Category Archives: Class Pages

Undocumented immigrants in the United States

Posted on by

by Naoko Yamada

In 2012 Barack Obama announced that some young illegal immigrants be allowed temporary status and work permits, that is, it will stop deportations and begin granting work permits for some Dream Act-eligible students. According to article of DHS, “undocumented immigrants who came to the United States under the age of 16 and have lived in the country for at least five years can apply for the relief, so long as they are under the age of 30.”

In 2012, an estimated 11.9 million undocumented immigrants resided in the United States without legal procedure. Moreover more than 70% of them are from Middle and South America, especially from Mexico, and they are called “Hispanic”. In Los Angeles where a lot of undocumented immigrants the number of immigrants is rising steadily.  The greater part of inhabitants is opposed to Obama’s policy however actually immigrant’s labor force is very important part to support American society.

The United States is a country of immigrants, and it is true that undocumented immigrants support society and economic. For example the greater part of labors is undocumented immigrants from Mexico. Because of this policy, many immigrants with hope will go to United States.

For young immigrants, it would be quite good announcement because they  are suffered from problems that they don’t have legal status. Also immigrant’s children are innocent, and they had no choice to refuse to move to U.S. I think if government strengthen control of immigrant who are living in U.S., American society would damage. So I think U.S. should accept immigrants who are living now in U.S. and adopt policy for immigrants like Obama’s policy. And then government should strengthen the enforcement of laws against new immigrants.

Refugees Tomorrow

Posted on by

by Satomi Toba

Through the classes, I’ve learned that the difficulties which undocumented people experienced in their ‘home’ country. As we watched in a documentary film, those people cannot be supplied driving license, national health insurance. In Japan, there is another big burden: more than anything else, those people are not allowed to work while the application for refugee status term. It means that they cannot earn money for their living cost. Then, how can they live under the harsh situation? After I think about this, I come up with two ideas. In this report, I’ll try to write down my opinions over the big, important issue.

I know that those undocumented people, refugees have stayed a country illegally, usually without formal extended visa. Thus, they originally break the law. At the same time, they were exiled their native country because of some political problems and they couldn’t get formal documents regarding their refugee status from the government. It is also applied to their passport. If they get their own passport through ‘black’ route, to stop an inflow of refugees seems to be mostly impossible. It is out of a country’s responsibility. Then, what is a responsibility that the host country has to take? I think it is to take care about the refugees healthy. We must not overlook that they are human beings as we are. They have a right to live like we do. That is why I think the health insurance should be enjoyed by all people.

The second point is not regarding government, but that there are some nonprofit organizations which help refugees in Japan. For example, there is an organization, called Japan Association for Refugees (JAR). That organization holds lectures about refugees in Japan for university students and supports them by making a network in refugee’s neighborhood. Relationships with other people have big meanings for refugees, because most of them don’t have any relatives in the host country and in an emergency case, they cannot ask help to the others. To reinforce the connection, we, the receiving country’s people will be better to learn more about refugees. As I knew little about them before I joined this class, there will be a lot of people who don’t know well or don’t have interests in them. I think this big issue won’t be solved until the society is changed by supports from as much as many people.

Reference

Japan Association for Refugees: http://www.refugee.or.jp/

Undocumented Immigrants

Posted on by

by Tomoka Otani

As we studied about the undocumented immigrants, I learned that there are various kinds of undocumented immigrants in the world. Firstly, undocumented immigrants in Japan and the current situation of illegal entrance to Japan will be described. Secondly, undocumented immigrants in the United States and the current situation of the country will be described as well. Thirdly, solutions for illegal entrance and the conclusion will be written. This essay focuses on undocumented immigrants who were brought to other countries when they were children

The number of undocumented immigrants in Japan is increasing and in 2008, there were over 20 thousand illegal immigrants. There are many illegal immigrants whose visa had expired and overstaying in Japan, however, in recent years, the number of immigrants who entered the country with fake passports are increasing. As we learned about the case of “Noriko” whose parents were from the Philippines and used fake passports to get in the country in order to have better lives in Japan, we need to rethink how difficult it is for undocumented children to deal with the problem.

