How Immigration Affects the United States and Other Nations

Due to globalization, immigration has become a prominent trend in many developed nations. In the United States, immigration had both positive and negative impacts on the economy and society. On the one hand, immigration increased the diversity of American society and increased the availability of a cheap workforce, which led to the development of business and enriched the country’s culture. On the other hand, immigration also resulted in social tensions and socioeconomic inequality. The effects of immigration on other nations were somewhat similar. Mandelbaum notes that European countries are struggling with immigration because it was associated with increased poverty and discrimination. Moreover, in contrast with the U.S., many European nations experienced an increase in crime rates following the wave of immigration from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

In order to control the effects of immigration on society, most countries have developed immigration policies. The policies developed by the U.S. government facilitate the increase in family-based immigration rather than work- or education-based immigration. This means that people who want to come to the U.S. but have no connections there have fewer chances to immigrate legally. Countries that are considered to be the exemplars of successful immigration policy, including Australia and Canada, use a different approach. While they still allow family-based immigration, they focus more on attracting people for work and education. They also restrict humanitarian migration and free movement to ensure that immigrants who enter the country are skilled and can contribute to the economy. Adopting similar policies in the U.S. would help to reduce the adverse effects of immigration and promote economic growth.