Concerned Student for Immigrants Group

1. Concerned Student for Immigrants Group Anderson, Latoya, Harris, Marcia, Howes, Patricia, Johanson, Paul, Pfister, Dawn, Walton, Angela & Woods, Michelle Walden University Dr. Felecia Williams SOCI 4080 January 10, 2013

2. Introduction Group A agreed to look at the issue of Immigration recognizing that Americans have strong feelings about this topic. Through our topic exploration and literature review we realized there were many claims about Immigration that were rooted in prejudice and fear. We also learned that America is in need of Immigration reform so that individuals seeking freedom and opportunity have a better pathway to citizenship. Group A believes that creating an improved pathway to citizenship would relieve some of those tensions and make a way for those seeking freedom and opportunity to become productive, respected citizens of this great country.

3. Social Issue America is a land populated by Immigrants yet discrimination and a fear of limited resources causes divisions among us. Segments of the population worry that Immigrants are taking away jobs and usurping healthcare and education resources that belong to citizens. Tension are created by the belief that Immigrants are taking more than they contribute.

4. Concerned Students for Immigrants Group Action The main thrust of our action will be an information campaign to dispel misconceptions and present the facts about Immigration. • We will participate in and support any efforts toward Immigration Reform and generally recognize and appreciate the diversity that other cultures bring that enriches our own. • We will support political causes that enable Immigrants to partake of the healthcare and education systems. • It is important to participate in any support efforts towards Immigration reform and just generally recognizing and appreciating the diversity that Immigrants culture add that enriches our own.

5. Expected Objectives for the Immediate Future In view of the latest U.S Census information that reflects the browning of America, it is reasonable to expect that Immigration reform will take a more prominent place in political discourse and lead to policies that grant Immigrants better protections and opportunities.

6. Discrimination Amongst Immigrants Mission To educate society about discrimination not only in the workplace but in law enforcement as well. To address the issues involved with immigration and what we can do to eradicate this sort of behavior.

7. Issues of Immigrant Discrimination Jones & Lewis (2011, p. 2) stated “there has been an accompanying tension both within workplaces and in society at large, at times leading to discrimination directed at the immigrant workers, or immigrant-targeted discrimination (ITD). “Racial profiling is a specific type of group identity profiling” (Lippert-Rasmussen, 2006, 191) and is used as a tool by agencies of law enforcement in a variety of avenues to prevent terrorism and drug trade.

8. IMMIGRANT DISCRMINATION Racial profiling at the government level Discrimination in the work place Considered second-class citizens Inhumane treatment by law enforcement (ACLU). More than likely to be harassed, branded or insulted because they are from different cultures and lifestyles. Ethnic slurs and other verbal or physical conduct (EEOC).  May not be promoted because they are considered non-white (Jones & Lewis, 2011, p. 47). Stereotyped as being incompetent and untrustworthy (Lee & Fiske, 2006, p.1). This intolerance is based on fear and fueled by misinformation and ignorance.

9. Actions Against Immigrant Discrimination • Educate the public through awareness • Raise current issues • Fuel healthy debate to stop the stereotyping • Hold employers accountable for harassment in the workplace • Be more supportive of their needs • Hold others accountable for their negative actions

10. Future Objectives • Dispel harmful myths and arm others with the facts. • Change our way of thinking by referring to them as, “New Americans” (Ott, 2003) and erase the stereotype by calling them immigrants. • Learn more about their culture and lifestyle and recognize the rich diversity they contribute to the U.S. • Appreciate what the, “New Americans” (Ott, 2003) have done for the United States and help them to make the transition to their new home. • Help them continue their journey to become American citizens by sharing resources that can assist them. • Become a support system or find an existing one to help them become educated with speaking the English language, as well as improve their reading and writing skills. • Bring about pro bono work from the legal community to assist in legal matters involved with becoming a citizen.

