Can anyone help me find a research question for a research essay I have to write on immigration?
I would really appreciate any help at all:)
Answer:
Here's a couple of suggestions--three, actually.
1) (historical) What are the similarities/differences in public discourse about immigrant groups in the past in terms of stereotypes, etc and the current rhetoric about illegal immigrants? Example, how were the Irish (c.1840-50) portrayed compared to hispanics today?
2) Recent (policy/political science) In what ways did the amnesty program of the late 70s, enacted without a guest worker program, set the stage for todays problems with illegal immigration?
3) Current (political sciency/policy) What would be the consequences of deporting (or attempting to deport) the undocumented immigrants versus the consequences of enacting a guest worker/amnesty program?
As to sources--websites are a good supplement, but for good research (assuming you don't need to do original research like interviews/surveys, etc.) you need to go to the academic journals. Try "Annals of the Academy of Political and Social Science" for one--but there are a lot of good journals. If you don't know how to search for these or articles in them, assk your librarian.
check out the law that was passed in '86. it was passed while reagan was in office. it created penalties for employers who hired illegals.....yet police have chosen not to enforce it because of fake ID's, and the endless red-tape involved. as a result here we are again trying to fix this mess, when all we have to do is enforce the laws that currently exist.
good luck.
Here's an idea. See if you can find an immigrant to sit down and interview. You can ask them to tell you all about how they came to US and why. You can also ask them to tell you their experiences dealing with US Immigration.
You did not say "illegal" immigration. If you are doing research on people coming into this country, you might try USGenWeb Census, or Genealogy.Com.
You could write about how immigration has changed from the 1800's till now. remember hearing about the immigrants that came through Ellis Island .
They wanted to learn English. They wanted to breathe free. They wanted to become Americans. Now, far too many immigrants come here with demands. They demand to be taught in their own language. They demand special privileges .. affirmative action. They demand ethnic studies that glorify their culture.
One difference between the early immigrants and the current illegals, of
course, is the lawbreaking.
The referenced article dismisses the legality issue: "Until 1918, the
United States did not require passports; the term "illegal immigrant"
had no meaning.... The Mexico-United States border then was unguarded
and freely crossed in either direction. "
Well, alrighty then. It was A-OK in 1918.
But right now we have different laws in place, and a large wave of
immigrants who choose to ignore US law and evade the US government.
This differs substantially from those who observed the existing laws,
and intended to join our nation and integrate into our culture.
Well my husband is an immigrant and he told me it took him 30 days to get to the boarder of the us and immigration stopped him and he ran then the caught him and the asked him were are you from he said mexico. but that was not true cause he is from honduras but he could not say that cause then the would have sent him there and that is farther so then he came again and finaly came in it is sad cause they have to sleep in the woods and they have no food to eat but thats what the have to do to live a better life in his country he said the money is not enough and the needed a better life. hi did not walk the hole way he would have to jump on the trains when they would come bye but know he is here safe and happy ... the mane reason is the money problem there gov. does not help them so they se them self forced to to what they do... hope that helped.
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