United States Opposition to immigration

donald trump campaigned president in 2016 promising build wall on border of mexico , united states centerpiece of immigration plan .



anti-illegal immigrant car sticker in colorado

in countries majority of population of immigrant descent, such united states, opposition immigration takes form of nativism.

in united states, opposition immigration has long history, starting in late 1790s, in reaction influx of political refugees france , ireland. alien , sedition acts of 1798 restricted rights of immigrants. nativism first gained name , affected politics in mid-19th century united states because of large inflows of immigrants cultures markedly different existing protestant culture. nativists objected roman catholics, irish americans. nativist movements included american party of mid-19th century (formed members of know-nothing movement), immigration restriction league of 20th century, , anti-asian movements in west, resulting in chinese exclusion act , so-called gentlemen s agreement aimed @ japanese. major restrictions became law in 1920s , sharply cut inflow until 1965, when ended. federal government took charge of finding , deporting illegal aliens, still does.

immigration again became major issue 1990s onward, burgeoning illegal immigration, particularly mexicans crossing southern border, , others overstayed visitor visas.the immigration reform , control act of 1986 provided amnesty described amnesty end amnesties had no lasting impact on flow of illegal immigrants.

by 2014, tea party movement narrowed focus away economic issues, spending , obamacare president barack obama s immigration policies. see immigration policies threatening transform american society. tried failed defeat leading republicans supported immigration programs, such senator john mccain. typical slogan appeared in tea party tribune: “amnesty millions, tyranny all.” new york times reported:

what started 5 years ago groundswell of conservatives committed curtailing reach of federal government, cutting deficit , countering wall street wing of republican party has become movement largely against immigration overhaul. politicians, intellectual leaders , activists consider part of tea party movement have redirected energy fiscal austerity , small government stopping changes legitimize people here illegally, either through granting them citizenship or legal status.

as of 2014, there on 42.4 million immigrants living in united states. 13.3% of entire united states population @ time.

labor unions

the american federation of labor (afl), coalition of labor unions formed in 1880s, vigorously opposed unrestricted immigration europe moral, cultural, , racial reasons. issue unified workers feared influx of new workers flood labor market , lower wages. nativism not factor because upwards of half union members immigrants or sons of immigrants ireland, germany , britain. however, nativism factor when afl more strenuously opposed immigration asia because represented (to euro-american members) alien culture not assimilated american society. afl intensified opposition after 1906 , instrumental in passing immigration restriction bills 1890s 1920s, such 1921 emergency quota act , immigration act of 1924, , seeing strictly enforced.

mink (1986) concludes link between afl , democratic party rested in part on immigration issues, noting large corporations, supported republicans, wanted more immigration augment labor force.

united farm workers during cesar chavez tenure committed restricting immigration. chavez , dolores huerta, cofounder , president of ufw, fought bracero program existed 1942 1964. opposition stemmed belief program undermined u.s. workers , exploited migrant workers. since bracero program ensured constant supply of cheap immigrant labor growers, immigrants not protest infringement of rights, lest fired , replaced. efforts contributed congress ending bracero program in 1964. in 1973, ufw 1 of first labor unions oppose proposed employer sanctions have prohibited hiring illegal immigrants.

on few occasions, concerns illegal immigrant labor undermine ufw strike campaigns led number of controversial events, ufw describes anti-strikebreaking events, have been interpreted being anti-immigrant. in 1969, chavez , members of ufw marched through imperial , coachella valleys border of mexico protest growers use of illegal immigrants strikebreakers. joining him on march reverend ralph abernathy , u.s. senator walter mondale. in years, ufw , chavez went far report illegal immigrants served strikebreaking replacement workers (as refused unionize) immigration , naturalization service.

in 1973, united farm workers set wet line along united states-mexico border prevent mexican immigrants entering united states illegally , potentially undermining ufw s unionization efforts. during 1 such event, in chavez not involved, ufw members, under guidance of chavez s cousin manuel, physically attacked strikebreakers after peaceful attempts persuade them not cross border failed.

bernie sanders opposes guest worker programs , skeptical skilled immigrant (h-1b) visas, saying, last year, top 10 employers of h-1b guest workers offshore outsourcing companies. these firms responsible shipping large numbers of american information technology jobs india , other countries. in interview vox stated opposition open borders immigration policy, describing as:

...a right-wing proposal, says there no united states...you re doing away concept of nation-state. right-wing people in country love open-border policy. bring in kinds of people, work $2 or $3 hour, great them. don’t believe in that. think have raise wages in country, think have can create millions of jobs.