Evolution of Immigration Policies: Asian & Mexican Immigrants - Essay Sample

Introduction

The immigration policies in America have evolved over the past century. From archaic policies of discrimination and exploitation to selective criteria of allowing who becomes a citizen of the US. The following analysis will look at the immigration experiences, similarity and differences of the policy applied to Asian and Mexicans immigrants.

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The picture of the Chinese immigrants being considered as model minorities could not even be imagined a century ago. Asians were seen as a threat and as such the Nationality Act of 1790 barred Chinese from being naturalized citizens of US. They were the first race to be labeled illegal immigrants. This action led to the formation of legal structures and immigration institutions to control those who enter the country. Naturalization rights back then were limited strictly to free white individuals and Asians were not permitted to be citizens. The initial Chinese immigrants came to the US during the Gold Rush era. The US economy was performing well and there were labor-intensive jobs available in the country. Politics play a pivotal role in shaping the rules of immigration as the number of immigrants could affect the outcomes of the elections. Consequently, politicians could push legislation that favored them and not the interest of the immigrants. The narrative that the Chinese were an inferior race started being peddled by the presidential hopefuls. The leaders said if the population of the Chinese is not checked it will prove to be a problem as they will take jobs meant for the middle-class Americans. Thus American changed from the land founded by immigrants to a nation that restricted immigrants to enter more so the Chinese. Such a policy instituted was the Chinese exclusion law which assumed that any Chinese who was not a student or merchant was a laborer.

But with changing times the American immigration policies have changed from being restrictive to one that looks at the American interest more so economically. The policy was no longer defensive but the process of being an American citizen was more selective. The competition for highly skilled workers during the Cold War period had intensified and the Chinese were exemplary in the education sector. These factors ensured that the immigration laws changed and move towards individual excellence rather than the race of a person. One such policy that made Asian Americans be model citizens is the Hart-Celler Act of 1965 which preferred immigrants to come into America on the basis of their education. Consequently Chinese and Asian in particular were permitted to be citizens while other immigrants who were laborers were deemed undesirable. More barriers were initiated to prevent the laborers as they were seen as they cannot be assimilated because they were not educated. Asians more so those in the tech industry were easily naturalized to be citizens with the help of the H-1B visa side door system.

It is true that whenever a Mexican American is mentioned the first things that come up in one's head is an illegal immigrant. This stereotype has its roots in early 1920,s when the Americans so Mexicans as inferior criminals. But things were not like this initially. The Americans had a shortage of labor and most of their resources were used during World War 1. For their industries to flourish again they needed cheap manpower. The Mexican immigrants at the time were not affected by the quotas set to deter migration that affected Asian and Eastern Europeans. As such they came in big numbers; the manufacturing companies enjoyed their services as they were not unionized and did not strike. Mexicans could also come work in sugar plantations and later go back to Mexico and as such, they were not seen as a threat. All this changed when their numbers increased exponentially. The racial script that Mexicans are inferior started being spread. The industries they worked in tried to protect them but it only worked for a period of time. The spreading of propaganda that Mexicans were criminals and had diseases reached many Americans.

The racial script that Mexicans are not white which had also been used on Asians was now being used on them. Thus Mexican immigrants could not be citizens on the grounds that they are not white. Past court rulings were used to legitimize the actions of the white supremacist. Another strategy that was used to limit Mexican immigrants the right to be citizens included the denying of women who had children abroad the right to get automatic citizenship. The fact now remains that the immigrants together with their children would always be affected by the immigration laws. The fourteen Amendment gives an individual born in the US the right to be a citizen but an exclusion Act was instituted. Just the way Blacks were deemed unfit to be American citizens according to the Dred case the same principle was used against Mexicans.

