The Influence of Immigration Upon the Foreign Policy and National Security of the United States

The relationship between the immigration to the US, foreign policy and national security is described in this essay. There is an assumption that the primary interest of the United States is its national security and that the ultimate goal of the foreign policy of the US. is to promote its national security This essay outlines different ways in which immigration has been affected by the national security interests and various approaches of the foreign policy of the US as well as the way in which immigration has affected natonal security issues and foreign policy Before pointing out the ways in which either immigration affects or has been affected by national security it is crucial to understand what is generally meant by national security The initial difficulty in determining whether immigration the US constitutes a threat to national security is determining what constitutes national security, Terms such as 'national interest' and 'national security' do not have an international meaning upon which everybody agrees.

The term 'security' covers a range of goals so wide that highly divergent policies can be interpreted as politics of security. Traditional notions of national security are represented by theorists such as Hans Jr Morgenthau for whom the national interest is composed of two elements, one that is logically required and in that sense necessary, and one that is variable and determined by circumstances. The survival of the state is the necessary element of national interest and the minimum requirements of the national interest are the integrity of the nation’s territory, its political institutions, and its culture. it was the theory of national security which was prevailing during the Cold War period. Since the 1980s and accelerating with the end of the Cold Warithe content of national security concerns has expanded from the traditional focus on military threats to borders and governments to include nonmilitary sources of security.

An example of this more expansive notion is advanced by Richard Ullman who considers as a threat to a security of a state any actions or events that 'threaten significantly to narrow the range of policy choices available to the government of a state or to private, non-governmental entities (persons, groups, corporations) within the state' . In a similar way, the United Nations Security Council has acknowledged that threats to international peace and security can come from nonmilitary sources of instability in the economic, social, humanitarian, and ecological fields and that such conflicts fall within the Security Council's sphere of action. The United Nations Organisation also called for election monitoring, human rights verification, and repatriation of refugees as integral parts of the efforts of the Security Council in order to maintain international peace and security.

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According to the traditional sense, immigration can be a threat to traditional ideas of national security even if one concludes it has not yet posed such a threat to the United States, And some scholars and politicians argue that this is true, They see immigration as a threat to the language and culture which destroys the sense of nationhood, Others believe that immigrants are an economic threat that takes jobs from US, citizens and imposes prohibitive costs by their use of social services. Furthermore, others draw a relationship between immigration and terrorism or increased crime rates. On the other hand, contrary to the opinions mentioned above, some do anyway argue that immigration supports or makes national security stronger and more resistant Access to talent in a properly regulated immigration system strengthens American resources in science and the humanities.

Examples abound of American-immigrant Nobel laureates, renowned inventors, business leaders, and scientists who have made immeasurable contributions to the prosperity of the United States. For example, the admission of scientists escaping from Germany and ltaly before World War 11 let the United States become the first country which started producing atomic weapons and it gave the country a distinct advantage in nuclear research. Highly-skilled immigrants supply talented workers for America's world-class medical establishment, engineering sector, and higher education. These immigrants enhance the research and development capacity of US firms and bring foreign language skills, contacts, knowledge, and experience that appear to offer a unique advantage in a global business community Strong immigrant support for family values strengthens and reinvigorates American values.

Immigrants often play important and visible roles at the highest levels of the US. military and federal and local government. Renowned immigrant artists, performers, and athletes strengthen and diversify cultural institutions. The United States has been the world's largest multiethnic and multicultural society, successfully integrating new immigrants from diverse heritages. Myron Weiner identified five broad categories in which refugees or migrants might be perceived as either a threat or a benefit to the sending country, to the receiving country, or to relations between the two. The first category is opposition to home country's government. When refugees and migrants are opposed to the regime of their home country, they can threaten relations between sending and receiving countries in several ways. A host country's decision to grant asylum based on a finding that a fear of persecution exists may be treated by the home country as interference in its affairs.

