Immigrants

Assessing the article’s currency, this article was published a month back, which is relatively recent. The article is making a long term analysis as it referenced the need to welcome 10 million immigrants from now till 2050, hence the issue is valid because such a current and future issue will be monitored and reiterated in the news for the coming decades. Furthermore, there has been no major changes regarding foreign policies in Japan since the publication date and hence proves that timeliness is present. Under relevance, the article concerns about Japan’s rapid decline in population and the need for Japan to open its doors for immigrants.

There are pros and cons connected with inviting more foreigners but would it be a wise approach to just welcome immigrants for the sake of putting a brake to the accelerating population decline? And does it give a solution to those problem that Japan is facing such as stagnating economy or shifting away the reliance on nuclear energy? This is also relevant to us locally and many of the developed nations. In Singapore, foreign workforce policies are less tight compared to Japan, a sustainable supply in manpower is needed.

The National Population and Talent Division stated this month that Singapore has little choice but to turn to foreign sources to fill the positions of construction labourers or healthcare sectors as they play a role in supporting Singaporean families. The question remains as to whether society in Japan is ready for it, because even immigrant nations like the US and Singapore is have never been entirely free from cultural friction. In analysing authority, the article is written by a regular contributor of The Japan Times, who is also a media columnist and author of the book ‘Big in Japan’.

Established in 1897, The Japan Times is the only independent English language newspaper. It was only during World War Two that The Japan Times was used as an outlet for Imperial Japanese government as a propaganda tool. Mr Hidenori Sakanaka, major contributor of this article, is a former immigration bureau chief who spent 35 years urging Japan to bring in more immigrants. He wrote ‘immigrations Battle Diary’, a book that details his own experiences and lays out a manifesto for the future of Japanese immigration policy. Overall, the article gives an insight of the issue from relevant authority of the issue.

In evaluating accuracy, Mediacorp’s Today published an article that might help to add reasons to Mr Sakanaka’s assertion. It states the the direct relation to the ageing population and the increase in demand for foreign labour. Please see the attached Today’s article. At the same time, within the article itself quotes declining population data from National Institute of Population and Social Policy Research which is a reliable authority. Additionally, they cited about Japan’s failure in its mass-immigration program that welcomed Japanese-Brazilians in the 1980s, depicting that inviting Japan to multiculturalism would not work.

The article mentions paradigm that conflicts to Sakanaka’s notion. Such information offers a balanced perspective of the issue and therefore strengthens the reliability of the article. The purpose of the article is to examine about the possibilities that arises from welcoming immigrants by incorporating factual information from authorities, statistics and quotes. There are diversity of stakeholders presenting objective data and subjective solutions to the issue. The article offers both perspectives that supports and those against Sakanaka, therefore I feel that I have analysed a reliable article.

Are illegal aliens a problem of immigration? A purported view is immigration is not the problem, but rather the control and enforcement of immigration. In any country, the unchecked and illicit inflow of people can pose a challenge to that country’s sovereignty.

Rich countries have three major concerns when it comes to immigration. First, there is the belief that it causes wage inequality by a reduction in wages for domestic worker due to competition from immigrants. Next, there is the pressure it puts on facilities like schools and services like healthcare and welfare payments. This pressure is borne by taxpayers. Finally, especially post-911, there is the concern that there could be incidences of enemies hosted in immigrant communities.

Another increasing concern is the amount of money crossing borders by way of remittances to extended family. Worker remittances from the US to Mexico came up to $16.6 billion last year. This amount is second only to petroleum in the US export revenues.

The financial burden that illegal immigrants put on a country cannot be underestimated. The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimated a $7.7 billion spend a year in California to educate illegal immigrants and their children. The State of California also spends yearly $1.4 billion on health care and on illegal immigrants in prison.

The major reason for illegal immigration is that the supply does not meet the demand. In the US, there is provision for 675,000 visas a year for permanent residence. 480,000 of these are available for the family reunification, 140,000 are based on employment. Humanitarian visas awarded to refugees were at a maximum of 70,000 in 2004. The diversity lottery gives out another 50,000 visas to citizens of countries that have sent fewer than 50,000 migrants in the previous five years.