11. Immigration and the U.S Labor & Wages We want higher wages STOP our exploitation

12. Immigrant issues with labor and wages • The exploitation of immigrant workers • “The Immigration Reform and Control Act imposes sanctions for hiring workers who lack valid documents that permit them to work in the United States” (Cooper, (1994). • Working for less pay and under the table • Working longer hours • Sweatshops or working in substandard conditions

13. Immigrant Issues with Labor According to federal regulators and coalitions, labor groups and immigrant groups pushing for greater protections for lower-wage workers, unscrupulous employers may abuse these workers and then threaten to report them to immigration officials if they complain or unionize” (Armour, 2000).

14. Actions Against Exploitation • Assisting immigrants in understanding the laws and regulations that these employers are bound to. • Assisting immigrants with English language in order to effectively communicate. • To bring awareness to those businesses that have been known to exploit their workers. • Training unskilled workers to gain adequate employment. • Promoting effective U.S. Labor policies that promote an immigrant worker program. • Example: Dream Act, but apply it to older immigrants

15. Future Expectations Developing a program that can train immigrants that come to America for a better living, in order to teach them a trade. Closing all sweatshops and substandard employers. Having an effective policy or act that assists undocumented workers with receiving documentation. Creating safe work environments for immigrants.

16. Healthcare for immigrants

17. Healthcare Issues for Immigrants • The lack of health insurance coverage and fewer health services provided than U.S. natural-born citizens. • “Per capita total health care expenditures of immigrants were 55% lower than those of US-born persons” (Mohanty,et.al,2005, p. 1431). • Illegal immigrants are not entitled to Medicaid or Medicare. • An unfamiliarity of buying health insurance coverage • Immigrant children missing routine pediatric care. • ‘Immigrant children, in particular, receive 74 percent less health care than U.S.-born children” (Castillo, 2005).

18. Actions taken to assist with healthcare • Utilize the website to post upcoming free medical screenings and vaccinations provided in local areas. • Assist in providing preventative measures that ensure good health. • Provide resources about inexpensive health coverage. • www.healthcare.com/ • www.inexpensive-health-insurance.org/

19. Expectations for Healthcare in the Future Create an additional program like Medicaid and Medicare that predominantly assists immigrants. Require routine check ups for all immigrant children that attend local schools. Provide all immigrants with the basic healthcare coverage.

20. Financial Impact of Immigration In the United States we are currently seeing a tremendous uprising in the illegal immigration community, which in turn has cost the United States a significant amount of money to combat. This increase in immigration has caused for issues in healthcare, education, and mainly the nations economy.

21. The Financial Impact Issues • The increase in immigration enforcement has caused for massive increases in defense budgets. • The above increased budget has limited if not eliminated other budgets for healthcare, and education. • A report from the Migration Policy Institute, which is a non-partisan group focused on global immigration issues, said in the 2012 budget year that ended in September the U.S. government spent about $18 billion on immigration enforcement programs run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the US-Visit program, and Customs and Border Protection, which includes the Border Patrol. Of all federal agencies Immigration topped the combined budgets of the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Secret Service by about $3.6 billion dollars. • Today, immigration enforcement can be seen as the federal government's highest criminal law enforcement priority, judged on the basis of budget allocations, enforcement actions and case volumes.

22. Actions for Resolution • Contact government officials in order to promote budget reform that assist in educating and providing an effective law enforcement plan for immigrant control. • Provide multiple opportunities to answer questions so that we can create an effective pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants and create an efficient citizenship process for legal immigrants.

23. Future objectives • With a streamlined process and a clear pathway to citizenship the objective is to decrease the money allocated to boarder protect, so that other budget’s can be reinstated. • To provide resources to individuals seeking citizenship, so that they may do so in a legal and safe manner. This in turn will help decrease enforcement spending.

24. United networks of immigrants teaching youth UNITY

25. UNITY: OUR MISSION Educating youth about immigration policies and providing solutions to assist with an effective pathway to citizenship. Offer support to both immigrant youth and those who have immigrant family members.

26. Issues Several youth and family members risk deportation Employment opportunities are limited Reduced higher level of education achievement Poverty Family separation (due to long working hours)

27. Actions • Establish mentoring program that offers resources for immigrant youth. • Education • By preparing for a transition into higher education. • Employment opportunities • To assist in establishing skills that can be used to retrieve jobs with competitive salaries. • Language skills • Create a tutoring program that assists in learning the English language.

