Chasing Dreams: Why Immigrants Flock to the U.S. and What History Tells Us

If there ever was a topic that incited extreme emotions, immigration is one of them. It’s easy to think there is a simple solution if we don’t think through all the reasons it is out of control. Like most things, it is a highly partisan issue because it is consistently reliable for political fundraising. Unfortunately, it comes with a high price to so many people  (literally on “both sides”). 

People are affected mostly through fear - because it is effective. It has an impact on us relative to cost, crime perceptions, our safety net, our food supply, our economy, and so many other issues that need to be considered - not through fear, but through factual and well-intentioned collaboration to find solutions.

So, what are the facts of the issue, and how long have we kicked the can down the road?

Where They Come From

Many come from Guatemala and Honduras. They run from:

• Violence

• Poverty

• Natural disasters

They want a safer, better life in the USA.

Crossing the Mexico Border

It's risky! Some try to sneak in, others ask for help to stay safe. The rules are different for Mexicans compared with immigrants from other countries.

How Long Has This Been a Problem?

People have moved to new countries for a long time. But it became a big deal in the 1980s.

Important Rules in the Last 50 Years

These rules show how different presidents tried to handle immigration. The U.S. is trying to balance safety at the borders with helping people who want to come here for a better life. 

1. Reagan's 1986 Law: Made it okay for some illegal immigrants to stay and work legally.

2. Bush Sr. 's 1990 Act: Let more skilled workers come to the U.S. and made it easier for families to be together.

3. Clinton's 1996 Rule: Made borders stronger and built more fences to keep people from sneaking in.

4. Bush Jr.'s 2002 Plan: After 9/11, made it harder for bad people to enter the country and created a new department to handle immigration.

5. Obama's 2012 DACA: Helped young people who came to the U.S. as kids without papers to stay and work.

6. Trump's 2017 Orders: Tried to build a big wall and made it harder for people from some countries to come to the U.S.

7. Biden's 2021 Changes: Wanted to make it easier for immigrants to become citizens and fix the system.

Why It Matters

Many people risk everything for a better life. Understanding their stories helps us think about how to help them. It also might be a good idea to see our elected officials sit down and work together to uncover some actual comprehensive actions to improve the outcomes for everyone.