on students' final projects, please see the Bok Center's page on the course .

Immigration in the U.S

How it works

Immigration is defined as the process through which individuals become permanent residents or citizens of a new country (other than the one they were born). People who are immigrants come to a new country hoping to become citizens of that country and plan to live there for a long period of time. Immigration has been happening since the beginning of history and is the main reason why countries like the United States are so diverse, containing hundreds of different languages, cultures and races.

Immigrants are the key reason why the United States are so culturally, economically, and socially diverse, yet immigrants are still treated as if they do not belong. Immigration, specifically immigration in the U.S has seemed to be a cause of multiculturalism, the sociological imagination, the functionalist theory and socialization.

Culture and immigration act jointly with one another. There are many reasons to believe that immigration actually enhances a culture, and overall make the culture function efficiently. Firstly, immigrants help expand culture by introducing new ideas, customs, cuisines and fine arts. Without even noticing it we are exposed to customs, food, and ideology on an everyday basis that did not originate from the U.S, rather they were taught to us by people who have in the past, immigrated to the United States. For example, what Americans think is “their” food, is a blend of numerous culinary traditions.

Particular recipes, methods of preparation and presentation have been provided by the mixture by dozens of ethnic groups. Also, immigrants make the world more connected, as people move across borders and experience culture in places different from their own, progression is spread, and the world opens up. As more and more people immigrate to America each year, people share cultures and engage in global commerce which results in friendships with people from different backgrounds. What makes America so unique to many other countries is the wide variety of culture, or multiculturalism, which would not exist if it was not for immigrants.

Our textbook defines the sociological imagination as “the application of imaginative thought to the asking and answering of sociological questions”. A key concept of the sociological imagination is the correlation between biography (the individual’s circumstances) and history. An immigrant’s biography relates to factors such as where the immigrant is from, the color of their skin, their education level, their gender, and their class. Historically, the U.S. has pushed immigrants towards low skilled, low paying jobs. A second concept of the sociological imagination is the fact that many individual issues can be explained by a larger societal issue.

The fact that immigrants are pushed towards low skilled, low paying jobs is most likely the result of a large societal problem, not an individualistic problem. U.S. citizens may view the problem of immigrants getting low skilled, low paying jobs in a individualistic way. They may assume that the immigrant is uneducated which is an individualistic explanation. However, the problem can also be analyzed through a societal lense. For example, it could be the middle of an economic recession and the immigrant is not able to find work. Most of the time, immigrants are hired to do the jobs Americans aren’t willing to do, which are usually low waged, have horrible working conditions and can sometimes be life threatening.

The functionalist theory is defined as the theory that society is made up of shared values and rules of behavior, because without them social life would not be possible. This elaborates on the fact that the U.S. needs low skilled jobs/low paying jobs in order to properly function. For example, custodians are needed to keep the dormitories clean, and nannies are needed to watch children while parents are gone. These two jobs are prime examples of jobs that immigrants possess. Furthermore, these jobs prove that the U.S. has interdependent parts which accumulate to be greater than the summation of the individual parts; society is composed of numerous parts and people which function together.

Similarly socialization helps us navigate through society. Socialization is the social processes through which we develop an awareness of social norms and values and achieve a distinct sense of self. Immigration socialization is a very complex process, immigrants need to restore friendly relations between two different cultural environments, those being the original culture in which they were born and the new culture in which they find themselves.

Upon their relocation immigrants have to adapt to a biculturally while also struggling with things like communicating because of the language barrier. Socialization is extremely hard for immigrant children in American schools. Because immigrant children are not familiar with the choice of words, slang and accents, immigrant students can be slower in processing and responding to information, which then compromises the experience of socializing. Generally, Americans or locals are not as interested in immigrants culture, whereas immigrants are very much interested in their culture, which is another reason why socialization is hard for immigrants.

Immigration in the United States has been a lead cause of multiculturalism and developing culture, the sociological imagination, functionalist theory, and socialism. All of these concepts have an explanation for how immigration impacts the United States. Immigration has greatly shaped culture in the United States and without immigrants the U.S would not be as culturally diverse as it is. In relation to the sociological imagination, how the U.S. perceives immigrants historically creates the stigma of immigrants being inferior in regards to their biographies due to the correlation between history and biography in society.

The idea of functionalism or the functionalist theory is well connected to Immigrants because the United States needs immigrants to perform the low skilled, unpleasant and low waged jobs in order to function smoothly. Lastly, socialization is related to immigration because it is the act in which immigrants adjust to their new living and how they learn to socialize in a new environment. After exploring how these four sociological concepts connect to immigration I now have a stronger sense of sympathy for immigrants and can clearly connect this issue to my everyday life and environment.

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32+ argumentative essays topics on immigration with prompts [+ essay outline], dr. wilson mn.

• August 1, 2022
• Essay Topics and Ideas , Samples

There are a lot of immigration issues that people are passionate about. If you care about the immigration and want to make a difference, then you should consider writing an argumentative essay on one of these topics. Here are some ideas on Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration to get you started:

What You'll Learn

Interesting Topics On Migration

• Different Perspectives on Immigration Reform Essay Prompt: Over the past few years, people have moved to the United States for various reasons. Some have moved to the United States to reunite with their families, work, or look for safety.
• Arguments on Why Immigration Should be Stopped Essay Prompt: Immigration can be defined as the movement of an individual from one’s country of origin to set up new and permanent residence in another country. Immigration has been a pertinent issue in most countries, especially the United States.
• Effects of Immigration Essay Prompt: Immigration is moving from one place to another in order to live and work in that place. The history of immigration dates back to thousands of years ago when the first Africans arrived in Egypt.
• How does racism impact the way we view Immigration? Essay Prompt: In recent years, views of immigration in the United States have shifted with many Americans perceiving immigrants as a source of national prosperity, rather than an eminent burden. (Interesting Topics on Migration)
• Immigration, Essay Prompt: Consider any issues such as how to deal with illegal immigrants, how to encourage new, productive immigrants, cost of illegal immigrants.

As you continue,  thestudycorp.com  has the top and most qualified writers to help with any of your assignments. All you need to do is  place an order  with us . Select a Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration and we will write the essau for you.

