Essay Example: Reason Against Prejudice New Immigrants

Introduction

Immigration has become an alarming concern to global development over the past decade. Most of the developing countries have been the center for the rising cases of the immigration in most parts of the world. It is because of the conflicts among these nations that make individuals move to other foreign states in search of peace, jobs and the hopes of having a good life (Gross 33). Nevertheless, there has been an upsurge in the campaign against the immigration in the developed countries. The continuous struggle of these immigrants' control has increased due to the threats arising to the locals and the nations hosting them. That is why it is important to understand the economic, cultural and the social impacts that indirectly or directly link and influence the prejudice against immigration.

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Push and Pull Factors of Immigration

The cases of insecurity and social unrest in the developing countries are the primary factors facilitating the increasing rate of immigration. However, most people have a negative attitude against the immigrants because of their perception of criminal activities in the countries where they originate. Likewise, insecurity is the primary aspect that causes these immigrants to flee from their native nations to alternative change with hopes of getting peace (Greenwald and Zajfen 179-180). Similarly, the immigrants have the ability to radicalize the native individuals to join illegal activities in executing their plans fully in cases of strict security watch by the authorities. Otherwise, food safety is also another facilitator of immigration in countries that have a reliable supply of food such as the United States (Greenwald and Zajfen 179). Further, the safety of the neighborhood may also contribute to the negative attitude toward immigration. The presence of a new group of people in the community some of the uncertainty may be developed. It may include illegal activities such as rampant theft and other social ills. Consequently, when the natives do not have the feeling of being safe, it may lead to a rise in the level of anxieties about the criminal activities of the immigrants. As a result, the safety of the neighborhood can be measured on how the individuals residing around feel after the dark.

Economic Impact of Immigration

The competition caused in the economic activities in the nations the immigrants settle is another reason for the negative attitude towards them. With the immigration in the country, individuals with low-skills and income capacity are threatened by the over-representation of the same by the immigrants. It is because the immigrants will be willing to take a job at any wage offered irrespective of any condition for upkeep and begin a new life. As a result, the prejudice against the immigration arises due to either the native citizens who are afraid of losing the available jobs they have or the anger they develop against the immigrants taking away their jobs (Matthes and Schmuck 6-7). Alternatively, the existence in the economic competitions may be right, but with the over-representation of immigrants in low skills jobs, they majorly occupy the lower bottom hierarchy of the labor force. Also, the natives may also develop a negative attitude to immigration due to the speculations in the media that they migrate to the developed countries to improve their living standard and new lifestyle. However, even if the native citizens believe that the immigrants are threatening them, it is because they view them as those who have come to compete economically (Matthes and Schmuck 6-7). That is why they develop a negative attitude against any immigration to their country.

Immigration Impact on Culture

People believe that differences in the marginalization of culture among different communities may cause conflict due to a misunderstanding of values. As a result, the native citizens may develop prejudice against the immigrants because of the disparity and the diversity of cultures (Castles, Stephen, Haas, and Miller 18). Alternatively, it is true that individuals cannot believe in strangers until they are confident of their traits irrespective of whether they have good intentions or not. Therefore, the difference in the level of civilization may cause conflicts among the individuals because there is no shared understanding and trust. Also, people may clash or oppose each others opinions more often when they have different backgrounds since neither of them would allow criticism and discrimination all the time. The incidences are practical in many places such as the institutions of learning where individuals from different cultures may be considered enemies. Similarly, it is common in the work areas where employees segregation regarding cultural background (Castles, Stephen, Haas, and Miller 18). Moreover, the lack of trust may develop a due lack of a common language or type of religion, for an instant, the Muslims believe to be radical in terrorism all over the world.

Immigrants Political Impact

The political perception and contact with the native citizens have also increased the level of prejudice against the immigration in the country. People tend to relate with the immigrants casually without even creating relationships and would rather become hostile and suspicious about them. With this in mind, it is true that people with the same political affiliation tend to address the same concern, thereby shifting blame to the immigrants (Hainmueller and Hopkins 227). As a result, the overall sentiment against the immigration may arise with the presentation of different political interests.Also, the politicians always tend to influence the control of the immigrants by implementing stringent conditions that limit the level of immigration into the country by the legislators. With such differences, it may create a feeling of group identity that opposes each other on the perception of the negative attitudes towards the immigrants. Alternatively, such threats have various reasons to take place. The first one is that when the population of such a minority (the immigrants) increases, the native citizens in the political position tend to believe that they may be forced to compete for leadership (Hainmueller and Hopkins 227). The second one is that the natives blame the immigrants when prejudice arises regarding other factors affecting the country such as the economic problems and criminal activities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, with the increasing rate of the immigration, it is a concern to the international communities to address them amicably rather than receive them with hostility. Additionally, the perceptions about the rise of insecurity that threatens and questions the safety of the individuals are factors increasing the negative attitude towards immigrants. Also, the economic competition with regards to the employment issues that the natives risk losing and different cultures have catalyzed the prejudice as well. Therefore, it is imperative to consider the social, political and the economic factors, which steer up the negative attitudes and come up with the solutions that accommodate the rights of both the parties affected. With this in mind, the native citizens should, therefore, believe that the immigrants are not there to compromise their daily activities and lifestyle but to improve the harsh conditions of their lives.

Works Cited

Castles, Stephen, Hein De Haas, and Mark J. Miller. The age of migration: International population movements in the modern world. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.

Greenwald, Howard P., and Vanessa Zajfen. "Food Insecurity And Food Resource Utilization In An Urban Immigrant Community." Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, vol. 19, no. 1, 2015, pp. 179-186. Springer Nature, doi: 10.1007/s10903-015-0331-9.

Gross, Dominique M. "Economic Growth and Peoples Determination about Immigration: The Case of Switzerland." SFU School of Public Policy, 2016, pp. 1-43.

Hainmueller, Jens, and Daniel J. Hopkins. "Public attitudes toward immigration." Annual Review of Political Science, vol. 17, 2014, pp. 225-249.

Matthes, J. and D. Schmuck. "The Effects of Anti-Immigrant Right-Wing Populist Ads on Implicit and Explicit Attitudes: A Moderated Mediation Model." Communication Research, vol.1, 2015, pp. 1-24. SAGE Publications, doi: 10.1177/0093650215577859