The Not-So Golden Road to Citizenship - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2331 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Citizenship Essay Did you like this example? Mario Sarceno is an immigrant who is living what most dream about when they touch U.S soil. He has a large home and family, a successful career and peace of mind. Yet it was only three years ago that some of these options became available to him when he became a citizen of the United States. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "The Not-So Golden Road to Citizenship" essay for you Create order It took him 15 years, 6,000 dollars, a lawyer and a couple of court appearances, but now he basks in the privileges that come with being an American citizen. The road wasnt easy, he says, speaking of the time and effort he expended. And there is still more to go with my wife, who is also trying to become a citizen. For the Villaruel family, it has been a long process. Both Lucio and Pily Villarruel are residents and are currently waiting for the ability to apply for citizenship. The differences in their cases has made it difficult to go through the citizenship process, as both are undocumented immigrants. Though they have been more than willing to work and pay for the lawyer, forms and other fees, they mention that most immigrants do not have enough resources to be able to afford such things. We have been blessed, Pily remarks. But others do not have as much and cannot even begin to talk to a lawyer about their case. This is the case for most people when it comes down to starting the process to become an American citizen. From amnesty to building a wall on the border, immigration reform has been nothing short of a highly debated topic in Congress. For the past ten years, proposals have been given and rejected, one after another. Most recently, President Donald Trump has been advocating for a wall to be built on the border between the U.S and Mexico, a wall that he claims as the only solution to this problem. (CITE THIS) There could not be more dissension among Congress members in how to deal with the 11 million people who reside undocumented inside the U.S borders.(CITE THIS) In February of 2018, because Congress could not come to a consensus, the government shut down for three days. (CITE THIS) Yet, while they argue and dissent, there are still people who are doing their best to become citizens within the system that has already been established in America. What it comes down to, though, is that this process is expensive, academically unbalanced and, at times. inflexible. When policies in the U.S change, so should the citizenship process. No reform will be able to completely stand on its feet if the process to become a citizen is too difficult or too precarious a situation for undocumented immigrants to even begin. While for some, the solution is to throw these unwanted individuals out, there are several things we can do in helping those who have been part of American society for years and who have established families here. The typical process begins with applying for residency. According to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration services, any immigrant who wants to be a citizen must first apply for residency. If granted, the stipulations for residency is to stay in the U.S for a period of five years, with no extended vacations outside of the country during that period of time. Then, they may apply for citizenship, which includes a biometrics, or medical, appointment, an interview and an English and Civics test before the application may be submitted. This process can also last for about five years. If granted, the applicant moves on to take the oath of allegiance and becomes a U.S citizen at a naturalization ceremony. If denied, an applicant may also appeal the decision within 30 days before it is finalized. (CITE THIS) This may seem to be a simple process and for some, it is. Yet, for those who are not literate in legal matters and those who struggle with English and have very little education, this can be a difficult process. For example, an application can be denied if the applicant fails one or both parts of the exam. Individuals are allowed to retake it once, but if failed twice, the application is denied. (CITE THIS) Another difficulty presented can be the forms themselves. While some applicants may be able to speak English, many do not know how to read or write it. About 33% of the U.S population do not speak English as their first language. (CITE THIS) The jargon of the paperwork can be difficult to understand and if there is a mistake in filing or in the information present on the forms, there could be legal consequences. There is also a chance of being denied and so the money paid out of pocket would be in vain. Many immigrants stay undocumented because of that fear.Some exceptions are given in wake of these difficulties, if the applicant qualifies for them. For example, an applicant over the age of 50 with a residency of 20 years is allowed to take the English and Civic exam in their native language with a translator who