Argumentative Essay Ideas On Immigration with Prompts

• What Role Should The State Of Texas Play In The Immigration Policy
• No One Is Safe.’ How Trump’s Immigration Policy Is Splitting Families Apart Essay Prompt: In the past, people who immigrated to the US illegally and had criminal records were some of the most targeted, but now the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can pick up family members and separate them from their families.
• The economic impact of Immigration on the US economy Essay Prompt: Immigration has a significant impact on the United States economy. Immigration has enhanced economic development and has small to no effects on employment and wages for native-born workers.
• Describe Immigration Laws And Potential Illegal Immigrants
• Essay Prompt: You explore your position on the topic of immigration laws. Select an immigration law for this Discussion and consider whether or not that law is justifiable.
• The bad impact of Immigration on the U.S. economy. Essay Essay Prompt: Immigration is a hotly debated topic in the United States, especially in political circles. Over the years, millions of people have immigrated to the United States from all parts of the world and it has become a melting pot of cultures. (Interesting Topics on Migration)
• Impact of Immigration on American Cities Essay Prompt: The issue of immigration is a sensitive national topic in the United States. The topic’s sensitivity is fueled by several misconceptions about immigration and its impact on the United States. (Argumentative Essay Ideas On Immigration)
• Research Assignment on Enforcement of Immigration Laws Essay Prompt: Explain at least one challenge related to enforcing the laws at the state level. Provide an insight you had about the effectiveness of enforcement of laws. A Research Project On Migration.

Further read on Creative Synthesis Essay Topics & Ideas in 2022

If you care about immigration and want to make a difference, then you should consider writing an argumentative essay on one of these topics . Here are some ideas on Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration to get you started:

Immigration Research Paper Topics

• Immigration is Good to America: Immigration Makes Americans Less Isolated Globally Essay Prompt: Incorporate analysis of the reading and somebody’s personal experience to make a clear and precise argumentative essay on immigration.
• Republican Party Restrictions on Immigration Law Essay Essay Prompt: The US president Donald Trump is from the Republican Party with the decision made following the policies of the party. Republican Party has a strong stand on restrictions on immigrants which have caused unrest to blacks and minority groups in the US.
• Discuss one specific issue position from either the Democratic or Republican parties’ platforms, indicating whether you agree or disagree.
• Why The United States Should Adopt An Open Immigration Policy Essay Prompt: Two Viewpoints explaining why Immigration Must Be Restricted to Protect American Americans Against Terrorists and why the United States Should Adopt an Open Immigration Policy.
• Liberal Critique And Reform Of Immigration Policy Essay Prompt: Immigration reforms have remained fundamental similar to civil rights and desegregation throughout the history of the united states (US). In the past centuries, immigration reforms have been greatly influenced by the civil rights movement. As noted, the civil rights movement was about winning full and…
• Immigration, Pluralism, and Amalgamation Essay Prompt: The world has significantly transformed into a global village mainly due to technological advancement that has made almost every part of the world accessible. Consequently, migration has become a common aspect of modern life. These changes have prompted different countries to establish immigration policies…
• Essay Prompt: In the current interconnected world, global migration has turned out to be a reality that affects approximately all countries across the world. With advanced modern means of transport, people find it easier, cheaper and more convenient to move from one nation to another searching for employment.
• How to Strengthen America’s National Security
• Essay Prompt: Enhancing border control and enforcement of immigration laws are the two primary ideas that can effectively manage the problem of illegal immigration in the US. (Interesting Topics on Migration)
• Immigration Policy Impact on Economic, Security & Humanitarian Policy Essay Prompt: The current immigration policy has a far-reaching impact on humanitarian, security, and economic aspects. For instance, Migrant Protection Protocols by former President Trump prevents the imprisonment of asylum seekers, especially women and children, until the hearing of their case.
• Should American Citizenship be a Birthright? Research Paper Essay Prompt: The belief that everybody born in American soil becomes subject to the jurisdiction, hence citizens of the United States was included in the Constitution in 1868, in the 14th amendment.

These are just a few examples of Argumentative Essays Topics on Immigration. If you can find a topic that is relevant to your audience and that you are passionate about, you will be well on your way to writing a great argumentative essay .

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• Task 1 General
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IELTS band 9 essay: immigration

Here you can find advice how to structure IELTS essay and IELTS model answer for immigration topic. Question type: reasons and consequences .

Here is the question card:

Immigration has a major impact on the society.

What are the main reasons of immigration?

To what consequences can it lead?

To write a band 9 essay you should first of all choose your arguments to answer the questions from the topic. You don't have to find some complicated ideas. Remember: you won't be judged upon the quality of your thoughts, you will be judged upon the quality of your writing. So even simple, but well-written arguments can often give you a band 9 writing .

• Reasons why people immigrate
• Results of immigration

Some of the possible arguments :

• Reasons of immigration :
• People want to live in a safe country
• People search better jobs with higher salaries
• People escape from wars/disasters
• Results of immigration :
• People’s expectations come true / don’t come true
• Immigrants face other difficulties
• Countries of destination have to give money to support refugees
• Overpopulation

How to structure my answer?

Of course, there are a lot of ways to organise this essay. But here is one possible way of structuring the answer to produce a band 9 essay :

Introduction : simply rephrase the topic and say what this essay is about. When your essay question asks you about reasons/consequences or causes/solutions, you shouldn’t try to describe all that in your introduction. Instead, state that you’ll describe them later in your essay.

Body paragraphs :

• paragraph 1: main reasons of immigration
• paragraph 2: main consequences of immigration

Conclusion : sum up the ideas from body paragraphs and briefly give your opinion.

Band 9 essay sample (immigration)

Immigration has a significant impact on the contemporary society. Each year, more and more people from all over the world decide to leave their home countries and move to another place. This essay will examine the reasons and the consequences of immigration.

In my view, the main reason of immigration is a strong desire of better life quality and safe future. A lot of people from so-called Third World move to developed countries in search of better employment opportunities, and therefore, higher incomes. Moreover, living in a wealthy country implies living in a country with stable economy, so risks of losing their savings also lessen. For example, labour migration from Mexico to the USA is caused by these facts. Other reasons that force whole families to cross borders are wars and various cultural conflicts in their homeland. Many people migrate, seeking security and safe future for their children. For instance, most of the refugees who arrived in the European Union were escaping from wars.

However, sometimes immigration causes more problems than it solves, resulting in negative consequences for both immigrants and their countries of destination. First of all, most of the refugees can’t find jobs because of the lack of language skills and difficulties in adaptation. That’s why the countries have to run various refugee assistance programs to help those people. But disproportionate burden of maintaining the immigrants leads to tension in the society. Secondly, not all of the refugees receive proper asylum, food and medical care. So they are at risk even after crossing the border. Finally, even highly qualified specialists, who seek better employment, often don’t get what they are looking for.

In conclusion, I think that people immigrate to have better life prospects. However, life after immigration may not always meet people’s expectations. So it’s very important to consider all the possible outcomes and decide whether leaving your homeland is worth it.