Obviously, when a host country actively supports a refugee group's efforts to overthrow the homeland government tensions certainly become even bigger. However, whether the national security of the host state is threatened depends on the abilities of the home country to respond against the host. For example, although the Cuban government may object to the opposition activities of Cuban-Americans, Cuba lacks the ability to pose a credible threat to US. national security. Nevertheless, the activities of migrants still can create foreign policy problems for host countries, even if those problems do not pose a threat to national security. On the other hand, immigration from hostile nations also can advance US. national security, immigrants from these countries can be a valuable source of intelligence, they can use their freedoms here to publicize repressive or discriminatory practices at home, and they can fundraise and supply opposition political movements supported by the United States and in the extreme case.

Immigrants also can strengthen America's political and economic ties with other nations. The knowledge they bring with them and their ties to their home country increase the ability of the United States to understand other countries and cultures. The second category identified by Weiner is perception of migrants or refugees as a political threat or security threat to the regime of the host country. And such events as the terroristic attacks of the World Trade Centre in September 2001 are a very good example here, Different American politicians and legislators sound quite similar concerning this matter. For example, once Kennedy pointed out that 'a clear sign of the crisis in illegal immigration is that we have lost control over the process for removing illegal, and especially, criminal aliens from the United States.’

The United States, like any other host country, will remain vulnerable to reprisals (such as terrorist attacks) from sending countries who believe that the United States is too supportive of opposition political groups Terrorist attacks also may be a response to US foreign policy actions, such as support for a particular country, economic embargo, or military action, Immigrant groups also may pose a security threat to host countries by smuggling arms or people, forming alliances with domestic opposition groups, or participating in drug trafficking When a host country arms refugees for their struggle against the home country, they create risks that the refugees may seek to dictate the host country’s policies toward the sending country or invite armed intervention from the sending country. Another threat is the smuggling of aliens into a country. Not only is the smuggling illegal, but those smuggled in often are also forced to endure abusive living and working conditions while they, and or their friends and relatives, attempt to pay smugglers’ fees.

The third category is a cultural threat or, on the contrary, contribution A violation of the norms of the host country may be regarded as a threat to basic values and a threat to national security. How a host community defines itself and how they decide who can be admitted into the community will determine the rights and privileges of those permitted to enter and whether the host culture regards a migrant community as potential citizens. These host country norms often are reflected in a state’s citizenship laws, those based on jus sanguinis, citizenship based on that of the parents, regardless of place of birth andjus soli, citizenship based on place of birth. The United States recognises both the jus soli and jus sanguinis doctrines. Thus, United States citizenship may be acquired by either birth or naturalization.

Persons born there become citizens automatically; in most situations a child born abroad to US citizens also is considered a US citizen UtSt naturalization law requires applicants to demonstrate knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and form of government and swear an oath of allegiance, thus political knowledge and loyalty are sufficient norms for citizenship. This is a valuable method of assimilating new immigrants as it requires a conscious choice and effort for immigrants to obtain US. citizenship. Regardless of the manner in which citizenship is obtained, most societies react with alarm when they perceive that there are too many immigrants who do not share the culture and national identity of the host population. The United States has suffered from this perception periodically throughout its history. Racist theories held that certain nationalities were culturally inassimilable and racially inferior.

While more refined, much of the criticism of current US, immigration is based on the perception of a cultural threat, Perception of a cultural threat to national security has led to proposed constitutional amendments that would deny citizenship to those born in the United States to noncitizens. These arguments ignore the ability of United States culture and society to assimilate large numbers of people from diverse countries of origin Despite past fears concerning the effects of immigration on the social fabric of the United States, few socioeconomic differences now separate the descendants of immigrants from Europe. With the convergence of socioeconomic status across generations, most immigrants disperse from the ethnic neighborhoods where they first tend to settle and integrate with the overall population. Residential movements have parallels in intermarriage among immigrant groups.