There are over a million people who are entering in the United States illegally per year and its 80 % are from Mexico. As I lived in Southern California for a year, I know some undocumented people who are from Mexico. One of my classmates was child when she came to America and she did not have any idea that she was undocumented until she applied for a driver’s license. I did not have much knowledge about illegal immigrants at that time; however, I realized that this is one of the most serious problems in the United States. I could not do anything for her and it was depressing for both of us. When I studied about undocumented children in the class, I instantly thought of her. I learned that there are many undocumented children like her in the United States and they are dealing with the problems that were caused not by their choice.

In order to reduce the number of illegal immigrants, as for Japan, since it is not connected with any other countries by land, I think it is important to strengthen passport check at the airport because most of undocumented people who intentionally enter Japan illegally have fake passports. I do not know how it is difficult to make fake passports or to recognize them; however, I think it is the fastest and easiest ways to eliminate illegal entrance to Japan.

As for the United States, I think it is more difficult to decrease the number of undocumented immigrants because it is next to other countries like Mexico and Canada. People could just walk or drive illegally into the United States. In order to decrease the number of illegal immigrants who enter the nation from neighbor countries, the government should double the guards of border crossing. I think this is the only solution to eliminate illegal entrance to the U.S.

The biggest problem of all is that how should the government treat the undocumented people who entered the country when they were children and brought to another country by their parents choice. I personally think that the governments should give some kind of legal status to the children because they did not have any idea when they were brought to the other countries. Some people might say that this system increase the number of undocumented immigrants in order to provide their children with legal status, however, I do not think there are better solution for undocumented children. I think they have the right to live equally and right to receive the opportunities in order to enjoy their lives.

The Issues of Undocumented Immigrants

Posted on by

by Kohei Nomura

Almost automatically, I am engaged in Japan’s social welfare and security system. In addition, I guess that almost all people including you are the same. I could not imagine how we should survive if these kinds of rights had gone. However, in this world, there are the undocumented people in term of legal status. They do not have the right to receive any administrative service. It remains as the taboo but big problem of societies.

When people illegally cross the border, or overstay after their visa’s expiration, the immigrants become undocumented. Because they are staying illegally, they cannot even get their legal status. In other words, even if they are violated or treated terrible way ignoring human rights, they cannot claim to police. In this case, the social structure that undocumented immigrants are never treated as ordinary people tends to stuck in the countries’ low-level society. Moreover, even if they catch diseases, they cannot get a tax deduction. It is easily assumed that undocumented immigrants cannot earn enough money to pay full medical expenses, so that they probably cannot go to the hospital. Undocumented immigrants are afraid of the detection of the fact they are illegal immigrants; therefore, the terrible structure among undocumented immigrants would be hidden and be taboo. Nevertheless, the realities of the undocumented immigrants are quite severe.

The only way to recover the administrative service for the undocumented immigrants is to go back to their mother countries. (Actually there are some ways to get a legal status in the escaped country, but the opportunities are extremely limited.) Conservatives may say that these severe treatments are undocumented immigrants’ fault because they are illegally there. It is partly true, and they should go back to their mother countries if possible. However, the children of illegal immigrants cannot do so, because the children are grown up with the countries’ identity and education of the countries’ language. If the country commit deportation of the children, it is wrong as the humanistic perspectives. The children have never committed the crime like illegal immigration, unlike their parents.

In conclusion, politically, the special decision how the country engages the undocumented immigrants in the area of humanity to get rid of violation of human rights of undocumented immigrants. Moreover, we should rethink of how we should accept the immigrants.

The “DREAM Act” is still dream…

Posted on by

by Misa Takahashi

In November 7, the U.S president Obama was reelected. His reelection can realize ideal of ‘illegal’ and ‘undocumented’ immigrants, or keep on harsh reality to them… I would like to talk about them aspect of ‘dream act’ in U.S.