(315 words)

Useful vocabulary

better employment opportunities – opportunity to find a better job

burden of maintaining immigrants – difficulties in helping immigrants faced by the governments

country with stable economy – rich and safe country

to cross the border – immigrate

labour migration – when people migrate to find better jobs

refugee – person who is forced to leave his birth place because of war

refugee assistance programs – when the government gives to the refugees asylum and food

to seek better employment – look for better job

Third World – developing countries

to meet expectations – if something doesn’t meet your expectations, it’s not as good as you have thought

Sara S. Goek, Ph.D.

Writing american immigration history: notes on an essay, june 5, 2019 sara goek comments 0 comment.

I recently wrote a bibliographic essay titled “Writing American Immigration History” for Choice , a book review publication for academic libraries ( read it here for free ). I started it while Trump shut down the federal government over funding his border wall and finished when he declared a national emergency to try to get that funding. It’s an interesting time to be an immigration historian.

The task: select about 50 books in the field and write a 5,000-word narrative that cites and connects them all. As many writing or teaching projects do, this prompted me to catch up on the new literature in the field and to extend my familiarity beyond my primary research areas. It proved especially challenging at a time of burgeoning scholarship in the field, with many new academic books as well as articles and op-eds providing historical context for current events.

I knew from the start that I wanted, and needed, to do something different than the excellent #ImmigrationSyllabus . I had to not only select good sources, but to explain why and organize them into a coherent narrative. The Immigration Syllabus is organized chronologically into topical “weeks.” I decided that my primary narrative would be not the history of immigration, but the historiography – in other words, the history of immigration history. The way in which the writing of that history has evolved over time itself constitutes a historical phenomenon.

As I selected texts to include, I sought input from other historians in an open call here and on social media. Most responses came from people I know, but I did get a couple suggestions from others whom I’ve never met. I realized after the fact that my work with academic librarians in a membership association had influenced that decision. In that setting sharing work for feedback is something I do all the time, but I’m not sure it’s something I would’ve done in such a public forum previously. Librarians have many quirks (one of which is a dislike of non-librarians commenting on their quirks, so I won’t specify further!) and among them is a genuine tendency towards collaboration and openness. Coming from a field where work tends more towards the individual and competitive, that attitude has been a welcome revelation.

No doubt there will be historians who criticize this essay for not including the book they think is more important. I can’t please everyone, nor could I include every text in an essay with established parameters. Since completing the essay, I have heard of three more new books that I would have liked to include. As with all the scholarship referenced in the essay, the end result represents my particular perspective and my own time.

I decided after the fact that it would be interesting to analyze the composition of the bibliography. It includes 60 items, 58 of which are discrete publications. Monographs dominate – unsurprisingly – with a few multi-author and multi-editor works. Articles are beyond the scope of this assignment, though I did squeeze one in. The works were published between 1951 and 2019, skewing towards the more recent end of the timeline. (Click on the chart for an interactive version.)

While recognizing that gender binaries are problematic, nonetheless examining the gender breakdown is interesting. History remains a male-dominated field. Approximately 45% of new Ph.D. graduates are women, but that percentage used to be much lower. I don’t know if a standard methodology for analyzing bibliographies by gender exists. For example, if an author appears twice, are they counted twice? How do you count multi-author works? I tried both methods. Counting each author each time they appear in the bibliography led to a breakdown of 53% male to 47% female among these works, while counting each unique author only once means a 55% male / 45% female breakdown.

The gender balance has shifted over the last couple decades. Out of the 58 works here, half fall on either side of 2006. Those in the pre-2006 group have approximately a 2:1 male to female authorship ratio while post-2006 the ratio flips. Not only do women know history , but at least from where I sit, they’re engaged in some of the most exciting new work in the field.

Acknowledgments : I would like to thank the friends and colleagues who gave me suggestions based on a draft list of sources (particularly Sophie Cooper, Gráinne McEvoy, Christian Nøkkentved, and Eric Smith). Special thanks to Luke Kirwan for being my go-to editor and proofreader since the good old days in Sheraton Court. And thanks to Bill Mickey and the staff at ACRL and Choice for the opportunity to write this piece.

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Writing about the Immigrant Experience

Sep 23, 2021 by Tammy Pasterick published in Writing

Immigration is an emotional topic that can turn the friendliest of conversations into a fierce debate. People have wide-ranging views that have been shaped by their own experiences, the opinions of friends, and the news programs they watch. Writing about the immigrant experience requires a lot of nuance and attention to detail.

Seven years ago, when I started writing my historical novel, I was not paying close attention to the news coverage of the migrants at the Mexican border or the Syrian refugees crossing the Aegean Sea to get to Greece. I had been inspired by my research into the lives of my great-grandparents, who immigrated to America at the turn of the twentieth century to work in the steel mills of Pittsburgh, and simply wanted to recreate their world in a novel. 

I did not anticipate that my genealogy project turned historical novel would have so many parallels with today’s immigration issues and would provide such a relevant and timely message about empathy.

I’m an American. I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania and have lived in Maryland for the past twenty years. I cannot speak to the challenges faced by today’s immigrants nor have I considered telling their stories. People who have ridden Mexico’s La Bestia or who have recently fled the Taliban rule in Afghanistan have heartbreaking stories to tell, and I am not qualified to provide advice on how to write a memoir. 

My expertise lies in historical research and novel writing, and I have learned some important lessons about how to write about the immigrant experience from the past and pay tribute to their unique sacrifices. 

Whether your ancestors were from Italy, Ireland, Egypt, or Argentina, the following tips will help you bring your family’s past to life while taking readers on an entertaining and emotional journey in writing about the immigrant experience.

Research your family history.

Conducting research into your family’s past is the first step in writing about the immigrant experience. Websites like Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com have a wealth of birth, marriage, military, and death records as well as ship manifestos and census information. These documents may reveal some fascinating facts about your ancestors and spark your imagination. 

While I was on Ancestry.com, I found the World War II draft registration card for my Lithuanian great-grandfather, who was in his early fifties at the time he signed it. I’ve often wondered what motivated his bravery, as his advanced age exempted him from the draft. Was he hoping to return to Europe to find a lost love or a child he gave up for adoption? Was he seeking revenge on the Germans for killing his best friend during World War I? I may never know, but these theories are all good premises for a novel.

Research the time period.

The world you create in your novel should be historically accurate, so read as much as you can about life in the time and place your immigrants settled. In my case, I read excerpts from The Pittsburgh Survey, a sociological study conducted from 1907-1908, which chronicled the living conditions of immigrant families. I also consulted several books about the steel and coal mining industries in Pennsylvania in the early 1900s. 

While there is more freedom in writing fiction than non-fiction, you should still try to educate readers as you entertain them. Just be careful not to weigh your story down with too many unnecessary details. It takes time to achieve the right balance, and you’ll most likely master this during the editing process.

Be careful when writing dialogue.

