America has always welcomed onto its shores people who have arrived in pursuit of the "American dream", irrespective of their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, financial status or nationality; and assimilated them into its society.
Until a few decades ago this movement of people was a migration - from a home country to a host country - with little, if any, interaction between those who migrated and those who stayed back. To a large extent, it can be argued, that the interaction was limited to the sending of remittances back home. With advances in the areas of transport and communication, migrants nowadays not only travel back and forth, and maintain constant touch with their families, but also play a more active part in the social, political and economic fields of both countries, than was ever possible before. What does this duality augur for the U.S.? How does the immigrant population, which is growing rapidly, affect life socially, economically and politically?
Research has shown that immigration is rapidly changing the face of American cities. Immigrants prefer urban locations to rural areas when starting a new life; better opportunities for
employment, education and health-care being their primary concern. Analysis of census data released in August 2006 for the Western cities of Phoenix, Tucson and Denver has confirmed that the non--Hispanic white population has indeed dropped to less than 50 percent. The changes are apparent: schools have to cope with children who do not speak English natively; politicians are recognizing the importance of the non-White population. The area's economy has received a boost because of the immigrants, and the local White population is benefiting from it. Quite understandably, the question of racism has, and will continue, to raise its ugly head in these circumstances, but the economic benefits and the good will of the American people, have so far, out-manoeuvred such stumbling blocks.
With contemporary migration, urban life will benefit economically as it did years before. However, change in political and social atmosphere is imminent as politicians and policymakers try to woo and represent the vast multitude of the foreign born population; which stood at about 12 percent of the total population in 2004.
Furthermore, people are no longer confined to a nation-state; they transcend national borders. Conventional methods to address the concerns of contemporary immigrants cannot be used; owing to transnational identities. Policies that are made under the assumption that people will conform to the ideas and ideals of just one country, can prove to be counter-productive; not
only to the lives of the immigrants but also to the "well-being" of the nation. Resisting this inevitable change is futile; instead what she suggests is to face this challenge head--on, and to convert what looks as "threatening" the American way of life, into its strength. Ideals of democracy, equality and freedom that America has always stood for, can be transported across borders while reaping economic benefits in return. America can proclaim without consternation even today: "... Give me your tired, your poor, / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free ..."
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