28. Actions (cont.) • Provide additional resources • The Dream Act • Allows for immigrant children to continue to remain in the U.S. and work legally • http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/DREAM-Act-WhiteHouse-FactSheet.pdf • Websites • PUENTES • http://www.puente.net/ • Program in California that assists in improving the education of underprivileged youth. • IMMIGRATION CENTER FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN • http://icwclaw.org/ • Provides affordable legal advice for women and children • Peer to Peer relationships • Having other peers that share similarities in culture, values, and language can make the transition easier for those coming from different countries.

29. Objectives To educate youth, ensuring further higher levels of education. Produce affective policies that reduce the number of families separated from deportation. Train unskilled workers become experienced in a particular trade. Reduce the number of illegal immigrants living in the U.S. by granting citizenship.

30. Conclusion In conclusion if we want to solidify the immigration issue, we must first tackle the budget issue, and provide a safe and effective way to obtain citizenship. By providing information to the general public we as a group will then be able to help recruit others in our cause and help the immigration process. Overall everyone needs to understand that this issue affects all of us, and that we are all in it together as a country. Having worked through the 6-Step Problem-Solving Model has been an enlightening experience. We discovered what the problems were and decided about three weeks into the project that an improved Pathway to Citizenship would solve many of the current problems associated with Immigration. Everyone wants freedom and opportunities. Those ideals are not just for one people group in one country. They should be available to all.

31. References • Arizona Immigration Law Threatens Civil Rights And Public Safety, Says ACLU. (2010) American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved from http:// http://www.aclu.org/immigrants-rights/arizona-immigration-law- threatens- civil- rights- and-public-safety-says-aclu. • Armour, S. (2000). Immigrants become easy targets for abuse, harassment on the job workers arrive for employment, find exploitation instead. USA TODAY. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/408824115?accountid=14872 • Cooper M. H. (1994). Underground economy. CQ Researcher, 4, 193-216. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/cqresearcher/ • Delener, N.N., & Ventilato, J.M. (2008). IMMIGRATION AND THE U.S. ECONOMY: A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE. Proceedings Of The Northeast Business & Economics Association, 155-159. • Employment Rights of Immigrants Under Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/immigrants-facts.cfm.

32. References • ICWC. (2012). Mission Statement. Retrieved from http://icwclaw.org/ • Jones, J., & Lewis, D . (2011). Let's not go down that path again: Lessons from the past applied to immigrant-targeted discrimination. Employee Responsibilities and Rights Journal, 23(4), 229-247. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10672-010-9161- z. • Juan-Castillo, A. S. (2005). Immigrants not drain on health care, study says. Austin American Statesman. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/255768651?accountid=14872 • Lee,T. & Fisk, S. (2006) Not an outgroup, not yet an ingroup:Immigrants in the Stereotype Content Model. Retrieved from http://conf.som.yale.edu/obsummer07/paperleefiske.pdf • Lippert-Rasmussen, K. (2006). Racial Profiling Versus Community. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 23, 191-205. • Meissner, D., Kerwin, D. M., Chishti, M., and Bergeron, C. (2013). Immigration Enforcement in the United States: The Rise of a Formidable Machinery Retrieved from http://www.migrationpolicy.org/ • Mohanty, S., Woolhandler, S., Himmelstein, D. U. Pati, S (2005). Health care expenditures of immigrants in the United States: A nationally representative analysis. American Journal of Public Health, 95(8), 1431-8. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/215092607?accountid=14872

33. References • Ott, G. (2003). The New Challenges of American Immigration:What Should We Do?National Issues Forums Institute. Retrieved from http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/extension/Documents/DiversityCommittee/New_Challenges_Immigration.pdf • Puente. (2012). About Puente. Retrieved from http://www.puente.net/about/ • The White House. (2010). THE DREAM ACT: GOOD FOR OUR ECONOMY, GOOD FOR OUR SECURITY, GOOD FOR OUR NATION. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/DREAM-Act-WhiteHouse-FactSheet.pdf • USA Today(2013). Obama administration spent $18B on immigration enforcement. USA Today. Retrieved January 7, 2013, from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/07/obama-immigration-enforcement/1815667/