Before talking about ‘illegal’ and ‘undocumented’ immigrants, I mention about what ‘dream act’ is. The goal of this project is giving relief to children of ‘illegal’ and ‘undocumented’ immigrants. If the law could be approved, they can have the right of permanent residence. The U.S. president Obama has worked hard for approve the law because of the background that immigrants are necessary for U.S. economy, however the Republican Party opposed to it because of increasing the expense of social security and the number of illegal immigrants. “Dream act” is still dream…

Almost of those children was taken by their parents who use illegal passports to U.S. in babyhood. Their parents are illegal immigrants, of course they are also ‘illegal’. Naturally enough, they don’t receive college education, get driver license, and more worse, they are suffering the fear of forced repatriation. But, they don’t know about their born countries and those cultures. They only know U.S., only have U.S. identities.

From such situation, Obama carried out the president command, give the reside license to them. If they satisfy requirement which is they are under 30 years old, enter illegally to U.S. until 16, pass 5 years from illegal entry, have the license of high school graduation or enroll and don’t have experience of crime, they can stay 2 years, get driver license and jobs. However, this command is temporary things, so it can’t become fundamental solution.

Considering for receiving immigrants in aspect of good point, immigrants support U.S. economy, in fact, most of all big farm workers is Hispanic immigrants. But ins aspect of bad point, increasing the number of illegal immigrants create to increase the expense of social security and expand the poor class. I think that we have to cut the roots ‘illegal immigrant’ to solve the problem and only help children who is difficult to be educated and got jobs in now. However, it is difficult to cut roots of illegal immigrant, if we do it, we must change the worldwide immigrant’s situation and problem. I think that this problem shouldn’t be left as it is, but there is no epoch-making solution.

Reference

NHK online. http://www.nhk.or.jp/worldwave/marugoto/2012/08/0817.html

The issue of undocumented immigrants

Posted on by

by Yui Matsushita

It is a big issue of the world that the number of undocumented immigrants is increasing today. In the election for the U.S. President in November 2012, immigration was one of points at issue. It is said that there are about twelve million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., and most of them have to suffer from many hardships because they don’t have legal status. The way that they become undocumented can be roughly divided into two kinds; illegal entry by a fake passport or crossing a border, and visa overstay which immigrants enter a country by the proper procedures but lose residence status and still stay there. In Japan, the number of the latter case (especially immigration from Asian countries) is decreasing in recent years, but still, it is a problem.

Especially, children of those undocumented immigrants have to go through afflictions more. At least their parents or relatives are conscious of having committed a crime, but children do not intend to do so at all. They immigrate into a new country with their parents, settle down there, get educated and spend their life as a normal resident. They grow up in a new country’s culture, so they adapt its customs and language and foster their identity as one of members of the society where they live now. However, they are still undocumented immigrants. It becomes very hard for them to get higher education, get driver’s license, go to the hospital and leave the country in a proper way. They always have to be scared of being arrested and deported because of a crime which they do not know about. It is unreasonable to deport them from the viewpoint of human rights because this situation divests them of their present life and their future. In the U.S., President Obama started a new policy in 2012 which allows young undocumented immigrants to get resident status. It was executed according to failure of the DREAM Act which allowed them conditional permanent residency. However, it can be only temporary treatment.

Of course the problem is that those immigrants do not have legal status, however, the focus also should be placed on the cause that they became undocumented immigrants. They immigrate for various purposes such as getting a job and escaping from inferior living environment, so if no measure is taken for this matter, the number of undocumented immigrants will do nothing but increase. While taking measures for them domestically, the fundamental cause has to be examined internationally. In addition, society should not stick to only the fact of ‘illegality’. By focusing on their backgrounds as well, it needs to consider the issue of undocumented immigrants.

Undocumented Immigrants

Posted on by

by Sakiko Maruyama

There are a lot of undocumented immigrants in the world.  While some commit illegal entry deliberately, others aren’t conscious of their undocumented status until they need their ID.  We still don’t have a formal way to differentiate them.  Indeed, especially in the latter case, the boundary of documented and undocumented people sometimes seems to be ambiguous. Undocumented immigrants who belong to the latter situation undoubtedly think of themselves as citizen, until they know they are undocumented immigrants. Even if they notice the fact, they think they are citizen, because they fulfill citizen’s obligation such as going school, working, or paying taxes. But now, there are few measures to protect them.  A nation functions rather exclusive toward the undocumented immigrants and people easily connect undocumented immigrants with crime. We need to differentiate the innocent undocumented immigrants from the others.