Dialogue is tough for all writers, but it’s especially challenging when writing historical fiction—even more so when your characters are speaking a foreign language. You need to stick to a certain style when your immigrants are speaking to each other in their native tongue and another style when they’re struggling to converse in a second language. 

For instance, characters who are learning English might misuse words and only speak in the present tense. They might also stutter or pause repeatedly when telling a story. When immigrant characters are speaking to each other in their native language, simply insert tags like “he said in Slovak” to alert readers that the conversation is occurring in another language. You won’t need to manufacture mistakes in these situations since people generally speak their first language effortlessly.

Sprinkle in world events, politics, and societal conflicts that affect the immigrant experience.

In my opinion, the best historical novels always have characters struggling with both internal and external forces. In Dr. Zhivago , for instance, Yuri Zhivago falls in love with a beautiful young nurse while married to his childhood sweetheart. He wrestles with his feelings and his conscience while the events of World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution tear his world—and his family—apart. 

If your story takes place in a turbulent time, include those events. Providing a portrait of the larger world will help readers gain a deeper understanding of your immigrants’ struggles. 

In my novel, the primary focus is on the relationships within the immigrant family, but I also show how the labor movement, social inequality, anti-immigration sentiment, and the deplorable working conditions in the steel and coal mining industries impact their lives.

Add plenty of drama!

Historical fiction readers are looking for an escape to the past. They want to be taken on an emotional journey while learning about a specific time period or world event. While it may be tempting to include every fact you uncovered about Chinese immigrants building the transcontinental railway, don’t do it. Your novel will turn into a history book. 

Drama is the key to good historical fiction, and your book should have plenty of it. You want your readers to laugh, cry, clench their fists in anger, and maybe even throw the book across the room. 

In my novel, I paint a very accurate picture of 1910s Pittsburgh and include vivid descriptions of the steel mills, coal mines, and immigrant neighborhoods. It’s all very interesting, but what makes my book even more fascinating is my main character’s unraveling sanity. It affects her entire family and drives the plot forward. It’s the element that keeps readers turning the pages. 

No matter what type of drama you choose to add—a love triangle, a murder, or kidnapping—you can create an authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience and still keep your story spicy.

A native of Western Pennsylvania, Tammy Pasterick grew up in a family of steelworkers, coal miners, and Eastern European immigrants. She began her career as an investigator with the National Labor Relations Board and later worked as a paralegal and German teacher. She holds degrees in labor and industrial relations from Penn State University and German language and literature from the University of Delaware. She currently lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore with her husband, two children, and chocolate Labrador retriever. Beneath the Veil of Smoke and Ash is her first novel.

You can follow Tammy on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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Start Writing Better Essays About Immigration

Table of Contents

Wondering how to start an essay about immigration ? Whether you’re a high schooler exploring immigration policies, or a college student learning more about the subject, this article is for you.

Nowadays, immigration is becoming more widespread around the world. This is due to the development in the economic and technological spheres.

Moreover, the gap between rich and poor becomes more prominent, causing migration to increase further. Therefore, educators now give immigration essays to their students, making the topic of immigration more relevant than ever.

Read on to find out how to write an impactful essay on the reasons, causes, benefits, and drawbacks of immigration.

How to Start an Essay About Immigration?

If you’re wondering how to start an essay about immigration , this post has all the information you need to enhance your writing.

Start the essay off with your thesis. It should state what you plan to argue if you have one. Then, give the reader a background of the issue or topic. Now, consider all of the evidence you have collected and highlight the most important pieces of evidence.

What Is Immigration?

Immigration is the process of relocating to another country. It is usually a relocation from a less economically developed country to a developed one with the hope of ongoing permission to reside.

This is the procedure of obtaining legal permanent residency abroad. People could decide to immigrate for various personal, economic, social, or political reasons.

Reasons and Causes for Migration

Today, migration is a global issue from an economic and business perspective. Many states’ populations are growing due to immigrants who move to new locations in search of a better life. Moving to a new place means getting used to another culture and lifestyle. Several factors influence people’s decisions to relocate. Here are some common reasons and causes for migration:

Personal Reasons and Wishes

Some people relocate to be with their spouses. People also migrate to advance professionally or fulfill a childhood ambition to reside somewhere specific. It could also be a desire to pursue education in a certain setting or nation.

People Immigrate for Safety Reasons

People often migrate due to the threat or danger posed to themselves or their families.

Persecution and discrimination based on religion, race, nationality, political beliefs, or social standing are only a few of the possible issues. Other reasons could be to escape from war or to be safe from one’s criminal activity.

Economic Factors Are Common for Immigration

Economic factors are a common cause of immigration. These economic factors may be seasonal or constant.

People frequently relocate from underdeveloped nations to developed ones in search of employment and financial possibilities. Low salaries, lack of jobs, and high taxes make life difficult for people. People continuously seek a better life.

Human Rights and Freedom

The lack of basic human needs and the desire for a higher quality of life are sociological reasons that are causing migration to increase. People work to improve their own and their families’ prospects.

One social reason for migration is to improve children’s education and career growth by getting a better education. Additionally, people could look abroad for services like life-saving surgery or medical care that may not be available in their home country.

Benefits and Drawbacks of the Immigration Process

The discussion about immigration has been going on for decades, but it seems to continue to be a contentious topic.

No matter what the reason might be, immigration is an important topic with many benefits and drawbacks. Learning more about the pros and cons of immigration will help you write an informed essay in this debate.

Benefits of Immigration:

Positive aspects of the immigration process that you can mention are:

• An improvement in living standards. Most people who move do so in search of safer neighborhoods, social security, and better career possibilities.
• Better personal and professional insights. Immigrants experience a variety of difficulties when they move to a new environment. They must become more independent and adapt to the new standards of living. It forces people to take on professional responsibilities, act independently, and work with new techniques and standards. As a result, they develop as professionals and gain new experiences.
• Encounters diverse cultures and expands knowledge. Immigrants have the chance to discover new cultures, traditions, and lifestyles while also learning more about the host nation’s cuisine and language.

Drawbacks of Immigration:

Negative aspects of the immigration process that you can mention are:

• Intolerance of other races and cultures. Only a few nations are welcoming to visitors; most tourists suffer racial discrimination or hatred instead.
• Encounters language barrier. Communication difficulties are among the primary drawbacks in a host nation. Therefore, it is recommended that you learn some basic terms beforehand for regular communication.
• There is a labor shortage. Unemployment is a significant issue that new immigrants may encounter. This is especially true if they decide to settle in a new location without having their credentials and skills recognized and validated.

The topic of immigration is complicated, but exploring all aspects of the immigration process gives you a better understanding of the concept .