Different countries like Spain, France and the US have varying experiences of illegal aliens.

Spain has its own share of trying to control the entry of illegal aliens onto its shores. Sub-Saharan Africa sees the neighboring country as the closest refuge. 5,000 clandestine immigrants, trying to escape the consequences of a population that far outstrips it economic capability, have crossed the border with about 1,000 drowning as the board fragile fishing boats to make their way to the Canary Islands.

Since France does not have the US advantage of a flexible labor market and stingy welfare state, it has ended up with a resentful immigrant underclass with time on its hands. France today has a low proportion of skilled immigrants.

The French interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, is working on reversing this trend. He is proposing a managed, high-skilled, demand-led immigration policy by introducing a selective immigration policy with quotas for workers, students and families and allowing entry to those who have the means to support a family.

This policy would involve opening up the borders to more skilled workers while clamping down illegal aliens through a closer watch on bogus marriages, increased deportation and scrapping the automatic right to stay after 10 years of being in France illegally.

There are some 12 million illegal immigrants in the U.S., most of them employed. In the US, most illegal immigrants are day laborers, 50% of whom are employed by homeowners. A lot of these day workers see themselves as victims of unemployment and of a failed immigration system. It is being said that tight legal controls have driven Latinos to illegality and across the U.S., 117,000 undocumented immigrants, the majority from Mexico, gather daily, looking for work.

My personal experience is that illegal immigrants go after the jobs that citizens are not likely to be interested in like agriculture, landscaping, and housekeeping and most people are not averse to hiring them.

A research on the Ethiopian immigrants in Toronto was done by; Ilene Hyman, Sepali Guruge and Robin Manson. Their main concern was the impact of migration on marital relationships among the newcomer Ethiopians in Toronto. The purpose of this essay is to review the research and the methodology used.

The Ethiopian population in Toronto is growing hastily. There were 35,000 Ethiopians in Toronto by 2001, according to the Ethiopian association in Toronto. Ethiopia is a war torn country and many of its citizens have sort refugee status in other countries. However, only a small percentage of Ethiopians have migrated to Europe. Most of the immigrants surveyed could not speak French or English when they entered Canada.

The survey on the female immigrants revealed that face challenges like unemployment, discrimination, housing, loss of social status, culture shock, language barriers and lack of credibility for employment. However, experiences for the women have not been the same. For some relocation gave them cost-effective sovereignty and administrative power within their households.

On the other side, there are those whose position within their family has not changed.  Researchers believe that change in gender role that comes about due to migration is responsible for most of the marital conflict. This is especially so if the change in gender roles is not matched by a change in perception and attitude in the spouse (Jewkes, 2002).

The report is concerned with the impact of migration on marital relationships among newcomer communities, with an emphasis on Ethiopians in Toronto. The authors investigate what effects migration has on marriages and how the couples adopt to the new circumstances. The research data was derived from married, divorced and separated couples that had recently migrated from Ethiopia to Toronto. The aim of the study was to find out the changes in the lives of new Ethiopian immigrant couples and the impact the migration had on the change in their marital relationship.

Importance of the research

The location of marriage in the civilization today needs to be carefully assessed. Cases of break up, separation, marital aggression and physical attack are on the rise.

Past sociology, research has not given attention to the effects of migration on society and the impact on the family structure. Therefore, it is very significant to study the results that migration has on marriages.

The methodology used

The research had two phases; to evaluate the risk of marital conflict among Ethiopian couples who had migrated to Canada. (Phase 1); to examine conflict among Ethiopian men and women who were divorced or separated after migration to Canada (phase 2). The objectives for the research were set, participants recruited, data collected and then analyzed (Ottawa, 2001).

For the first phase participants had to be Ethiopian immigrants who were married or living together pre-migration. Both partners had to give their consent for the process.

The second phase targeted couples that separated or divorced post-migration. Various methods were used to attract participants such as newspaper ads, flyers at Ethiopians social events, word of mouth and so on. Participants for the first phase were easier to recruit compared to those of the second phase. Honorarium was given for participation; $50 (phase 1) and $75 (phase 2).