Then, it becomes necessary to establish the standards for judging it. The US is proud of itself as a land of immigrants. The society of the US is supported by immigrants. It is important for the US to unify immigrants in order to strengthen the bonds of the nation. There are approximately 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the US, so they are no longer the minority. The US takes the most positive attitude to this matter in the world. The US prepares the DREAM Act; it would provide undocumented youth with permanent residency or citizenship. This bill is based on the thinking that the undocumented children are innocent because they were took to the US by their families without proper documentation. It hasn’t yet been passed by the Congress, but I agree with this bill. The bill would make it possible to make a border between undocumented immigrants. It means that those children would be separated with their families, so this bill may be harsh to the families whose children are adapted to this bill. But needless to say, the US can’t accept all the undocumented immigrants and then, it seems to be a good standard so far.

Other countries except the US don’t positively deal with the matter of undocumented immigrants. It may take a long time for Japanese government that it comes up in the argument. I hope the DREAM Act will be passed by the Congress as soon as possible, and it affects other countries including Japan.

The Undocumented Immigrant Problem

Posted on by

by Marina Kouyama

“Issue of undocumented immigrant” – the American society is now facing with this problem. In this paper, I focus on this “undocumented immigrant problem” of America at first, and then consider the situation in Japan compared with the United States.

In America today, 11.2 million undocumented immigrants are estimated to live in the country. It includes the largest number is Hispanics, Asians, Muslims and Europeans. It is the problem whether people view undocumented immigrants in a positive or negative way. People who affirm claim that undocumented immigrants are an important part of the U.S. society’s workforce even though they are “illegal.” In fact, many workers who work on a large farm are undocumented immigrants who come from Mexico and some other countries. While on the other hand, people who oppose argue that undocumented immigrant could disturb the social order, concerning that American citizens have to pay for undocumented immigrant’s medical-care cost or unemployment insurance, or undocumented people deprive American citizen of their employment opportunity. Also, it is the problem that young generation of “undocumented immigrant” are innocent because they were brought to the country by their parents.

The problem about undocumented immigrant was a controversial issue in the recent U.S. presidential election, in which Obama was reelected.

The undocumented immigrant’s issue about what to do with their visa status has been the one of big tasks of American politics. In the previous presidential election, Obama made a granting of a path to legal status for undocumented youths a campaign promise, and has been aimed to realize the enactment of the DREAM Act. However, the DREAM Act is still invalid because of the criticism from the opposition Republicans. Therefore, last June (before the election), Obama announced a new policy of undocumented immigrant. He took measure to grant temporary residential status to undocumented youths by executive order, which does not require congressional action. Young undocumented immigrants can get the status if they come to America before age of 16 years; are 30 or younger; have lived in America since 15 June 2007; graduated from or are currently in high school, or are an American soldier; have no previous records of committing crimes. It is presumed that about 0.8 to 1.7 millions of undocumented youths would be blessed with this new policy. In the recent election, Obama did not directly win the vote from them as they did not have the vote right.

However, he gained support from Hispanic-American those close to undocumented people. According to New York Times report, 71% of Hispanic-American voted for him. Attention is currently focused on future moves of Obama administration.

In contrast to sign of improvement of undocumented immigrant in the U.S., Japan’s situation is getting worse. On July 9, 2012, foreign resident registration system was abolished, due to the revision of the immigration law. Legal residents get “resident card”, meanwhile, illegal residents cannot gain it. There is fear that undocumented residents become lack of access to essential administrative services without public identification. Also, it will become more difficult for them to find employment. A Ministry of Justice view these detriments as natural result because law revision is to regulate illegal stay.

It is surprising to see the difference about policy toward undocumented people between the United States and Japan. Even though America is nation of immigrant and Japan is not, Japanese policy seems to me too harsh for those people. Illegal residents in Japan are undeniably labors who prop up the Japanese economy. Therefore, Japanese government should offer minimum services (education to medical treatment and social insurance).

