Should the US favor certain immigrants?

Question

should citizenship preference be given to the neediest applicants? the richest? the poorest?


Should applicants from certain countrries be given priority?

hm.. i'd like great answers on here. not arrogant or ignorant ones! =)

Answer 1

Some countries are given preference based on how many of its constituents have entered with in the last year. It is based on representation.

It is border line impossible for a Mexican, Philipino or Chinese person to enter legally. So, we enter illegally-- call it intent. Some say they want to come to the US, others come to the US and never say a word about it.
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JuanCarlos: The official stance for the past two decades from the Department of Labor is that we need more workers. In the past this has slowed down the economy and continues to do so. Of course, they are only a government branch, so their conclusions are questionable.
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The wait for a Mexican older than eighteen is ten years, this assumes a sponsor, like a father who is an American citizen. A Mexican without a sponsor has a higher chance of winning the lottery than getting citizenship.

Your statistic is correct in the sense that every year, the ten year wait ends. So, this year those that applied in 1994 through sponsors will get their residency. (They have a slight backlog.) Those that have no sponsors have no chance of getting anything.

Answer 2

The USA should/I believe does make determinations on who/what they let into the country legally. I believe they have a lottery style thing that goes on beyond that. Lucky number evenif all you are is ditch digger, your in. I think that is a good way to a point. I think letting people in who are from highly indegent countries (much poorer than Mexicans) is good too. But limitedly. We let them in under the Compassionate heading.

I might add that contrary to what some others may say, 50% of our LEGAL immigrants are Mexicanos. IT's not impossible to get into the country legally as is represented.

My complaint is that we let far too many people in. WE have too many people in the USA right now. IT is crippling us in any number of ways. The fact that there are 10-25 million Mexicanos here illegally is a real sore spot in the process.

There are somewhere between a million to 3 million a year coming in both legal and illegal.
We need to limit that to about a half million at the most for a few years. It wouldn't kill us and it might help a lot. That plus getting serious about closing down our borders to illegal entrants.

Answer 3

Those educated and skilled in areas we particularly need (like nursing). Immigration overall should be limited to protect our schools and services.

We should, and do, have asylum for appropriate cases. Beyond that, as with any country, our immigration laws should reflect the needs and wants of the current citizens.

As to country priority, I think we should do away with the family preferences put into place in the 60s. Without those, the imbalance of immigration from one country probably wouldn't need to be solved by limiting immigration going forward from that country, although some imbalance would definitely remain. I can see where other countries would think they should have a preference going forward, above Mexico. However, we need to stop illegal immigration completely and track visa exits to make any of this meaningful.

Answer 4

I think the US should favor applications from educated people (like doctors, engineers, nurses are sooo needed right now etc). Also, skilled workers with experience in fields that are lacking skill. I know right now in CT there is supposedly a lack of people to enter the tool & dye or machinist positions as the baby boomers are starting to retire.
I don't think that rich/poor should come into play. I do think that a lot of the people who chose to immigrate to the US are more working class than rich. The rich are already living comfortabley where they are & don't need to leave but for the working class folks the "American Dream" is worth the gamble.

Answer 5

We already do. Certain visas stipulate that an applicant have specific/specialized skills.

Its not really a rich/poor issue- We should favor those who bring needed skills and yes, sometimes even money.

Asylum will also be one reason to favor certain immigrants.

Answer 6

I thought you was talking about racism at first but now I see your point....


Yes, I kind of feel it would be the right thing to do if we help more poor people then rich people come to the US. But to make the country prosper then you will need to take in educated people more then uneducated...

Answer 7

i sort of think we should favor our neighboring countries. call my simple....if you are good to your neighbor, maybe they'll be good to you. other than that....i guess profesionals that could be good for US industries, investors who are good for the economy, and victims of political terror.

i am not sure we could ever serve ALL of the "neediest" people, and we'll drive ourselves crazy trying to do that. and most likely run our economy into the ground as well.

Answer 8

No. But they do favor certain illegal aliens with Privileged legal postions over Americans!

And over aliens trying to come to the country LEGALLY!

Why should America favor countries that their biggest need is to get on American WELFARE!

Then ignore their own at Home Like KATRINA!

America is coddeling and catering to LAWBREAKERS! The more Laws you break the bigger the REWARDS!

Answer 9

Yes, scholars who already held a degree in their country and want to advance their education, also professions such as nursing, since we need them right now.

Answer 10

yes to a degree. applicants with education and skills first. Country unimportant. What they can contribute to society is important.