S20 Immigration and the COVID 19 Pandemic

Jafar Hatamleh

A Brief History of Immigration in the U.S.

Current Situation:

• Cycles of nativism and immigration;
• Waves of immigration respond to social and economic factors inside and outside the U.S.;
• Immigration restrictions enacted for similar factors.

• 10 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2020 (down from 12 million in 2007);
• Policy of concentrated border enforcement;
• Annual budget increased from $363M to > $20.85B;

• People seeking assylum can't cross border to file for assylum;
• Families with small children, if able to cross the border, are separated;
• Unrest in Middle East currently serves as a "push" to escape violence and famine.

**Visas being processed currently**

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin.html

History of Recent Immigration Law in the U.S.

• 1986 Immigration Reform & Control Act;
• 2012 DACA--Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals;
• 2017 Executive Order Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States;
• 2017 Executive Memorandum: Implementing Immediate Heightened Screening and Vetting of Applications for Visas and Other Immigration Benefits;
• 2017 Executive Order: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements

• 1 question: In terms of fairness and equal opportunity to civically engage, recently naturalized American citizens, from other countries that are not fluent in English, may find themselves marginalized by their language limitations/voice in their community, which is exceptionally unfortunate given the possible contributions immigrants can make to science, art, and communal safety; what are some ways we, as a community, can bring voice to those marginalized by immigration?

• 2 question: according to “Collaboration,” an assigned reading from week eight, “[c]ollaborating with diverse thinkers to work together toward a greater understanding of the dynamics of race, gender, and class is essential for those of us who want to move beyond on dimensional thinking, being, and living” (Hooks 37); how can UHCL promote this form of collaboration?

• 3 question: Immigration is the process of leaving one’s permanent residence in a different country to permanently live in a foreign country; however, in my government based research, immigrating to, or even visiting, America is like going to the DMV; it is never quick and painless. In short, to become an American citizen, with full eligibility, the process is: visa, green-card, and then naturalization; however, depending on their financial status, English literacy, and age, each stage is often time consuming and financially demanding; could the current American naturalization process motivate illegal immigration?

Immigration and the COVID 19 Pandemic