is fluent in both English and the applicants native language. Those who are 55 and older and have been residents for 15 years are also given this consideration. While this is a thoughtful measure, this does not apply even if you meet the age stipulation but not the residency requirement. This also means that any U.S graduated high school students, who would have already learned U.S history in school would have t o take the test. Because the exam is supposed to test the applicants English and their knowledge of U.S history, it would seem unnecessary for them to have to take it. Instead, if those applicants could prove that they had graduated from a U.S high school, they could bypass the test. This would leave more room for others to take the exam and could potentially reduce the overarching costs of administering the exam,What is not mentioned in this process are the fees that accompany the applications. For example, the application for residency, according to USCIS website, can go up to $1,140 and is a minimum $985 dollars. To apply for naturalization, the fee is about $595-$640. The addition of a lawyer jolts the total cost to about $5,000 and $12,000. The fees are not set and depend on the complexity of your case and if the applicant files on their own or with a lawyer. Unfortunately, with many immigrants living under the poverty level, this can be a deterrent for anyone trying to apply for citizenship. A clear example of this deterrent happened when the fees changed in 2007. 1.4 million applications were submitted that year, the highest number occurring before the fee change. Compared to the 500,000 applicants the year after that, we can see that price swayed many people to apply before it became even higher.(CITE THIS)Some solutions have been proposed, such as waivers, that cut the price of the fees in half. These waivers are only available to those who are below the federal poverty level, but someone who is earning $24,000 a year, which is just over the poverty level, would have to pay full price for any and all fees. Some would say the fees are high due to the fact that the United States Center of Immigration is mostly funded by the money collected from processing the forms. The cost of forms is also affected by the populations that are not required to pay fees, such as refugees. This could be rectified, and the prices lowered, if there were other ways to fund this agency such as government grants or perhaps donations from other organizations that are affiliated with them. Another difficult aspect is time. For the average applicant, it takes about 5-10 years to be able to complete the full process and get to the naturalization ceremony. (CITE THIS) This wait can be made longer due to processing issues, lack of funds, or other preventative life events. (CITE THIS) While the longevity of the process may be a precaution for security reasons, it is easy for an undocumented immigrant to see this as another hurdle, because there is a possibility that they will be denied. The denial, in their eyes, would mean that their hard work and money have gone to waste. Many applicants also have families that depend on them for economic stability. Approximately 18 million children under the age of 18 in the U.S have or live with at least one immigrant parent. (CITE THIS) A denial could mean deportation and separation from their families, which could cause emotional distress and upheaval for the children, if any, that are involved. Many of these children are born in the U.S, which would make transitioning to another country, if they decided to relocate with their immigrant parent, difficult. For these immigrant parents and their children, these are fears that they have to live with every day. Yet, even so, there are many who attempt it. The dream of becoming an American citizen is enough to draw these people to pay anything to be able to enjoy the rights that every citizen of the United States of America has. Policy changes can also affect who can or cannot apply for naturalization. Because immigration has become such a political upheaval, both republicans and democrats have different ideas on how to deal with this issue and who can apply. This divide caused the initiation of DACA (Deferred action for children arrivals) by former President Barack Obama and its current termination by President Donald Trump. DACA stands as an example of how policy changes can affect immigrants and their ability to acquire legal papers in this country. This program was effected on June 15, 2012, as an executive order, it would allow those immigrants who had arrived in the U.S before the age of 16 and were as of than younger than 31, the ability to have temporary legal status and be relieved from the threat of deportation. At the time, a large portion of immigrants, about 1.7 million people, became eligible for this program. (CITE THIS) The program would require them to renew their petition every two years, w hich many immigrants were more than willing to do. In return, these Dreamers as they are called, would receive a social security number and a work permit. Many of them would be