There is often a misconception that immigrants are taking away jobs that the citizens deserve, but this is simply not the case. They are rather helping contribute to society and strengthen the economy. This article covers the most prevalent reasons, benefits, and drawbacks of the immigration process all across the world.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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18 Essays About The Immigrant Experience You Need To Read

These stories illuminate what it takes, and what it means, to uproot your life in one country and begin it again in a new one.

BuzzFeed Staff

Growing Up American In Gaza Taught Me What We Owe To Refugees — Rebecca Peterson Zeccola

"In Palestine, we could so easily have been treated as the enemy, but we were welcomed like family."

I’m Not OK With Being One Of The Lucky Muslims — Romaissaa Benzizoune

"This weekend’s immigration order doesn’t apply to me or my family; I’ll be fine. But so many others I know and love will not."

I Grew Up In The Rust Belt, But I'm Not In Any Of The Stories About It — Alia Hanna Habib

"It’s strange to see the media turn its attention to places like my hometown in coal-country Pennsylvania and find that my experience there, as part of the non -white working class, is still invisible."

Here’s What I’m Telling My Brown Son About Trump’s America — Mira Jacob

"Sometimes I wish I could ask America when, exactly, it made its mind up about us. The myth, of course, is that it hasn’t, that there is still a chance to mollify those who dictate the terms of our experience here, and then be allowed to chase success unfettered by their paranoia. To live, as it’s more commonly known, the American dream."

There’s No Recipe For Growing Up — Scaachi Koul

"My mom’s Kashmiri cooking has always tethered me to home. So it’s no wonder she won’t give me (all) the secrets to doing it myself."

How I Learned That Beauty Doesn’t Have To Hurt — Sonya Chung

"Growing up in a Korean American family, I absorbed the idea that any feeling of pleasure comes at a cost. But as I get older, I’m realizing it doesn’t have to work that way."

Why Brexit Has Broken My Heart — Bim Adewunmi

"As a child of immigrants, I am deeply ashamed that this is who we are."

I Found A Home In Clubs Like Pulse, In Cities Like Orlando — Rigoberto González

"I cherish the time I have spent in clubs like Pulse in cities like Orlando, where gay Latinos — the immigrants, the undocumented, and the first-generation Americans alike — gravitate because we love men and we love our homelands, and that’s one of the places our worlds converge."

Making Great Pho Is Hard, But Making A Life From Scratch Is Harder — Nicole Nguyen

"After fleeing Vietnam, my parents turned to food to teach us about what it means to be Vietnamese."

When Home Is Between Different Countries And Genders — Meredith Talusan

"I moved to the U.S. from the Philippines when I was 15, where I had been raised as a boy. About a decade later, I started to live as a woman and eventually transitioned. I think of migration and transition as two examples of the same process – moving from one home, one reality, to another."

I Found The House My Grandparents Abandoned in 1947 — Ahmed Ali Akbar

"So many Americans go to India to find themselves. But I went to find the history my family lost in the subcontinent’s Partition."

How I Became A Southern-Fried Nigerian — Israel Daramola

"I once felt torn between Nigeria and Florida, between jollof rice and fried alligator, but there is no real me without both."

Learning To Mourn In My Father's Country — Reggie Ugwu

"After my brother died and my father was partially paralyzed, my family traveled 7,000 miles in search of an old home, a new house, and the things we’d lost on the road in between."

How To Get Your Green Card In America — Sarah Mathews

"When you perform the act of audacity that is consolidating an entire life into a couple of suitcases and striking out to make your way, what is not American about that? When you leave the old country so that your daughters can have a good education and walk down their streets without fear, what is not American about that? When you flee violence and poverty to come to a land of plenty, when you are willing to learn new languages, to haul ass, to do twice as much work, what is not American about that?"

A Childhood Spent Inside A Chinese Restaurant — Susan Cheng

"Being one of the few Asians in my school was hard enough. Working at my parents’ Chinese restaurant didn’t make it any easier."

How I Learned To Celebrate Eid Al Adha In America — Zainab Shah

"I bent over backward to explain myself. 'From Pakistan,' I would say. 'Not a terrorist,' I almost added. But I didn’t — the joke would only be funny if racial profiling didn’t exist."

Texts From My Parents: What It Was Like To Leave Vietnam — Nicole Nguyen

"They did it for us, and I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make the most of it."

What It’s Like Speaking A Different Language From Your Parents — Zakia Uddin

"My parents and I communicate in an incomplete mash-up of Bengali and English. I sometimes wonder what we are missing."

Topics in this article

• Immigration

2021 Theses Doctoral

Three Essays on International Migration

Huang, Xiaoning

Today, there are about 250 million international migrants globally, and the number is increasing each year. Immigrants have contributed to the global economy, bridged cultural and business exchanges between host and home countries, and increased ethnic, racial, social, and cultural diversity in the host societies. Immigrants have also been overgeneralized about, misunderstood, scapegoated, and discriminated against. Understanding what drives international migration, who migrate, and how immigrants fare in destination has valuable theoretical, practical, and policy implications. This dissertation consists of three essays on international immigration. The first paper aims to test a series of immigration theories by studying immigrant skill-selection into South Africa and the United States. Most of the research on the determinants of immigrant skill selection has been focusing on immigrants in the United States and other developed destination countries. However, migration has been growing much faster in recent years between developing countries. This case study offers insights into the similarities and differences of immigration theories within the contexts of international migration into South Africa and the US. This project is funded by the Hamilton Research Fellowship of Columbia School of Social Work. The second paper narrows down the focus onto Asian immigrants in the United States, studying how the skill-selection of Asian immigrants from different regions has evolved over the past four decades. Asian sending countries have experienced tremendous growth in their economy and educational infrastructure. The rapid development provides an excellent opportunity to test the theories on the associations between emigrants’ skill-selection and sending countries’ income, inequality, and education level. On the other hand, during the study period, the United States has had massive expansion employment-based immigration system, followed by cutbacks in immigration policies. I study the association between immigration patterns and these policies to draw inferences on how the changes in immigration policies have affected the skill selection of Asian immigrants. This research is funded by Columbia University Weatherhead East Asia Institute’s Dorothy Borg Research Program Dissertation Research Fellowship. The third paper centers on the less-educated immigrant groups in the US and investigates the gap in welfare use between less-educated immigrant and native households during 1995-2018, spanning periods of economic recessions and recoveries, changes in welfare policy regimes, and policies towards immigrants. I use “decomposition analysis” to study to what extend demographic factors, macroeconomic trends, and welfare and immigration policy could explain the disparities in welfare participation between immigrants and natives. This paper is co-authored with Dr. Neeraj Kaushal from Columbia School of Social Work and Dr. Julia Shu-Huah Wang from the University of Hong Kong. The work has been published in Population Research and Policy Review (doi.org/10.1007/s11113-020-09621-8).

