Policy Brief Assignment
“Policy Brief: Problems and Sufferings of Houston’s Diverse Immigrant Population Due to rapid Changing in the Policy Landscape.”
Summary
The policy brief paper focuses on the growing population in the Houston metropolitan area. The population of Houston is highly diverse. About 1.6 million Immigrants exist in the Houston metropolitan area, and most of them are high-skilled professionals. People come to this region to study and work. International students intend to settle here and become a working-class family. However, people in this area suffered due to the shift in the policy landscape. In 2017, Latino people were found to be emerging more than non-Hispanic people in the area. Apart from it, Asian and African people are also found in more numbers. It is analyzed that Mexico and Houston became the hub for foreigners. In this paper, it will be discussed that how diverse immigrant population creates an impact on economic growth, as far as a change in the policy landscape is concerned.
Introduction
Trump administration has come up with different policies. It has been revealed that the Houston population is affected by this change in policy. Due to the policy change, natives are also moving, which shows the phenomenon of domestic migration. The growing population of the U.S. born people is also found to be in the limelight. New policies of Trump are separating families at the border. Due to some national security concerns, these policies are made by the trump administration. However, American nationals are facing problems as well. Owing to domestic growth decline, the contribution of natives in the economic growth is not up to the mark. Thus, policy change focuses on Legal Services, collaboration, and assistance to keep the balance in both international and domestic mobility [1].
Focusing on the population and socioeconomic characteristics, increasing foreign-born population is a major concern for the government. On the other hand, people are facing issues in Harris County, for Instance, family distance has been increased because people are not able to meet with each other. Some people are not able to meet their family. People from Austin, Chambers, Liberty, Waller, Colorado Brazoria, Galveston, and Wharton are facing issues because they are unemployed, separated, and have got asylum. 30 percent population in the Houston is comprised of foreign-born immigrants. These people are also struggling due to limited resources. The Houston’s population has hampered the accomplishment of Houston’s economy. The increasing population is creating hurdles in the economic growth and development process. International students are getting employed and are preferred in organizations due to their lower bargaining power. With the increase in the population and new immigrant’s inflow, the Houston economy is getting sluggish as well [2].
Thesis Statement: Houston’s Diverse Immigrant Population has become a major concern due to increasing numbers of illegal immigrants and demand for cheap labor in organization due to illegal immigrants.
Impact on the Economic Force
Issues may emerge in the future if policies are not effectively focused. The need for fulfilling Houston’s labor demands is quite visible. Organizations need to have an efficient labor force. It seems to possess a dual benefit, for Instance, companies can get effective labor and people can earn successfully as well. It is also evident that this triggers the economic aspect. With the increasing Houston economic growth, unauthorized or illegal people are quite visible. People from foreign countries may have unauthorized status, but still, they are working in Houston at lower rates. There are also the non-citizens with legal status. Moreover, 30 percent of the workers in the country work in different sections. For example, people of Houston are working in the sport sector and waste management, fishing and hunting, food services and many non-public administration services, etc. Therefore, the growth regarding the economic aspect is examined. Houston’s immigrant population has evidently hampered the success of Houston’s economy.
Figure 1: Labor force participation [3]
Problem Definition
New policies are creating an impact on local people and immigrants who are living in Houston. In recent years, immigration to the United States has become a topic of significant debate. However, through analyzing the role of immigrants, discussion on the benefit and problems that are faced by the labor market in the country is often ignored and should be initiated. The families are separated due to Mexico border management practices and Trump’s policies. Zero-tolerance has been used when implementing these strategies.
There are immigrants in the Houston, which are getting the legal services. There are some other immigrants, who want to increase the income level and enhance the career development. On the other hand, through focusing on the national immigration policy, it is known that the change in policy is affecting immigrant. Due to change in policy, foreigners are affected as compared to natives. In the new state law, it is stated that immigrants will be managed by federal agencies. Houston financial development has expanded through inclusions of the foreigners. Workers have been living for a decade here, and it is the responsibility of the federal agencies to facilitate these people through the perfect allocation of resources. American kids are facing the risk of deportation. Some communities are distressed because they are facing issues due to unexpected changes in the policy. In Mexico and Houston, settlers are populaces [4].