able to receive a higher education and other opportunities that were previously denied. They believed that through time, they might be allowed to apply for naturalization. The pitfall of this program was how temporary it would end up being. While this was an executive action backed by several supporters in the Obama administration, many Congress members, who were mostly Republican for President Obamas second term, raised their voices against it. They encouraged states to file federal lawsuits against the executive order, claiming that it was unconstitutional. (CITE THIS) More recently, in September of 2017, President Trump announced that he would be ending this program and would be taking the next six months to phase it out. This left as many as many as 800,000 Dreamers in danger of deportation. For five years, the program functioned to bring stability to the lives of these immigrants, many who are young adults. They had come out of the dark and trusted the only government they have ever known, only to have the proverbial rug pulled from under them. While many lament the programs end, the true solution for these Dreamers and for other immigrants just l ike them is for a more permanent solution to be passed through legislation as part of a broader immigration policy. Programs like DACA, at best, are only a temporary fix and subject to change by other presidential administrations that do not believe in its value. The narrow scope of who can apply to this type of program is also something that could change in a immigration policy. Coupled with a more accessible and affordable naturalization process, it could change the lives of many immigrant families. There are politicians and other prominent members of society that would argue that there is a disadvantage to letting so many immigrants be able to naturalize. They claim that that supporters of this type of reform are looking out for the needs of foreigners over the needs of Americans but the reality is that undocumented immigrants could be a great asset to the U.S Some incentive for changes to made can be seen in a recent study that showed the economical boosts that would be be available if all existing eligible immigrants became citizens, acquired jobs and could be subject to taxes. According to the Urban Institute in New York in a research study conducted in 2015, not only would the individual annual earnings increase for these immigrants, but it would also increase the employment rate and homeownership rates. Tax revenues alone would raise a whopping 2.3 billion dollars in 21 cities if naturalized and a specific study in New York City showed that government cost of public benefi ts, like SNAP or TANF, would decrease as well. While this is the first study to demonstrate how naturalization can be related to government-funded programs, it is still a strong indicator of the economic benefit immigrants could provide. This great nation was built on hard working immigrants who sailed overseas, walked on foot and travailed many difficulties to live in a land of plenty and give their children the opportunity to lead better lives. The same dream still exists within the heart of every American but also the immigrants who sacrifice so much to come to a place they have only ever heard of, a place where they believe will provide more opportunities to their family members and where they could live in safety. Instead of trying to keep these people out, we should welcome them with open arms and provide a path that they can more easily become like us and benefit from the benefits we so often take for granted.

The Importance Of Individuality In Ralph Ellisons...

‘The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of minorities.’ These words of Russian-American philosopher Ayn Rand call for the fundamental need for respect of individual rights by those with power. Throughout Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man, this idea resurfaces periodically, as a black narrator attempts to find his place in a white man’s world. While exploring many internal struggles, the narrator comes to realize that he has been manipulated by multiple groups. Each time he believes he has become self aware, he later learns that a new force has been influencing his actions. Through the prominence of deceit in the novel, Ellison argues that an ideology which places†¦show more content†¦Here, the pressure to be what the organization wants him to be is overcoming the narrator’s individuality, and his real identity. He is told that what he is doing will help his people, t he black community, and so feels obligated to do what he is told. By doing this, the narrator accepts the oppression of his true identity, reasoning it to be for the greater good. This is the manner in which individuals accept stifling of their personalities if they believe it is for the good of the whole. All of these scenes demonstrate the complacency of individuals in an oppressive system. The flaws of these organization first become too severe to ignore when after organizing the funeral for a fellow Brother who was killed, the Brotherhood committee