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Immigration Report

 

 

 

Immigration has been a very sensitive and controversial subject, especially in the western world.

 

The way to tackle the problems of immigration is to ask the following questions:

 

• Why do people emigrate?

 

• Why do people take horrifying risks to enter a country?

 

• Why are western countries more favourably than other zones in the world?

 

• What effects are immigrants on the economy, society, and culture?

 

The thought of people hiding in the undercarriages of airliners, or being locked in cargo containers in order to migrate to a country that will offer a better way of life is horrifying and unthinkable.

 

So the main answer as to why do people do this is out of desperation. If you look at the continents where people emigrate from are: Africa, Central and South America, Middle East and South Asia.

 

The main reasons people emigrate are:

 

• Escaping war, famine and extreme poverty.

 

• A chance of a better life.

 

• Political refugees.

 

• Family settled in the new country.

 

Western countries are the most stable and successful, so it’s natural for people to emigrate to. Where many of the western countries  have colonised many of the continents outlined above, people from those countries can speak the language and quite often those ex-colonised countries still have buildings of that era and the children are educated in their respective countries history so they know the countries that have colonised them.

 

In many cases western governments and big businesses have exploited poorer countries and have helped the conditions that people from those continents are suffering now. It’s interesting that when you cause problems in other parts of the world they end-up on your own doorstep, in a way you’ve got to clear-up the mess that one makes.

 

It’s only natural in the human race to want a better existence, and by emigrating from the death and decay of war, famine, and extreme poverty, out-ways the risks to immigrants lives.

 

The impact of immigrants:

 

• Businesses like to reduce costs so they can make more profits. By employing immigrants, businesses can reduce wages,               

  often below the minimum wage.

 

• By exploiting immigrants this depresses the wage and labour market.

 

• Illegal immigrants are exploited by businesses and criminal gangs.

 

• Illegal immigrants reduce the enforcement of employment laws.

 

The impact to the social structure of the country:

 

There has been a media campaign highlighting abuses, flaws and misuse of the immigration system by immigrants. The problem of the immigration system hasn’t been with immigration or that particular department, but the abuse of asylum seeker and refugee status that are offered to those that are fleeing war or persecution in their respective country.

 

The other negativity which harms all immigrants and future immigrants are the criminals who seek a right to stay in a country they have entered. This puts huge strain and responsibility on immigrants who are often attacked for wanting to claim asylum seeker or refugee status. Extreme political parties and other extreme groups use this negative propaganda to cause hatred and conflict.

 

With the invention of the internet and satellite television stations, even the poorest people, from the poorest countries, can access information on government websites as to what is required to be successful in applying for asylum or refugee status. It’s obvious that people will want to flee bad conditions in their respective countries, and if they know they’ve got a better chance of staying in the country, they will use these methods. The problem can be exacerbated by asylum seekers and refugee status as a way of staying in foreign countries, especially western countries.

 

National and local governments can cause upset in communities or parts of the country by putting high numbers of immigrants in these areas. In some parts of the country there are none or very few people that look different or speak in a different accent. Racial, cultural or religious intolerance can exist first covertly, and then manifests out in the open.

 

There are differences in how different countries and the indigenous population conduct themselves. Lack of manners, disrespect, rudeness and criminality are main areas where intolerance exists by different races, cultures or religions.

 

Recommendations and solutions:

 

While intolerance cannot be eradicated entirely there are solutions that can reduce the friction by different races, cultures and religions.

 

• Educating in citizenship classes, covering customs, religious beliefs, laws, and history of the country.

 

• Informing local communities when immigrants are being housed, especially in rural areas.

 

• Making national and local governments release information when immigrants are moving in an area, what their

  country, culture and religion is, so the local population are well informed with their new neighbours.

 

• Social inclusion and having immigrants teach the local population about there country, culture, history and religion.

 

• Making sure businesses are paying minimum or above wages, so that the wage and labour markets doesn’t get depressed.

 

• There needs to be a sensible approach to immigration, so countries can see how many births, deaths, and people

  emigrating, and whatever the shortfall in the population these countries can fill the places with immigrants.  

 

To respond to this report please email us at Creating Tolerance in the Community