After looking at both the experiences of Mexican Americans and Chinese Americans there are some similarities and contrast as to how both races were treated with regards to citizenship. Firstly, both races were exploited to benefit the country economically. Mexicans were used to provide cheap labor during World War 11. They served the purpose of the Americans and as such, they were deemed to be good people. The Chinese were also deemed as model citizens because of the technical expertise they brought into the country. Thus we can conclude that the migration policies initiated for both races were used to empower the US economically.

Secondly, both races have had the racial script applied to them at one juncture in their plight to be American citizens. A narrative is spread about the Mexicans and Chinese by policymakers and structures are then put afterward to bar them from entry and becoming American citizens. For instance, they started promoting the narrative that Mexicans were sick and criminal so that the public could have a negative image of the immigrants. This was followed by the government initiating laws to bar Mexicans from becoming citizens. Structural barriers were started to limit the number of Mexicans entering the country; for those already in the country, the naturalization process was made hard thus limiting their chances. The same racial script was used on the Chinses laborers who came to the country during the Gold Rush period. The narrative that the Chinese were an inferior race was being peddled by politicians who saw them as a threat to their prudential elections if they became citizens. The middle-class citizens were told that their jobs will be taken by the Chinese. Structural barriers such as the Chinese exclusion Act was created to further make it hard for them to be citizens.

There are also differences between the experiences and policies applied to the two races. For the Chinese immigrants who came to America during the Cold War period, many were technology expatriates, students, tourists, and merchants. The expatriates were really needed and they were seen as critical to the economic development of the country. The international politics at that time also necessitated the American government to treat the Chinese with respect. The Americans did not have allies in the East apart from China as such they wanted to show the communist nation that they were treating the Chinese immigrants just like other Americans. Thus Chinese immigrants were given the leeway to be naturalized citizens and adapt to the capitalist American way of life. Some other Chinese also partnered with Americans to open up business enterprises while others intermarried. Consequently, the immigration laws on the Chinese immigrants were loosened as they were easily assimilated into the American way of life.

Things were different for the Mexican immigrants as they have always been seen as a source of cheap labor. The Mexican immigrants were not expatriates and all they wanted to do was menial jobs get paid and go back to their country. They had no intention of staying at first and that is why the Americans did not have any issue with them. The Americans regarded them as transitory labor and they would go back after World War 11. Consequently, they were not considered a threat. The policies against them were relaxed and their population shot up by 16%. The narrative that Mexicans were criminals and had communicable diseases started. Mexicans were now less desirable and just like other races inferior. Measures were now put to curtail their movement into the country by establishing border patrol. Those who were born in America their birthright to be citizens was also denied.

Unlike the Chinese, the deportation procedures of Mexicans was fast-tracked with the help of the border patrol. Doctors were used to furthering the agenda of the owners of the farmers and could say Mexican had diseases that are a public health concern as they could spread it. Medical racial profiling enabled the authorities to issues a warrant for deportation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both authors Molina and Madeline have both highlighted the struggles both the Mexican and Chinese immigrants had to undergo to become American citizens. They have both shown how politics play an important role in shaping the immigration laws of the country. Individuals with a vested interest in making laws that help them win elections while exploiting the other races. Legislation and court rulings were used to legitimize and justify the actions of the dominant race. When all these factors are looked at closely through different, all the races coming to American have been subjected to the racial script. The racial script may be different in terms of policies and execution but their objects are the same, to exploit the minority group. The same mentality of exploitation of immigrants still exists with the current generation. Immigrants and American citizens of a different race are treated differently and are not accorded the same privileges as the dominant race. The notion that they are the superior race is deeply embedded in their heads forgetting the other races are also humans who are supposed to be treated with dignity. The constitution of the country accords every citizen equal rights irrespective of their race.

Bibliography

Hsu, Madeline Yuan-yin. 2015. Good Immigrants: How the Yellow Peril Became the Model Minority. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

Molina, Natalia. 2015. How Race Is Made In America: Immigration, Citizenship, And The Historical Power Of Racial Scripts. Los Angeles: University of California Press.