attacks the narrator. They accuse him of individualism, and mandate that they will not facilitate action wanted by the people of Harlem, as it doesn’t go along with their plan. The tension of the scene reaches a peak when Brother Jack begins to rant, and a glass eye pops out of his face. The narrator is strongly disturbed, and reality seems to bend, as â€Å"the room seemed to flatten. [He] shot to a high plateau above [the committee]... [He] heard†¦ but no longer listened† (474). This altering of reality in the physical senseShow MoreRelatedThe Invisible Man By Ralph Ellison1409 Words   |  6 Pagescome. However, in Ralph Ellison’s novel, The Invisible Man, the prologue serves as the beginning of the end, in preparation for an epilogue that revisits the narrator’s original inner conflict at the end of a personal narrative. Situated in a hidden underground cellar, the main character, the Invisible Man recounts the journey of his naive youth from the American south to the seemingly optimistic north in Harlem, New York. However, through several unjust experiences, the Invisible Man doubts the possibilityRead MoreSimilarities Between Shirley Jackson And Battle Royal1604 Words   |  7 PagesThe Lottery (1948) written by Shirley Jackson and Battle Royal (1952) by Ralph Ellison are short stories that stress the issues of conformity and breaking tradition. Both stories were written during a time when individuality was not looked upon in a pleasant manor. Battle Royal and The Lottery both deal with the internal struggle of trying to accept societal norms when they do not match up with one’s beliefs. Difficult lessons were learned in these stories, for example in The Lottery a cruel traditionRead MoreEssay on Search for Identity in Ralph Ellisons Invisible Man2669 Words   |  11 Pagesidentity. Ralph Ellison, a prominent author fascinated by man’s search for identity, thought that blacks were invisible primarily because whites refused to see them. He believed that true identity could be revealed by experiencing certain endeavors and overcoming them (Parr and Savery 86). Ellison explores this theme in Invisible Man, which depicts the title character struggling to find his identity despite facing obstacles created by both white men and his fellow blacks. In Ralph Ellison’s InvisibleRead MoreRacial Bias as a Basis for Discrimination Essay2689 Words   |  11 Pagesconsidered much more of an advanced culture. In Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man he writes to showcase the difficulty of finding an identity and individuality in a color-conscious society. In order to understand the brutality of a situation in which a person faces racism they must have an experience themselves that involves and racial discrimination; Ralph Waldo Ellison grew up in in Oklahoma City on March 1, 1914. His father named him after the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson hoping his accomplishments wouldRead MoreEssay on The Importance of Vision in Invisible Man2789 Words   |  12 PagesThe Importance of Vision in Invisible Man       Is your life at risk and endangered if you are driving with your eyes off the road?   Is it safe to walk down a dark and dangerous alley where you cannot see what is in front of you?   Would it be a good idea to walk across the street without looking both ways first?   The answer to all these questions are no.   Why?   Because in all three situations, there is a lack of vision.   So, one can conclude that vision is of great importance to the visibleRead More Comparing Invisible Man and Brave New World Essay3518 Words   |  15 PagesComparing Invisible Man and Brave New World      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Both Ellison’s The Invisible Man and Aldous Huxleys Brave New World are political in nature, and at this level, seem completely dissimilar. The Invisible Man attempts to illuminate the social entrapment of Black Americans, while Brave New World cautions against an over-reliance on technology and the amorality it can potentially inspire. At a deeper level, however, both books are also about the status of the individual in society, and it isRead MoreMwds: the Invisible Man3683 Words   |  15 PagesMajor Works Data Sheet Invisible Man By: Heather 1. Ellison, Ralph. Invisible Man. New York: Vintage International, 1995. Print. 2. Genre: â€Å"Had they planned it this way? But no, they wouldn’t catch me again. This time I had made the move†(195). The Genre of Invisible Man would be Bildungsroman, a word used to describe the personal development of education and formation. This quote carefully hints the identity recognition that the narrator is experiencing. The recognition that Ellison highlightsRead MoreUsing Psychoanalysis to Understand Human Behavior Essay4081 Words   |  17 Pagesunderstanding Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man yields one article by Caffilene Allen, of Georgia State University, in Literature and Psychology in 1995. Thus, further study of this subject seems warranted. As Allen points out, Purely psychoanalytic interpretations of Invisible Man are rare, even though Ellison clearly threads the theories of at least Freud throughout his novel.(2) Because of the rarity of psychoanalytic critiques of Invisible Man, this paper will examine the character of the invisible man in