Figure 2: Unauthorized population in Houston [5]
Alternatives
Houston’s diverse immigrant population is facing issues because of rapid changes made in the policy. Separation, unemployment, and asylum are some prominent issues for these people. In Houston, there are immigrants or foreign-born populations, therefore, two different policies which are being implemented by the Trump administration. These suggestions are strategies of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiaries and asylum seekers. Rights should be given to everyone because equality is the right of every human being whether it is an immigrant or Native American. Employment rules and job skills should be fair for everyone if one has a green card [6]. These policies are recommended because Trump policies have been quite controversial in the country. These policies are not appropriate for families who have settled in the region.
The communities are facing constant worries due to controversial changes in the policy as families are separated at the Mexico border. According to the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), various migrant children in the United States come from Central America and Mexico. However, UNHCR is managing them so that they might not be treated badly. Thus, new policies should address these concerns, and basic rights be provided to these children, for example, DACA must be provided to these children [7].
DACA Recipients
In the paper, there is a discussion on the growth of the economic strength, DACA beneficiaries, asylum seekers and people that have the temporary protected status. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) needs to be implemented for separated families. It can provide benefits and regulate immigrants in the region. Children can receive the deferred action, and it may help them to get citizenship. Also, some terms and conditions should be applied to regulate these people in the region, if some national security concerns are present. People who have the legal status in the country also need safety and security. These rights must be protected under DACA like Obama administration program. There is a need to avoid deportation so that there may not be uncertain outcomes. Immigration policies need to be supported because these efforts would result in many benefits for Houston. DACA programs should be implemented according to the updates of the CBO’s. It is apparent that immigration policies and immigration laws focus strict enforcement in the United States as compared to previous years [8].
However, some disadvantages are also in the limelight. Maximum children can be brought in the United States legally. The two-year residencne renewable period may be used by agents to let people stay in the country. Obama announced that this policy required an intention to expand, however, for the DACA, President Trump has rescinded the expansion because he was aware of the increasing population or immigrants in the country. He knew potential threats to the economy due to the increase in the population [9].
Asylum Seekers
There are advantages due to legally defined refugees under the asylum in the U.S. Moreover, proper recognition of the refugee status is visible. More applicants must prove to belong to a particular social group. There can be disadvantages for the Asylum seekers as the country may face tensions. The country may be unable to control the situation due to some private actors. Many people in the country can be sent back, because of legal complications. It is necessary to regulate the whole process to control the asylum process as well.
However, 80,000 people are in search of or need of legal status and asylum in the Houston area. Governmental policies are not supportive. US-born children need the legal status. Therefore, the government needs to make supportive policies about the asylum and status of immigrants. The research focuses on the Cubans and Venezuelans, and it is found that asylum seeking group is the fastest-growing groups in the Houston region. It is needed to note that about 30% of all asylum seekers get legal status in the country through USCIS and EOIR in recent years [10].
In 2016, about 33 percent of the naturalized citizens and almost 32 percent of them were legally permanent in the country. The rest of them were illegal. Thus, people who are not legal or have non-immigrant visas are suffering from the effective implementation of new policies. These policies are not in support of these people. In the immigrant population, it is found that people are getting education and learning English. Thus, people are improving themselves to settle in the region. It is a fact that the level of English literacy is increasing in the immigrants gradually. This is good sign for undocumented immigrants. However, permanent residents must suffer due to new changing policies [11].
The policy for the Asylum seekers needs to be implemented strictly to eliminate problems. Moreover, the Annual Asylum is beneficial.
Recommendations
It is recommended that policies should be changed for the immigrants because existing policies do not provide benefits to Houston economy. The creation of new jobs are indispensable, which could be noticed in the year 2017-18. It is also noticeable that the future of new immigrants is not bright due to the lack of supportive policies for them.
