I often time have been asked if I am going to stay here in Taiwan or return to my foreign countries after I complete my study. For most international students, sometimes staying here or returning to their native counties might not be an option. If they like to stay in the US after their graduation, they have to find private or public sectors to hire them and willing to sponsor them for filing work visa applications. The work visa allows a foreigner to stay and work in the US legally and temporally. And there are only certain number of working visas available every year. Because of these visa and immigration constraints, a large number of smart, creative, inspired international graduates are turned away and they end up returning to their native countries. These folks are including international graduates from science, technology, engineering, and math areas. They were nurtured by US higher edu institutions and benefited from resources here. Then we are turning them away after all!? According to an article from ABC news written by Huma Khan, it's shooting itself in the foot. These folks have limited opportunities to stay and let's not even mention citizenships for these folks.
After the health care reform, the Obama administration will be focusing on the immigration reform. A quote from President Obama “But ultimately, I think the American people want fairness. And we can create a system in which you have strong border security and an orderly process for people to come in. But we’re also giving an opportunity for those who are already in the United States to be able to achieve a pathway to citizenship so they don’t have to live in the shadows.” I'm still trying to gain more knowledge about the details of immigration reform. But at the same time, I am concerned about giving a pathway to citizenship to illegal immigrants. As an international student here legally, I probably won't have the benefits that illegal immigrants folks will have if Obama's immigration bill is passed. For example, in-state tuitions and the right to stay here and work. But I'm here legally. I feel that the immigration reform will be punishing me because I did right things and going thru right channels to come over the US. I'm not a US citizen, but I definitely don't think this is fair to me.
And at the same time, we still have limited opportunities for those international graduates who like to stay here and engage careers. If we can set up a more flexible immigration policy for these international graduates, I believe they will for sure bring enormous contribution to be society, whether in economy or academy field. I understand that illegal immigration has been a big and complicated issue for the country. I probably have no answer to this dilemma. As an international student here legally, I feel my voice need to be heard.
More readings:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/11/world/americas/11prexy.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Business/economic-job-growth-driven-foreign-enterpreneurs-argue/story?id=10428413
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ReplyDeleteLin, I agree with you. You took the right steps to be in the United States legally and it would not be fair to make you go back to your home country after the United States has provided you with an education. I personal would rather have educated people in our society. You would think the United States government would want you to stay in the United States to better our population of educated people. The one question I do not know is when you are here can you apply to become an American citizen?
ReplyDeleteThere are several people from other countries who want to come to the United States for a better living and I believe they should be able to, but the correct way. People from other countries should not be here illegally and if they are they should take the necessary steps to become a citizen. I know several people who are illegally do not take the required steps to become a United States citizen because they are afraid they might get sent back to their native country with the U.S. finds out they are illegally. A bill needs to be passed that requires all illegally people to take a class in order to become a U.S citizen, but the people should not have to fear being sent back their native country. I think it is great that people want to live in the United Stated but people need to do it the correct way and maybe when and if the bill passes illegally people will be able to get their U.S. citizenship without having fear.
There is another status for visa holder is called permanent residency. A foreigner must hold work-visa for several year then he or she is eligible to apply residency. After having the residency for a number of years, a foreign nation can apply for citizenship. If going through these legal process, under the current legal system, it must take a long period of time and "money" because it causes a lot when filing the paper work with the government and its time consuming.
ReplyDeleteI understand and agree with you that people should take the correct steps to immigrant to whatever country they like to go. However, when doing things illegally, there must be a consequence. I think that's the reason we set the legal system and the immigration regulation. But if the new bill is to grant illegal immigrants citizenship no matter what, I think it might challenge the current legal system. On my immigration document, I am a student visa holder and am classified as a foreign alien. As a non-citizen, I don't feel ease to critique US policy making process. But at the same time, one of my fear is that the immigration reform will make multiple wrongs a right by passing a bill. My belief is that multiple wrongs don't make a right. But when discussing immigration issues, I don't know who gets to call it right or wrong.
My buddy Peter, please allow me to share my opinion on this matter (which could be completely wrong) but it is how my feeling about this current issue, without causing offense.:) Personally I feel that we are dealing with two separate issues and that these are really not comparing apples to apples. Because Mexico is a neighboring nation, I believe it makes complete sense to accomadate and work with them in ways that may not be equal solely due to demographics. Many of our works goes to them and as much as we might not like to admit, much of what we have and the way we live is contributed to the immigrants from Mexico. All I'm saying is that the US has had a long history with Mexico and almost like the unwanted uncle or neighbor, they will always be there so it would make sense to figure out a way to work with an issue that is pretty obvious. You mentioned mulitple wrongs don't make a right and I see where you are going with this comparing your situation to the many others who have not "follwed the rules". However I believe our history has also shown that laws were made to be changed and that their have been many instances in the past of people who broke the laws because then, they were not fair. (ex. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr) I admire the fact the you have obeyed the rules and regulations that our amazing country holds, and believe that it will always benefit you to stay that way. Following the rules will keep you from ever being raided by ICE by force, or keep you from being pulled over because of the color of your skin and transported back to your country without preperation, and it will allow you to work even if it is part time legally without fear of being caught. Believe me, though it may seen like this group may have it easy, it is not. I believe it is a bit unfair to say that the issue with people migrating across a river or desert is equal. Though I would love to see laws changing that would benefit those that want to live here from other countries besides Mexico, the need and issue of immigration right now is so much bigger and really demands being looked into. Please know that I have no intentions to ever offend you it is just extremely difficult for me to label this group of people as "criminals".
ReplyDeleteYour bud, Elias
The land of opportunity is what we offer here in America. So, why do we limit those who try so hard to do the right thing. I feel that anyone who wants to a difference by getting an education and being productive here is far better than sending them home. The Brain drain is something that is hurtung our country and neds to stop. Why do spend so much money trying to keep the good people out. Good luck changing the world, I will kee trying, and I hope you will too.
ReplyDeleteAfter I posted my posting regarding the immigration reform, I have been reflecting on this issues. As a foreigner, the process of refection give me an motivation to dig out more about this issue. I even pull out some history lessons and just try to gain more understanding about the history of immigration in the US and Mexican-American War. In terms of illegal immigration, I think my viewpoint changed quite a bit. I understand that I am fortunate enough to have financial means to come go through all the legal process and come over to study, which might not always the case for some illegal immigrants. Because of the financial means, I pretty much get to choose wherever I like to go. For some illegal immigrants, they just like to purchase a "better" life but they don't have resources so they had to choose illegal methods. I don't think that illegal immigrants should be seen as criminals since the US is such a immigration society. But when we look the nation as a whole, there should be a boundary for accepting immigrants. I guess I am still thinking about where the boundary should be.
ReplyDeleteI watched a talking show on Fox News channel tonight. Glenn Beck hosted the show and the title of the show is called "time to be heard: stories from legal immigrants." They invite a group of legal immigrants and had them to share their immigration stories. Most of them spend a large amount of time and and money to get their legal status. After after the show, I think the group was invited to the show was trying to express that the new immigration reform is not fair, especially granting citizenship to illegal immigrants. In last class, we were discussing "fair." What is fair or benefit to a group of people might not be fair to another. I guess that's why immigration issues is one of the difficult and controversy ones.
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