Theories of Development Essay Sample free essay sample

It states that kids do non utilize the same regulations of logic for work outing jobs as grownups do. As children’s In schools. instruction should be carried out at a degree and manner to fit ( e. g. Piaget ) experiences alteration. they alter and adapt to what they believe. As kids gain experiences they so expandthe demands and current manner of thought of the single kid. Lessons and broaden their acquisition – finally being able to believe about experiences themselves that are non yet should be broken down into clip allocations that will keep the child’s developed. attending span. Teaching a kid through ‘phonics’ and ‘number lines’ will assist them to spread out and better their apprehension in numeracy and Piaget stated that kids learn through the drama procedure. He suggested that when learning kids. literacy. Practical work should be included – leting kids to work and appropriate stuffs should be provided in order for them to interact and build. Disciplined experiment with existent stuffs in order for them to develop idea and oppugning known as ‘Socratic’ inquiring should be used to acquire kids to reflect on what they were practical behavior. Children need to hold some control over their making. to seek to acquire them to see contradictions in their accounts. larning to guarantee that they are able to constructively work things out for themselves. promoting more independency and assurance. Psychoanalytical It states that our personalities are made up of the followers: Children must be supported when working through their emotional and ( e. g. Freud ) The Id psychological crises to guarantee that they develop a sense of emotional The natural portion of our personality. based on our biological demands. such as hungriness and thirst. wellbeing and mental wellness. Role drama in the category scene helps The Ego kids to play out any frights and anxiousnesss. Children need to experience When a kid realises that its behavior may impact how its demands are met. This is based on being impulsivecomfortable and stable in their environment. This can be aided by and frequently incognizant of the deductions of their actions. promoting kids to convey their favorite playthings in to school at certain The Superego times to organize a nexus between household and scene. Lessons should include Developed subsequently on in childhood. it is based on Thursday development of the scruples. Alternatively of instinctually picks so that kids can larn to do right determinations and addition playing like the Idaho. the superego works to move in a socially acceptable manner. It uses morality. judging our assurance. There are helpful Sessionss such as the ‘Life Bus’ that help to feel of incorrect and right and utilizing guilt to promote socially acceptable behaviour. bring on a child’s developing cognition and apprehension. Theory What it states How it influences current pattern Humanist It states that humanistic psychological science is based on ain free will. that we have a hierarchy of demands that we Within the school scene. there should be a feel of trust and safety. A ( e. g. Maslow ) could non come on without. These are: kid should be able to come into the puting feeling secure and Self-actulisation. Esteem. Belonging. Safety. Physiological. confident. Schools strive to develop and learn kids in a ‘holistic’ mode. guaranting that all facets of child’s well being are catered for. It is critical that a kid is seen as a whole single being. instead than a schoolroom figure. Staff should guarantee that kids feels they can swear [ movie ] them and ever keep a professional. accessible mode. Health and Maslow’s ‘Hierachy of Needs’ . safety and attention of one’s ego and organic structure is a critical portion of the course of study. Teaching through PSHE cat egories ( Personal. Social. Health and Economic ) Humanistic theoreticians stress the importance of concentrating on the positive qualities in people. as opposed to guarantee a holistic attack to children’s development. Not merely do schools handling them as a ‘group of symptoms’ . This theory believes that every individual has a strong desire to learn kids the usual educational topics of numeracy and literacy. gain his or her full potency. to make a degree of ‘self- actualisation’ . but besides P. E for organic structure fittingness. lessons that include healthy dietetic advice. spiritual surveies to broaden the apprehension of other civilizations and races. Classs are broken up with interruptions thoughout the twenty-four hours. to enable kids to rest their heads. These interruptions come with the offer of fresh fruit and veggies. the option of H2O and milk drinks. lavatory visits and fresh air. All of these to include physiological input to the child’s twenty-four hours. It is a known fact that healthy kids learn at a faster rate. Schools purpose to keep an environment of