Data was collected through interviews and demographic questionnaires. The survey also included the past of the pair preceding migration. Two Amharic-speaking Ethiopians, trained in research (male and female) assisted in data collection.

This was commendable in order to overcome any language barrier. The participants were given a choice as to who should interview them whether, male or female. However, according to the report a pre-test indicated that the participants did not give preference to any particular sex.

The participants were interviewed separately so that the presence of the other spouse could not influence their response. After analyzing, the data collected from the interviews focus groups were formed according to sex. The aim of the focus groups was to verify or refute the findings of the data collected.

Focus groups were however, not conducted for separated or divorced couples. The Ethiopian community associated some kind of stigma due to divorce. This was evident due to the low turn up of divorced couples.

All the interviews and focus group debates were put on audio tape, written down and interpreted into English. The findings of the research focus on several themes such as; change, adaptation, conflict and resolving differences among the couples (Attaca & Berry, 2002).

Vietnamese did not magically appear in the United States, the Vietnam War sparked the immigration of Vietnamese to America. Vietnamese did not virtually exist in the United States until 1975 when the war forced Vietnamese to evacuate (Povell). The war began after Vietminh defeated France and split into North and South Vietnam (O’Connel). In 1956 communist Ho Chi Minh ruled the North Vietnam, and Bao Dai ruled the South, who the United States supported and backed up (O’Connel). The Vietnam War consisted of the North and South Vietnam, fighting against eachother in order to stay two separate countries.

The North tried to overtake the South, and the United States sent in troops to assist South Vietnam (Isserman). However, in April 1975 South Vietnam collapsed and united Vietnam as one country (Isserman). The tragic result of the Vietnam War affected all Vietnamese. The effects contained of over four million Vietnamese killed, and over twenty-one million bomb craters (“The War’s Effect on the Vietnamese Land and People. “). Unbeknownst to most people, the end of the Vietnam War caused the first two waves of immigration (Povell).

In fact, from the beginning Americans stood unsure about Vietnamese immigration. “A poll in 1975 showed a mere 36% of Americans in favor of Vietnamese immigration,” (Povell). This means that 64% of Americans did not favor Vietnamese immigrating to the United States. Vietnamese Americans, often referred to as Boat People, received their name because most traveled by boat from Vietnam to America. Discrimination against Boat People in America began because of living as a burden to society, a lack of job opportunity, and the ability to adapt to the American culture.

Vietnamese endured a difficult journey. , As they arrived in America people thought of them as burdens to society. Americans thought of Boat People as burdens as because they had to set up refugee camps. The United Nations helped set up these refugee camps. However, poor living conditions transpired in these camps. (Vietnamese Americans. ?). These poorly funded camps resulted in inadequate living conditions. Refugees had to put good living conditions on hold until they found a sponsor. In order to not have a sponsor they had to have $4,000 per household member (Li).

However, Americans thought Vietnamese should not be refugees, but rather immigrants (Li). Needing support turned them into burdens according to U. S citizens. Also, Americans criticized Vietnamese for taking jobs and being a burden to society ( Li). As Boat People tried to blend into American culture, some people stepped in their way. “Anglo and African Americans talked of the ‘Asian Invasion’ on radio dials and some took drastic measures to reject the newest Americans,?(?The Asian American Experience-Building New Saigon. ?).

When they started to find well-paying or high class jobs people saw them as a burden to the job market and a threat to Americans. Therefore rejection occurred frequently. Most Vietnamese arrived in the United States only with the clothes on their back, so when it came to finding jobs they did not have luck on their side. Since most Vietnamese refugees arrived without material possessions or money, they could not afford houses, and found it almost impossible to qualify for home loans even if all family members had jobs (Li). They had few job options and the jobs offered provided extremely low pay.