Geographic Areas

• South Africa
• United States
• Social service
• Immigrants--Economic aspects
• Immigrants--Social conditions
• Race discrimination
• Immigrants--Education

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Introducing Immigration Matters: A tip sheet with resources, story ideas and reporting examples

In our first edition, we offer background and ideas for journalists covering immigration, whether they are veterans or new to the beat.

Editor’s note: The following collection of immigration reporting resources, story ideas and examples is the first in a series of tip sheets for new and experienced journalists covering immigration at the local and community levels. This tip sheet series is made possible through funding from the Catena Foundation.

I immigrated to Florida with my parents at a young age from Cuba. When I first stepped into a small daily newsroom in Tampa, where I was raised and attended college, my native Spanish became an essential tool for reporting on Latino issues and immigration. 

The gift of knowing two languages became obvious two weeks into the job when I was asked to translate for a Spanish-speaking customer who wanted to place a classified. I was in my mid-20s and still a rookie reporter when, a few months later, the editor sent me to cover a strike by Mexican migrant farmworkers against abusive farm owners. 

Immigration reporting and writing have always been my passion. 

I later reported for The Miami Herald on the Mariel boatlift that carried more than 125,000 refugees from Cuba to South Florida, wrote about my homeland in news stories and a memoir , covered the struggles of the Salvadoran exile community in Washington, D.C., for The Washington Post, and more recently, dove into migration to the U.S.-Mexico border, where I now live and work.

During nearly two decades teaching multimedia journalism at the University of Texas at El Paso, which straddles the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez border, I led a team of faculty and students to create Borderzine , a web magazine about border life and culture. 

Immigration is a complex, fast-changing, evolving topic that affects not just the Southern border but most cities, regions, and states across the country where migrants (whether refugees, asylum seekers, the undocumented or legally admitted new arrivals) are resettling. As they become established into receiving communities, their impact is felt across most sectors of society, including the workplace, the housing sector, the business community and within health, education and government services.

With Poynter courses and this tip sheet series, I hope to help fellow journalists, sharing with them the knowledge and expertise I have gained over the last several decades covering immigration stories.

Free Poynter course: Understanding U.S. Immigration From the Border to the Heartland

This is a great starting point. This course provides an overview of immigration enforcement and legal immigration processes, legal historical context and examples of compelling immigration stories, and advice from seasoned veteran journalists. 

Paid Poynter course: Beat Academy: Immigration in Focus  

Beat Academy is a webinar series that focuses on emerging and trending beats. I was involved in the recent Immigration in Focus session, recorded on March 14 and available for replay. (The $75 price tag includes almost a dozen webinars total, ranging across a series of eight topics.) The tip sheets included with that Beat Academy session offer comprehensive takeaways, including links to recent immigration research by major policy organizations and news stories about developments in immigration enforcement and practices. If you have the means, I recommend enrolling, watching the replay and downloading the tip sheets at the end of the course.

Worker shortage in your area? Here’s how to find out.

Employers and business groups are worried about worker shortages across a variety of sectors (restaurants, farms, processing plants, janitorial services, childcare centers, etc.). To find out where critical worker shortages exist in your community, consider interviewing leaders of the local Chamber of Commerce and the local Hispanic Chamber, if one exists. Then interview supervisors and employers in those industries, along with citizens who use impacted services. How do these shortages affect their businesses or their lives, and what is the impact on the larger community? 

Here’s an interesting infographic on immigrant workers in the healthcare industry.  

Hurt on the job?

This recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report found a disproportionate number of injuries among foreign workers, especially Hispanics. Check on the number of injuries and deaths among workers in your city, town or region.  

Good Samaritans

Local, state, and federal governments aren’t the only entities helping to resettle newly arrived migrants. Individuals, churches, civic groups, and even employers are also stepping up to help with housing, food, health care, education, and other necessities. Consider identifying some good Samaritans in your community. Below are some examples (some of them may appear behind a paywall):

• A Haitian pastor in Boston: ‘They are assets, they are not liabilities’: “Haitian-American pastor’s leadership shines amid migrant crisis”
• A Girl Scout group in Manhattan: “Girl Scout Troop Resolved to Support Migrants Despite Backlash”
• A retired professor in Modesto, California: “Driving With Mr. Gil: A Retiree Teaches Afghan Women the Rules of the Road”

Shortage of immigration judges and huge court backlogs 

• U.S. government reports, research from immigration policy organizations and TRAC, a data-gathering center at Syracuse University, reveal the critical shortage of immigration judges to preside over detention cases and process legitimate asylum requests. Spend a day or two inside the immigration court(s) in your region. Story ideas on individual cases are likely to emerge.
• This U.S. Department of Justice manual provides detailed explanations of immigration court terminology, and all aspects of the hearing processes.
• This helpful tool from TRAC provides detailed information on immigration court backlogs from 1998 to last month. The breakdown is by state and nationality. 

A new development to watch out for

As reported by The New York Times and other major news outlets, the Biden administration is considering an executive action to cap the number of migrants processed at the border daily and/or weekly, as well as possibly other enforcement actions included in the bipartisan immigration bill that failed to pass Congress last month. Here is Biden’s latest public statement  on the possibility of adopting this action. 

Thanks, gracias for reading! We’ll be back in May with more resources.

Shut Out: Strategies for good journalism when sources dismiss the press

Complete report from Poynter's ethics symposium on growing trend of sources refusing to engage with journalists

Opinion | Pulitzer Prize Board praises students just ahead of journalism’s biggest awards

Plus, more losses at Gannett and Lee despite growth in digital, and details from Brittney Griner about her imprisonment in Russia.

Did South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem break the law by shooting her dog? What legal experts say

Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s story about killing her dog Cricket ignited a heated debate. Did she break the law?

Data glitch leads to error and a reminder for journalists

Orlando Sentinel alters restaurant inspection publishing practice after mix-up

Shut Out: How the pandemic and polarization have had chilling effects on good journalism — and our conclusion

Part Four of a report from Poynter's ethics seminar examines effects of pandemic and polarization on journalists

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The U.S.’s TikTok ban is full of contradictions

Greetings from Hong Kong! I’m Clay Chandler, Fortune ’s executive editor for Asia. Diane has invited me to weigh in weekly from this side of the world. If you’ve got an idea, insight, story or point of view that merits mulling in this space, shoot me a line!   America’s TikTok takedown is a tangle of contradictions.  

At its center stands U.S. President Joe Biden, who last month signed into law a bill giving TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, nine months to either sell the platform to an American owner or face a ban. Biden and a bipartisan chorus in Congress insist TikTok poses a grave threat to national security and affords China’s Communist rulers a powerful platform for spreading anti-American propaganda.  