Unlike Houston, no other metro area is getting much economic success. So, the country on the whole or Houston needs to promote the policies to support the immigrant in state, otherwise, some difficulties may have to face with the increasing demand of labor. Regulating family members and children in this region is highly recommended. It is a fact that these supportive policies are also support asylum and immigrant status. Therefore, the government must provide assistance to asylum to get legal status of immigrants. The safety and security of immigrants are highly recommended as it is needed to enhance the visibility of protection. People must be protected under DACA like Obama administration program. People, which have the legal status and are immigrants in the country, must be supported by DACA protection.
It has been observed that recent government has narrowed the chances for asylum seekers because of some uncertain reasons. 27,000 cases are potentially affected or are pending with the Houston asylum office. However, through focusing on the status, immigration court may decide to enhance Trump administration benefits. These benefits are necessary to justify the support for Temporary Protected Status. It may protect people from deportation, and they might be given work permits as well.
The law enforcement agents must pay attention on these aspects, as Trump policies are not favorable for the immigrant. In Houston, immigrants, who are contacting the agencies for seeking help, are expecting to get the legal protection. There is a need to support educational funding and sensible immigration reform, which can help the country to meet modern economic needs to boost economic growth. The most important thing is to identify possible benefits for the economy and welfare of the country. These benefits must be focused on the policy-making process as things are necessary for American-born citizens.
Bibliography
[1] Hauslohner, Abigail, and Andrew Ba Tran. “How Trump is changing the face of legal immigration.” Washington Post. July 2, 2018. Accessed November 8, 2018. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/
how-trump-is-changing-the-face-of-legal-immigration/2018/07/02/477c78b2-65da-11e8-99d2-0d678ec08c2f_story.html?utm_term=.1d712b3b9941.
[2] Capps, Randy, and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto. “A Profile of Houston’s Diverse Immigrant Population in a Rapidly Changing Policy Landscape.” Migration Policy. September 2018. Accessed November 8, 2018. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/
profile-houston-immigrant-population-changing-policy-landscape
[3] Capps, Randy, and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto. “A Profile of Houston’s Diverse Immigrant Population in a Rapidly Changing Policy Landscape.” Migration Policy. September 2018. Accessed November 8, 2018. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/
profile-houston-immigrant-population-changing-policy-landscape
[4] Felter, Claire. “U.S. Temporary Foreign Worker Programs”. CFR. May 30, 2017. Accessed November 8, 2018. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-temporary-foreign-worker-programs.
[5] Capps, Randy, and Ariel G. Ruiz Soto. “A Profile of Houston’s Diverse Immigrant Population in a Rapidly Changing Policy Landscape.” Migration Policy. September 2018. Accessed November 8, 2018. https://www.migrationpolicy.org/research/
profile-houston-immigrant-population-changing-policy-landscape.
[6] Vargas, Jose Antonio. “Not Legal Not Leaving.” Content.Time. June 25, 2012. Accessed November 8. http://content.time.com/time/subscriber
/article/0,33009,2117243-4,00.html.
[7] UNHCR. Ch 1: Children on the run: Unaccompanied children leaving Central America and Mexico and the need for international protection. New York: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2014.
[8] Cbo.gov. “Immigration Policy in the United States: An Update.” CBO. December 3, 2010. Accessed November 8. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/21921.
[9] Sarapo, Emma. 2018. What Asylum Means For The U.S. And The Central American Migrants Who Want It. November 2. Accessed November 8, 2018. https://psmag.com/news/what-asylum-means-for-the-u-s-and-the-central-american-migrants-who-want-it.
[10] Wasem, Ruth Ellen. Asylum and “Credible Fear” Issues in U.S. Immigration Policy. Congressional Research Service, 2011.
[11] Ordonez, Franco. 2018. Trump says he will hold asylum seekers from Central America in massive tent cities. November 1. Accessed November 8, 2018. https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/policy/
immigration/article220982805.html.
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