Due to the scarcity of employment, some Vietnamese turned to illegal jobs (such as a prostitute) to provide for themselves (Vietnamese War Reference Library). If Vietnamese could find legal jobs, they would most likely not make enough to support their families. During the beginning of immigration refugees had a 32% unemployment rate compared to 5% of other Americans unemployed (Li). Vietnamese had a higher unemployment rate because they lacked American skill, education, and opportunity. This resulted in Vietnamese thriving for further education and understanding of American economics.

However, in the late 1970s, in Albuquerque, 8. 5% of people remained unemployed. This resulted in fewer jobs available for anyone, and left Vietnamese at a greater disadvantage because they lack English, and skill. Without basic English skills, finding a job, renting an apartment, or even buying food became very difficult. (“Vietnamese Americans. ”). This lead to English as a Second Language programs (ESL). ESL programs would provide the amount of English to find work, but not raise past the “poverty level” (Li). Vietnamese did receive education, but this only created opportunity to find low-paying jobs.

Even with programs like ESL, less than half of Vietnamese Americans (41%) speak English proficiently (Taylor). Boat People who lacked English could not find jobs and found difficulties doing everyday tasks. When Vietnamese began to understand their struggle in the job market, they would try to open restaurants, but Americans would not accept the new flavor of food (“The Asian American Experience-Building New Saigon”). No business in the restaurants forced them to close, and find work elsewhere. Then the Boat People turned to the fishing industry.

At first whites tolerated Vietnamese in the fishing industry because they posed no threat. However, when Vietnamese bought shrimp boats, they became a threat to white’s businesses, and whites began to dislike Vietnamese. (“Asian Americans”). Some Vietnamese would get extremely involved in the fishing industry, but learned better from violence used against them. Some people went as far as burning down the Vietnamese’s boats (“Asian Americans”). Outside of the fishing industry employers and coworkers would become frustrated with Vietnamese for working slowly (Li).

Vietnamese worked with quality in mind where Americans worked with speed in mind. This caused employers to be impatient with Vietnamese, and sometimes cost them their jobs. Even when Boat People acquired jobs, their median annual personal earnings placed them $35,000 lower than the earnings for other Americans. Overall, Vietnamese had a horribly hard acceptance into the job market, however, this would have facilitated had they not had trouble adapting to culture. As Vietnamese immigrated to the United States, they found trouble adapting to the culture.

This especially occurred in the medical and education world. The American medical treatment dissatisfied Vietnamese because it does not concentrate on healing (Li). Some people would try to combine western medical treatment with the Taoist concept of balance. Many Vietnamese believed that if they rubbed a coin on skin it would relieve a cold (Li). However, if a mother brought a child to the doctor they would mistake the coin bruises as child abuse, a major misconception of culture. In fact, the majority of Boat People would not enter the hospitals because of white rooms and nurses wearing white (Li).

In Vietnam, white represented the color of death. Furthermore, children found adapting to the school system difficult because of them placed by age group, not ability (Li). As well as American schools based off of critical thinking and Vietnamese schools off of pure memorization (Li). This became extremely difficult for Vietnamese students who did not speak English proficiently. Highly disadvantaged with their lack of English, Boat People had an extremely arduous time adapting to the ways of Americans without the ability to communicate (“Promoting Cultural Sensitivity: Vietnamese Guide”).

A misconception between cultures occurred when Vietnamese would show interest in a religion for respect, but no actual interest in converting (Li). The churches may become disappointed in the Vietnamese. Furthermore, traditions of parents embarrass children because the parents had not adapted to the American culture, but hung onto the Vietnam culture. Contrary to the belief that immigration moves like a painless journey, Vietnamese had one of the most tiresome and arduous immigration in American history. Beginning with a war on their home turf, they had to leave their country. The war caused dreadful effects and they lost all their hope.

When they stepped on to American soil, they had nothing but the clothes on their backs. Furthermore, their lack of material affected their ability to find jobs. More so they did not speak English, and had little to no education. Although now they had a shred of hope that life could achieve immense success. However, accused for living as a burden to society, discriminated against in the job market, and finding difficulty adapting to the new American culture caused that hope to be terminated. Vietnamese did not deserve the treatment they received, but they endured it with all they had and with the small hope of a new life.