Do americans really think we all want to go there?

Question

If so, what would make people think that?

Answer 1

Well, I'm sure there are people who don't want to come here, but there is ample evidence that very large numbers of people do. One could start with the Diversity Visa Lottery program. Over 12 million people applied this year from around the world for 50,000 available immigrant visas. These are mostly people who don't have any other eligibility for US immigrant visas. In several countries, 5% or more of the entire adult population applied. This year citizens from 20 countries are ineligible to apply. Why? Because those countries have already sent at least 50,000 immigrants to the US over the past 5 years.

The US accepts more immigrants each year than any other country in the world, well over a million this past year, but the demand for immigrant visas far exceeds availability. Not all immigrant categories are capped, or limited in number, but those that are have very significant waiting periods. In some categories, for some countries, the waiting period is fairly shocking. The most extreme example would be for the Filipino siblings of US citizens, at the moment, the line is about 22 years long as opposed to an 11 year wait for most nationalities. But in most of these categories, the wait is at least 5 years long. So, we could easily take in far more legal immigrants each year under family reunification qualifications

At this point, of course we are only talking about legal immigration. No one really knows how many illegal immigrants currently live in the US. Not me and not Michael Chertof either. Estimates vary from 12 million to over 20 million and some go even higher.

I've seen estimates that almost 1/3 of the entire population of El Salvador now lives in the US. An estimated 500 people from that country alone cross the border every day. Can't vouch for that personally, of course, but it is clear that El Salvador is very heavily dependent economically on money sent home to family by its citizens here. So much so that the country has made major efforts to make sure that Temporary Protected Status, established in the 80s during its war for its citizens here in the US is extended by Congress each year, even though the war itself ended many years ago. The other Central American countries under TPS have done the same thing. The Salvadoran embassy here was helping its citizens file political asylum applications for a while in the 90s, until it was pointed out that since most of the applicants were claiming fear of persecution by the Salvadoran government, the embassy was effectively undermining their claim.

So, if it appears that Americans really think the rest of the world wants to live here, since you didn't define "we", there are some fairly rational reasons why they have that impression.

Answer 2

After reading these posts, I am not sure I want to be here. Can anyone answer a question without including insults?

Many people have wanted to come to America, because it is a country started with boatloads of immigrants escaping aggression in other nations. Visit the Statue of Liberty..."Give us your poor......we lift the lamp beside the Golden Door."

We became a very rich nation and welcomed numbers of immigrants. It is true that many immigrants came from Third World Nations, Cubans floating on makeshift rafts, etc. People winning lotteries, escapees from the carnage in Haiti.

We have been a port in a storm. Currently, our port is sinking into the water. Our Immigration Department isn't doing its job. Visas expire...oh, well! People flood the Southern border at a time when American citizens don't have jobs.

Our welcome has worn thin. We want Immigration, but we don't want to impoverish our own country by accepting too many at once, and that is what is happening.

Somehow, we must solve this problem, yet still remain the Golden Door, lifting that lamp. "Give us your poor!" but not 20 million at a time!

Answer 3

Some do, but not all do.

The problem is that so many people do come here and are not respectful, courteous, or even clean. They think that because of the vast number that come and ruin the places they love.

For example, they can make the charming little neighborhood that Grandma lives in, turn into a loud gang infested dangerous place. And Grandma can't afford to move, then they break in rob, and try to kill her.

This is an extreme example, but it does happen.

Answer 4

Being a student here, most people I encounter think so. By most people, they are not of particular race, economic status, profession etc. Americans in general are passionate about their country, which is a good thing. There is a minority of them who are ignorant of the rest of the world, which is a bad thing.

They think that this is the best country to live on earth and think that most people want to migrate here because of the modern conveniences, higher quality of life and of course freedom.

I don't know about the "best" country part. It is an opinion at best, not a fact. But this is a good country to live in with lots of opportunities and I can attest to that.

Answer 5

The fact that the country gets flooded by immigrants each day, it sure seems like the world wants to be here. Considering people from rich countries, such as the UK and Switzerland are working at Mcdonalds and Petrol stations here

Answer 6

Look at all the people coming over in boats and people giving up their lives just for a chance to live here and get across the border.
I don't think that "you all" want to come here but a lot of "those other people" want to come here.
I would prefer that "you all" don't come here. I don't want to support you and have my taxes go up.
I also don't want it to be a requirement for my children to learn spanish or any other foreign language. My children will stick to speaking english.

Answer 7

I don't know how of my fellow Americans think that. Hopefully it's a minority. I would guess that most of the people who do feel that way have never traveled outside of the US.

Answer 8

If arrogant is being proud of my country, proud of the flag, and happy to be an american then yep I guess I am arrogant.

And go where? to another country? I wouldn't mind visiting another country one day but I love the USA and I would never cry if I never left it =)

Answer 9

Possibly the millions and millions and millions that keep coming year after year after year. If you don't want to come here - by all means - don't! And why would you want to go where you are clearly not wanted.

We did not over-populate - the third world did. It is not our responsiblity to provide for them.

Answer 10

Could be the long lines at the Embassy of people wanting to come here.