References

27 November, 2012. Education Week. “Undocumented Youths Will Not Be Deported”. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/learning-the-language/2012/06/undocumented_youths.html

7 November, 2012. New York Times. “A Record Latino Turnout, Solidly Back Obama and Wield Influence”. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/politics/with-record-turnout-latinos-solidly-back-obama-and-wield-influence.html?_r=0

6 July, 2012. The Japan Times. “New Rules Put Scare Into Illegal Immigrants”. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120706f1.html

Undocumented Immigrants

Posted on by

by Maho Machida

In America, about 1100 million immigrants live illegally. They don’t have future in their country and come to America, seeking a better life. Some people commit a crime and that is a fear of local people. The case of Farmingville is a good example. Other people work hard, having a fear of deportations. Undocumented immigrations are burdens and the cause of deterioration in security for American society. On the other hand, they are necessary labor force for them. They are engaged in the jobs the American don’t want to do. Most of workers in agriculture are immigrants, including undocumented immigrants.

Considering this situation, I agree with Obama’s framing of undocumented immigrant issues. I think those who are not a threat to the US security can or should contribute to its society. So I agree with the DREAM act. The government should provide the young with a certain legal status and permanent residency, I think. The reasons are as follows. The young undocumented immigrants who followed their parents as children grew up in America and have an American identity. They are innocent and some of them didn’t know they live illegally until they apply for the university and driver license. With regard to their parents, it is inevitable to return to their country as punishments for illegal stay, I think. If not, the inequality between those who have a child or not could be caused. However, it is necessary the consideration that their deportation should be deferred until their children become independent, I think.

As I state above, I’m in favor of DREAM Act, however I don’t hope that it leads to increase the number of undocumented immigrations. In my opinion, it would be not good for both a sending and receiving country. In a sending country, its development would remain worse because of population drain. In receiving country, the number of the problems accompanied with it would increase. Therefore, regulations in border should be enforced in order not to enter illegally. Moreover, a work visa should be more flexible and easier accessible to immigrants, so that the companies in America can keep workforce and immigrants can get jobs.

It seems natural to me that everyone seeks a better life, hoping good future. Therefore, such people can realize it their country, or a new country where they migrate legally from their country. I hope such world comes true someday.

Undocumented Migrants

Posted on by

by Maika Kubo

In the US, there are 1.2 million illegal migrants. 70% of them came from Mexico and other Latin American countries to earn better wages. In the class, especially we’ve learned about undocumented migrants who were brought by parents when they were children.

They go to local school and learn local language. They grow up same as other children. However, they notice the fact that they are undocumented migrants when they need identification. They can’t drive because they can’t get driver’s license. They can’t go abroad because they can’t get passport. Also, sometimes they can’t get job because of the lack of identification.

There are two opinions about undocumented migrants. One opinion affirms the stay of undocumented migrants because they contribute to the development of the country as one people. Also, these migrants didn’t commit a crime. They were just brought by parents. The other opinion denies the stay of undocumented migrants because they increase the country’s burden of social security. Also, admitting the stay of undocumented migrant would promote the illegal immigration.

The U.S. president Obama is the former. He declared “DREAM act” which helps undocumented migrants. This law admits less than 30 year-old undocumented migrants who were brought by parents when they were less than 16 years old. They have to be enrolled or graduated from high school in the US, and also they mustn’t have been arrested. If this law is carried out, these undocumented migrants won’t be forced repatriation in two years.

I agree with “DREAM act”, because these migrants should be admitted as American. In Japan, there are many Korean residents. After the WWII, many Korean people smuggle themselves into Japan to escape from the fires of the Korean War. Their descendants go to Japanese school, and grow up as Japanese. I have many such friend, however, I can’t distinguish whether they are Korean or not until they tell it to me because they are totally Japanese. I think environment where they grow is the most important matter when we think about identity, because people can grow up only by being influenced by the environment. They learn their language, common sense, culture, and behavior by the environment. Only the environment can makes people’s character. Therefore, even if the parents are illegal migrants, their children shouldn’t treat as illegal, and they should be given the right to reside.