The number of immigrants from Mexico and other countries seeking asylum in the United States has been on the rise since last year. The immigrants have been moving in caravans past Mexico heading to the American-Mexico border so that they can be allowed to the nation. At the border, however, it has not been easy to be given a pass permit as most of the immigrants are turned away. President Trump has been against immigration, even telling the Mexican to stop allowing the immigrants' caravans to pass through the country. The immigrants usually hope that in America, they will get a chance to start a new life considering that most of them are running away from poverty or war. However, American turning their back on the immigrants is creating a different view around the world since the nation has always been known to help the immigrants. Sociological analysis will be used to gain a better understanding of the immigration issue.
Structuralism theories can be used in describing why America has not been accommodating more immigrants, yet since the past, the United States always provided asylum to the victims of war. A survey can be used to question the Americans concerning the effects of the immigrants, and if they support turning away of people in need yet, the nation has enough resources to help the immigrants which describes loss of power and opportunities as they have to be shared with the immigrants (Henslin, Possamai, Possamai-Inesedy, Marjoribanks, & Elder, 2015). Observation can also be used especially at the border on how the immigrants are treated by the border patrol. The research will help gain a better understanding of the immigration issue such as on the functionality and dysfunctionality of immigration.
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Individual-level theories such as functional analysis can be used to understand why American has been reluctant to assist the immigrants as it was in the past. The advantages and disadvantages of immigrants will be analyzed in this case. According to Robert Merton, the beneficial consequences of the actions of people can be used to find a balance between people by address the dysfunction issue. The dysfunction seen with the immigration issue is because there are no established policies which can help address the problem (Merino, 2018). If the American government were to come up with effective policies, then both the nation and the immigrants would benefit from each other. The immigrants would be given shelter, and in turn, they would be required to be part of the American society by ensuring that safety is not affected and they consider other Americans too in cases such as employment. After establishing how to function together, any conflicts between the groups have to be addressed (Agencies, 2019).
Conflict theory can be used to establish how the immigrants and Americans share the scare resources in the nation. When the number of immigrants increases, it means they will be sharing resources with other Americans. In health care, for instance, the number of patients will be more than the providers which indicate that the waiting time will increase (Henslin, Possamai, Possamai-Inesedy, Marjoribanks, & Elder, 2015).
Social-role theory can be used in describing the issue of exploitation. Roles such as taking care of the families and feeding children makes immigrants especially women offer the cheap labor. There is a small group of capitalists who own large industries, and they will be hiring the immigrants due to the cheap labor they offer. Karl Marx indicated that the exploitation of the workers is common in capitalists’ economy. America is a capitalist nation with the large producers choosing the labor source which reduces their production cost and since immigrants are desperate for survival, they work for less than minimum wage. A shift of power, in this case, happens since the Americans have to compete for resources and opportunities which exist with the immigrants. It explains why most citizens in America are against more immigrants being allowed in the nation. There are various symbols that can be used to understand the struggles the immigrants pass through as they seek asylum in the United States.
According to interactionism theories, gender is a product of daily social practice. It describes the performance of individuals in relation to cultural expectations. In immigration cases, cultural expectations do not define gender as there are no duties for certain sex. Both men and women have to take any work opportunities available to help each other. There are also single mothers which mean they have to take care of their families alone.
Institutional theories are used in describing the set of practices, norms, and dynamics related to an issue. It involves the way scarce resources are distributed, the social practices that are predictable and ways in which care can be provided for people such as immigrants who cannot care for themselves. It explains how American society takes care of the immigrants such as through empowering them.
Individual psychology theory describes emotional trauma that people may face due to their past. When there is war, women and children suffer most due to sexual abuse and violence. When such immigrants move to America for shelter, they are traumatized and would require medical assistance so that they can be settled and reintegrated in society (Merino, 2018). Despite the number of immigrants being high, the United States can take them in considering that it is a superpower with lots of resources at disposal. The nation can show mercy to these people and ensure that they are integrated into society as it the ethical thing to do.
Ethics and values should be considered when making the final decision on whether to admit the immigrants in America. Ethics establishes doing the right thing to avoid adverse effects. The immigrants are running away from war and poverty, hoping that America would offer a chance to leave peacefully. However, turning away families with hope and making them go back to war zones is unethical. The immigrants will find other ways of getting to America, and that explains the high number of illegal immigrants in the nation. America should also use the value of doing good considering that when the immigrants are integrated into the country, they have lots of benefits (Agencies, 2019). When immigrants are allowed in America, it will be two-way benefits for both groups. The United States is a superpower nation, and it is expected to come to the aid of every person who is needed, especially when those in need to approach them. The values of the nation can be said to be changing since Trump took over America, indicating that he is making the nation better, yet forgetting its culture.
To conclude, the United States is recognized internationally to offer help to the immigrants running away from war and poverty. However, President Trump views on immigrants are changing the perspective. The immigrants are now being turned away from the nation even after traveling for months to get to the border. It is highly unethical as it shows the cruelty the immigrants are treated with. Effective immigration policies can be used to solve the conflict, and it will be a benefit to both America and immigrants.
References
Agencies, G. S. (2019, April 06). 'Our country is full': Trump claims emergency during border visit. Retrieved April 6, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/05/trump-border-us-immigration-calexico
Henslin, J. M., Possamai, A. M., Possamai-Inesedy, A. L., Marjoribanks, T., & Elder, K. (2015). Sociology: A down to earth approach. Pearson Higher Education AU.
Merino, T. (2018, June 29). Scenes From a Migration Crisis-On Both Sides of the Border. Retrieved April 6, 2019, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/proof/2018/06/mexico-immigration-children-parents-border-separation-culture/