security. spiritualty. creativeness and trust. It is much easier to learn a kid who feels secure. safe. happy in it’s environment. . Theory What it states How it influences current pattern Social Learning It states that kids learn through observing and copying others. A child’s personality and acquisition is Social larning to work right should follow the undermentioned stairss: ( e. g. Bandura ) seen as being the consequence of them patterning their thoughts and behaviors of others. Attention. Retention. Reproduction and Motivation. By detecting. acquisition and so moving on their result i. e. a kid being praised for an action. a kid Within the schoolroom scene. it is of import to be after lessons that will will larn by test and mistake. but much more expeditiously. There are three theoretical accounts that are followed: keep the attending of the kid. This will guarantee that inside informations of the Live theoretical account: An existent individual showing the coveted behavior. lesson will be remembered and retained in the child’s head. The lesson Verbal direction: A individual depicting the coveted behavior. should include a procedure where by the kid is required to reproduce some Symbolic: Occuring through media. such as telecasting. wireless. cyberspace. newspapers etc. work that relates to what has been taught. Practice will besides better this ability. The most of import portion of the lesson is to guarantee that an inducement or motivational feel is given as the first three stairss will non work as the kid will non prosecute in the behavior without motive. Operant Conditioning It states that a child’s acquisition is based on a state of affairs which follows a peculiar behavior. Experiences In schools. positive reinforcing stimuluss are used to increase and beef up good ( e. g. Skinner ) that have been enjoyed will be repeated and those non enjoyed will be avoided. A kid will act in some and appropriate behaviour. Children are far more likely to reiterate theoretical account manner which is followed by a wages. behaviors merrily and volitionally if they feel rewarded. Besides. by utilizing support to increase a desirable behavior will be more effectual than utilizing penalty By reiterating desired behaviour to derive an adults attending with such to diminish an unwanted behavior. reaction as congratulations. will increase their desire to act good. Positive reinforcing stimuluss can be: Puting a marble in a jar towards a category wages such as ‘golden time’ . Bing allowed to convey playthings to school on a set twenty -four hours. A movie/ DVD afternoon. Other illustrations of wagess for good behaviour are reward spines for good work. wages charts on the wall. stars in a child’s reading record for good reading. Transporting out gratifying activities can besides promote kids to take part in a positive manner. Theory What it states How it influences current pattern Behaviourist It states that kids are all born with the same abilities and that anyone can be taught anything. It is Lessons are carried out where the whole category will be involved. The ( e. g. Watson ) felt that kids can be ‘trained’ to act in a peculiar manner. It was though that psychological attention andteacher will demo the kids what to make and the kids will copy. analysis was required for babies and kids. The theory states that kids should be treated as immature External behavior can be gained through continual repeat in lessons grownups guaranting that they will act more mature and follow positive behavioural forms. to guarantee coveted ways or actions. wagess given and disheartenment of bad wonts. If lessons take on a familiar format. kids will retrieve and follow the program. For illustration. if each literacy lesson begins with the kids sitting on the rug holding a narrative told to them by the instructor. followed by the whole category telling the narrative whilst the instructor writes on the board and the kids so expected to sit at their desks and compose their version of the narrative in their ain words. Finally. the kids will show their work separately to the instructor to see and praise for their work. By following the same procedure each hebdomad. the kids will get down to understand what is to be expected of them and get down to follow the coveted behavior. Social Pedagogy This states that all kids. immature people and grownups are equal human existences each with their ain possible Social teaching method purposes to accomplish a holistic instruction and wellbeing. In ( e. g. Dewey ) and each one competent and resourceful. It focuses on valuing human self-respect. common regard. trust. schools. kids are guided to enable them to authorise themselve s and be unconditioned grasp and equality. self-responsible. Such topics as ‘anti-bullying’ are created to advance human public assistance and prevent or ease societal jobs. Children are taught how to act in society through acquisition. Theatre groups such as ‘Loudmouth’ visit schools and utilize play and treatment to assist kids address issues impacting them such as ‘stranger danger’ and the dangers of alchohol maltreatment.