Yet, as Biden decried TikTok, his campaign ramped up reliance on it to mobilize young voters. 

Donald Trump’s stance on the ban is no more consistent. As president, Trump denounced TikTok and led two unsuccessful efforts to force its sale. Now Trump says he opposes a ban on the grounds that it will enrich Mark Zuckerberg.  

Trump detractors say the real reason for his TikTok flip flop is that he is trying to curry to favor with MAGA mega-donor Jeffery Yass, whose company, Philadelphia-based Susquehanna International Group, owns 15% of ByteDance. Yass’s personal stake in ByteDance is worth about $15 billion, according to Bloomberg, making it the largest asset in his $40.8 billion fortune.  

And therein lies another paradox. A main argument of ban backers is that ByteDance can’t be trusted because the company is controlled by its Chinese founder, Zhang Yiming, who must bow to the whims of the Chinese state. Yet about 60% of ByteDance is held by institutional investors , mostly big American firms, including General Atlantic, Sequoia Capital, KKR , the Carlyle Group , and Coatue Management. 

TikTok’s talking points, too, are convoluted. Singapore-based CEO Shou Zi Chew last month assured U.S. lawmakers that TikTok is an American company , privately owned, independently operated, and unbeholden to Beijing. But even as Chew made his rounds on Capitol Hill, commerce officials in Beijing declared that ByteDance is subject to Chinese law on technology exports and warned that the Chinese government would “ strongly oppose ” TikTok’s forced sale.  

Chinese officials have blasted the TikTok ban as a case study in American hypocrisy. China’s state-controlled media have mocked the U.S. for meddling in the affairs of a privately-owned tech startup as it preaches the virtues of free speech, free enterprise, and respect for intellectual property to its trade partners.  

Biden officials say it’s the Chinese who are laying it on thick. “I find it supremely ironic because government officials [in China] are using the X platform to criticize the United States,” U.S. ambassador to Beijing Nicholas Burns fumed last month . “They don’t give their own citizens the right to use X, to use Instagram, to use Facebook , to have access to Google .” 

Nor, he might have added, does China permit citizens to use TikTok.  

TikTok will be among the topics we take up at Fortune ’s Brainstorm AI Summit in Singapore on July 30-31 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel . Places are limited and the event is by invitation only. You can register and learn more about topics and speakers here .  

More news below. 

Clay Chandler [email protected]

Can Soho House ever make a profit?

Soho House CEO Andrew Carnie has a big job: Convincing investors that the network of private clubs, which hasn't turned a profit in 30 years, will eventually make money. Carnie, who took over as CEO in November 2022, tells Fortune that there’s a “three- to five-year plan” to get things on track. Yet members worry the company has expanded too quickly, hurting its service and its exclusive image. Fortune

The father of the 401(k) has regrets

Ted Benna, who helped pioneer the 401(k) retirement account, says he’s disappointed in how the plans have developed since the 1980s. Benna says his hope was that employers would cover 401(k) fees; instead, the costs were pushed onto employees. He’s now worried that the divide between workers and the retirees they support will become one of the “major social economic tensions” in the U.S. Fortune

The largest buyback in U.S. history

Apple shares rose 6% in extended trading Thursday after the iPhone maker announced a $110 billion buyback program. It’s the largest in U.S. history, beating the $100 billion record set by Apple in 2018. Apple’s quarterly revenue fell 4.3% in the most recent quarter to hit $90.8 billion ; sales in the competitive Greater China market dropped 8%. Bloomberg

AROUND THE WATERCOOLER

How HR chiefs went from ‘lepers’ to C-suite power players by Paige McGlauflin

Top Carta exec David Kim has left the company a few months after the startup quit the secondary share business by Jessica Mathews

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Job candidates are getting ‘ghosted’ and ‘love bombed’: Here’s the ‘rot at the core of recruiting,’ according to a top careers site CEO by Jane Thier

Elon Musk’s shock firing of Supercharger team sparks broader fears about the future of the EV industry—‘Tesla is yielding the charging crown’ by Christiaan Hetzner

Analysts have long complained about fuzzy statistics from China. A proposed new statistics law shows Beijing is worried too by Lionel Lim

T his edition of CEO Daily was curated by Nicholas Gordon. 

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Guest Essay

The Deep, Tangled Roots of American Illiberalism

By Steven Hahn

Dr. Hahn is a Pulizer Prize-winning historian at New York University and the author, most recently, of “Illiberal America: a History.”

In a recent interview with Time, Donald Trump promised a second term of authoritarian power grabs, administrative cronyism, mass deportations of the undocumented, harassment of women over abortion, trade wars and vengeance brought upon his rivals and enemies, including President Biden. “If they said that a president doesn’t get immunity,” Mr. Trump told Time, “then Biden, I am sure, will be prosecuted for all of his crimes.”

Further evidence, it seems, of Mr. Trump’s efforts to construct a political world like no other in American history. But how unprecedented is it, really? That Mr. Trump continues to lead in polls should make plain that he and his MAGA movement are more than noxious weeds in otherwise liberal democratic soil.

Many of us have not wanted to see it that way. “This is not who we are as a nation,” one journalist exclaimed in what was a common response to the violence on Jan. 6, “and we must not let ourselves or others believe otherwise.” Mr. Biden has said much the same thing.

While it’s true that Mr. Trump was the first president to lose an election and attempt to stay in power, observers have come to recognize the need for a lengthier view of Trumpism. Even so, they are prone to imagining that there was a time not all that long ago when political “normalcy” prevailed. What they have failed to grasp is that American illiberalism is deeply rooted in our past and fed by practices, relationships and sensibilities that have been close to the surface, even when they haven’t exploded into view.

Illiberalism is generally seen as a backlash against modern liberal and progressive ideas and policies, especially those meant to protect the rights and advance the aspirations of groups long pushed to the margins of American political life. But in the United States, illiberalism is better understood as coherent sets of ideas that are related but also change over time.

This illiberalism celebrates hierarchies of gender, race and nationality; cultural homogeneity; Christian religious faith; the marking of internal as well as external enemies; patriarchal families; heterosexuality; the will of the community over the rule of law; and the use of political violence to achieve or maintain power. This illiberalism sank roots from the time of European settlement and spread out from villages and towns to the highest levels of government. In one form or another, it has shaped much of our history. Illiberalism has frequently been a stalking horse, if not in the winner’s circle. Hardly ever has it been roundly defeated.

