Immigration in the United States

As economic hardship descends across the globe, people are seeking refuge. Men, women, and children are forced to flee their homelands because of war, economic turmoil, and societal upheaval.  Immigration reform has become a major issue in American politics. This has become a major problem nationally and regionally, but this steams from various factors. Latin America has suffered from neoliberal economic reforms, which caused many to come to the US in search of work. The War on Drugs has not only destroyed lives here in the US, but destabilized the countries of the South American continent. Then there was a desire for the United States to exploit a large labor force, which only immigrants could supply. It is surprising that more people have not come considering the rapid decline of  the political and social fabric of South American countries. 

          Neoliberal economic reforms  have caused much damage. Mexico was promised immense benefits from the North American Free Trade Agreement. Instead, it fell into a worse position than it had been. Mexican businesses could not compete with cheaper American goods that flooded the market. Close to a million jobs were lost forcing people to leave the country for employment. Illegal border crossings increase to about 300,000 a year. Factories did open on the border employing some of the Mexican population. The maquiladoras assembly plants did proliferate, but were closed down when the US experienced a recession in 2001. Simultaneously, farm subsidies were being cancelled by NAFTA putting farmers at risk. Other South American nations have not fared any better. Argentina and Brazil face major issues of poverty and debt. Venezuela and Bolivia however, managed to alleviate  some social and political ills of their countries. They are socialist governments, which the US either seeks to overthrow or contain. Even though that economic model seems to working, a majority of Latin American countries will still remain in the neoliberal capitalist camp. 

             The War on Drugs also caused a mass exodus from South America. Originally developed by the Nixon administration Ronald Reagan enforced it further. One of the most contradictory elements of his administration was supporting the Contras, who were involved in drug trafficking. Reagan's foreign policy functioned on an aggressive anti-communism, which meant that Nicaragua was a target. Reagan hoped that the Sanidinistas would be deposed by the Contras and a pro-US puppet regime would replace it. During the 1980s  the US was involved with a number of right-wing death squads in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. These anti-communist groups were know for massive human rights violations. The atmosphere of civil war, terrorism, and danger caused a large number of Central Americans   to seek political asylum. America claims that it wants to stop the flow of illegal drugs, but in reality its using this as a context for military intervention. This was the case for the invasion of Panama. Manuel Noriega was a close ally of the US and when he was no longer useful, he was deposed by a military strike. The US accused him of being a mastermind drug trafficker. The CIA was in fact the biggest drug trafficker, because it used funds from the sales of illegal substances to finance covert operations.  As a result more death and migration continued. Currently we are witnessing Mexico become a narco-terrorist state similar to Colombia. The American population has a drug addiction which fuels the power of South American drug cartels. 

            South Americans come looking for work, because their region is struggling financially. Many take occupations that Americans do not want to do. This suits some employers who seek to exploit a large labor force that will not demand benefits from a particular company. This seems attractive to employers because they realize that an American citizen demands more. An immigrant that is documented or undocumented would be at a disadvantage. Jobs in construction, landscaping, and janitorial work are not popular jobs among US citizens. Once again, a ruling class tries to manipulate groups to serve its purposes. This country is no stranger to avarice and exploitation of people. If this type of practice continues it will become one of the biggest human rights disasters of our time. Detention centers are now being built to hold in coming immigrants. These facilities are neither safe or a proper place to live. Immigration reform is need now before it is too late.