Immigration reform

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Immigration reform is the common term used in political discussions regarding changes to immigration policy.

In a certain sense, reform can be general enough to include promoted, expanded, or open immigration, but in reality discussions of reform often deal with the aspect of reducing or eliminating immigration altogether. In that sense, reform typically refers to a wide spectrum of viewpoints which may include anti-immigration and immigration reduction. However, the term is also widely used to describe proposals to increase legal immigration while descreasing illegal immigration, such as the guest worker proposal supported by George W. Bush.

In the United States, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, NumbersUSA, and Congressman Tom Tancredo are examples of those using the term who support reduced immigration numbers. Senator John McCain, Congressman Chris Cannon, and the National Immigration Forum are examples of those who use the term to describe their proposals for reforming immigration policies by increasing the number of people legally admitted into the country.

Issues influencing immigration policy

Wealthy nations may act as magnets that attract people, usually seeking work, to their borders. In the view of some people, this migration creates shifts in the ethnic balance of a nation that make indigenous people sense a threat to their stability and way of life.

Societies commonly have systems of social benefits and privileges for their citizens. If social benefits originally offered exclusively to citizens are extended to include undocumented or illegal immigrants, there may be a perceived social injustice as to the balance of benefits given to different members of society.

On the other hand, the wealth of strong societies may often be based in unbalanced and marginalizing attitudes toward foreign governments and citizens. The very notion of concentrated wealth (and hence concentrated power) is often dependent upon what some see as unjust acts and procedures — those who hold this view see the influx of immigration from impoverished to wealthy nations as the natural consequence of concentrated power. These theories tend to coincide with the political agenda of politicians favoring a transnational view of socialism as opposed to political leaders who place a greater emphasis on promoting national identity.

Others view corporations looking for low-wage labor as a primary factor influencing immigration policy, particularly in regard to the enforcement (or lack thereof) of employment laws, including minimum wage laws and laws against hiring illegal immigrants.

Immigration reform

Issues influencing immigration policy

See also