A few examples may be illustrative. Although European colonization of North America has often been imagined as a sharp break from the ways of home countries, neo-feudal dreams inspired the making of Euro-American societies from the Carolinas up through the Hudson Valley, based as they were on landed estates and coerced labor, while the Puritan towns of New England, with their own hierarchies, demanded submission to the faith and harshly policed their members and potential intruders alike. The backcountry began to fill up with land-hungry settlers who generally formed ethnicity-based enclaves, eyed outsiders with suspicion and, with rare exceptions, hoped to rid their territory of Native peoples. Most of those who arrived in North America between the early 17th century and the time of the American Revolution were either enslaved or in servitude, and master-servant jurisprudence shaped labor relations well after slavery was abolished, a phenomenon that has been described as “belated feudalism.”

The anti-colonialism of the American Revolution was accompanied not only by warfare against Native peoples and rewards for enslavers, but also by a deeply ingrained anti-Catholicism, and hostility to Catholics remained a potent political force well into the 20th century. Monarchist solutions were bruited about during the writing of the Constitution and the first decade of the American Republic: John Adams thought that the country would move in such a direction and other leaders at the time, including Washington, Madison and Hamilton, wondered privately if a king would be necessary in the event a “republican remedy” failed.

The 1830s, commonly seen as the height of Jacksonian democracy, were racked by violent expulsions of Catholics , Mormons and abolitionists of both races, along with thousands of Native peoples dispossessed of their homelands and sent to “Indian Territory” west of the Mississippi.

The new democratic politics of the time was often marked by Election Day violence after campaigns suffused with military cadences, while elected officials usually required the support of elite patrons to guarantee the bonds they had to post. Even in state legislatures and Congress, weapons could be brandished and duels arranged; “bullies” enforced the wills of their allies.

When enslavers in the Southern states resorted to secession rather than risk their system under a Lincoln administration, they made clear that their Confederacy was built on the cornerstone of slavery and white supremacy. And although their crushing defeat brought abolition, the establishment of birthright citizenship (except for Native peoples), the political exclusion of Confederates, and the extension of voting rights to Black men — the results of one of the world’s great revolutions — it was not long before the revolution went into reverse.

The federal government soon allowed former Confederates and their white supporters to return to power, destroy Black political activism and, accompanied by lynchings (expressing the “will” of white communities), build the edifice of Jim Crow: segregation, political disfranchisement and a harsh labor regime. Already previewed in the pre-Civil War North, Jim Crow received the imprimatur of the Supreme Court and the administration of Woodrow Wilson .

Few Progressives of the early 20th century had much trouble with this. Segregation seemed a modern way to choreograph “race relations,” and disfranchisement resonated with their disenchantment with popular politics, whether it was powered by Black voters in the South or European immigrants in the North. Many Progressives were devotees of eugenics and other forms of social engineering, and they generally favored overseas imperialism; some began to envision the scaffolding of a corporate state — all anticipating the dark turns in Europe over the next decades.

The 1920s, in fact, saw fascist pulses coming from a number of directions in the United States and, as in Europe, targeting political radicals. Benito Mussolini won accolades in many American quarters. The lab where Josef Mengele worked received support from the Rockefeller Foundation. White Protestant fundamentalism reigned in towns and the countryside. And the Immigration Act of 1924 set limits on the number of newcomers, especially those from Southern and Eastern Europe, who were thought to be politically and culturally unassimilable.

Most worrisome, the Ku Klux Klan, energized by anti-Catholicism and antisemitism as well as anti-Black racism, marched brazenly in cities great and small. The Klan became a mass movement and wielded significant political power; it was crucial, for example , to the enforcement of Prohibition. Once the organization unraveled in the late 1920s, many Klansmen and women found their way to new fascist groups and the radical right more generally.

Sidelined by the Great Depression and New Deal, the illiberal right regained traction in the late 1930s, and during the 1950s won grass-roots support through vehement anti-Communism and opposition to the civil rights movement. As early as 1964, in a run for the Democratic presidential nomination, Gov. George Wallace of Alabama began to hone a rhetoric of white grievance and racial hostility that had appeal in the Midwest and Middle Atlantic, and Barry Goldwater’s campaign that year, despite its failure, put winds in the sails of the John Birch Society and Young Americans for Freedom.

Four years later, Wallace mobilized enough support as a third-party candidate to win five states. And in 1972, once again as a Democrat, Wallace racked up primary wins in both the North and the South before an assassination attempt forced him out of the race. Growing backlashes against school desegregation and feminism added further fuel to the fire on the right, paving the way for the conservative ascendancy of the 1980s.

By the early 1990s, the neo-Nazi and Klansman David Duke had won a seat in the Louisiana Legislature and nearly three-fifths of the white vote in campaigns for governor and senator. Pat Buchanan, seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 1992, called for “America First,” the fortification of the border (a “Buchanan fence”), and a culture war for the “soul” of America, while the National Rifle Association became a powerful force on the right and in the Republican Party.

When Mr. Trump questioned Barack Obama’s legitimacy to serve as president, a project that quickly became known as “birtherism,” he made use of a Reconstruction-era racist trope that rejected the legitimacy of Black political rights and power. In so doing, Mr. Trump began to cement a coalition of aggrieved white voters. They were ready to push back against the nation’s growing cultural diversity — embodied by Mr. Obama — and the challenges they saw to traditional hierarchies of family, gender and race. They had much on which to build.

Back in the 1830s, Alexis de Tocqueville, in “Democracy in America,” glimpsed the illiberal currents that already entangled the country’s politics. While he marveled at the “equality of conditions,” the fluidity of social life and the strength of republican institutions, he also worried about the “omnipotence of the majority.”

“What I find most repulsive in America is not the extreme freedom reigning there,” Tocqueville wrote, “but the shortage of guarantees against tyranny.” He pointed to communities “taking justice into their own hands,” and warned that “associations of plain citizens can compose very rich, influential, and powerful bodies, in other words, aristocratic bodies.” Lamenting their intellectual conformity, Tocqueville believed that if Americans ever gave up republican government, “they will pass rapidly on to despotism,” restricting “the sphere of political rights, taking some of them away in order to entrust them to a single man.”

The slide toward despotism that Tocqueville feared may be well underway, whatever the election’s outcome. Even if they try to fool themselves into thinking that Mr. Trump won’t follow through, millions of voters seem ready to entrust their rights to “a single man” who has announced his intent to use autocratic powers for retribution, repression, expulsion and misogyny.

Only by recognizing what we’re up against can we mount an effective campaign to protect our democracy, leaning on the important political struggles — abolitionism, antimonopoly, social democracy, human rights, civil rights, feminism — that have challenged illiberalism in the past and offer the vision and political pathways to guide us in the future.

Our biggest mistake would be to believe that we’re watching an exceptional departure in the country’s history. Because from the first, Mr. Trump has tapped into deep and ever-expanding illiberal roots. Illiberalism’s history is America’s history.

Steven Hahn is a Pulitizer Prize-winning historian at New York University and the author, most recently, of “ Illiberal America: a History .”

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