Today, the descendants of immigrants from various European countries and of various religions, once so distinct they were referred to as races, have intermarried to such an extent as to Virtually erase differences in education, income, and occupation. Much the same is true concerning English language ability. Proponents of the cultural threat to national security believe that the sense of nationhood is lost when people do not speak a common language. Language becomes a symbol and serves as a means of communication and also 'a means of communion', The contributions of immigrants to various aspects of American culture are too numerous to mention. In painting, sculpture, music, dance, scholarship, fashion, popular entertainment, and sports, immigrants have brought elements of their own culture and have embraced, reinterpreted, and reinvigorated American culture to produce a product which although uniquely American in its formation, has near-universal appeal, American music, film, and fashion have become increasingly popular throughout the world as they exalt American values in a context readily understandable to people all over the planet.

Residents of the United States can listen to music such as salsa and reggae and enjoy scores of different cuisines. The presence of the culture of immigrants expands the recreational and leisure activities available to United States citizens and enhances our knowledge and appreciation of other cultures and peoples. Ultimately, this enhances the ability of Americans to communicate, travel, and conduct business abroad, enriching us socially and economically Most immigrants come to the United States with a commitment to the American values of liberty, democracy, and equal opportunity. The United States has united immigrants and their descendants into the most successful multiethnic nation in history, In turn, core American values are strengthened by the inclusion into the society of people who, in many cases, made great sacrifices in pursuit of these ideals.

The fourth category is a social or economic burden or contribution, Migrants might be perceived as a social or economic burden because of the fiscal costs they impose or because of their purported social behavior, such as criminality or welfare dependency. Societies may fear that the number of people entering are so numerous that they will create a substantial economic burden by straining housing, education, and transportation facilities In advanced industrial societies, services provided by the welfare state to newcomers may generate resentment On the other hand, the National Research Council study has also found out that immigration produces net economic gains for domestic residents Immigrants increase the supply of labor and help produce new goods and services. However, as they are paid less than the total value of these new goods and services, domestic workers as a group gain.

Nevertheless, there may be losers as well as gainers among different groups of US. residents, Along with immigrants, the gainers are owners of productive factors that are complementary with the labor of immigrants whose incomes will rise. Consumers who buy goods and services produced by immigrant labor also benefit. The losers may be less-skilled domestic workers who compete with immigrants and whose wages will fall. The fifth category identified by Weiner is the holding of migrants as hostages, creating risks for the sending country, It is also important to give insight into the relationship between immigration, foreign policy and national security, Immigration, foreign policy, and US, national security are closely interconnected immigration policy could be changed according to circumstances, but always with the larger goal of advancing US national security Foreign policy often has used immigration as a tool to advance US. national security.

Emigration from communist enemies was promoted with the goal of destabilizing those countries; it was discouraged from repressive Cold War allies to avoid U.S. association with a country's policies that forced its own people to escape The activities of immigrants also can change perceptions of national security and thus impact foreign policy US foreign policy also can unintentionally cause migratory movements; alternatively, migratory movements can affect foreign policy by creating humanitarian crises that require a response or national security threats resulting from large numbers of migrants arriving in a short period of time, The most prominent examples of US foreign policy—induced migratory movements occurred during the Cold War era.

To advance the national security goal of preventing the spread of communism, US. intelligence services engaged in a campaign to encourage defections from behind the Iron Curtain as a means of destabilizing communist regimes. In the 19505, the Voice of America's extensive coverage of stories of escape and consistent contrasting of the horrors of life behind the Iron Curtain to the attractions of the West was at least partially responsible for the continuing movement of escapees into the West. Similarly, the United States encouraged emigration from Cuba as an essential part of a much broader set of U.S, policies that sought first to roll back and then to prevent the spread of the Cuban Revolution United States policies toward immigration from Cuba demonstrate that immigration policy depends on the perception of its effect upon us. national security. During the Cold War, when preventing the spread of communism from Cuba into the Western Hemisphere was a primary foreign policy goal, Cuban emigration was encouraged Cubans arriving in the United States were automatically treated as refugees and enthusiastically welcomed.

With the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Cuban economy, and the inability of Cuba to export revolution to countries adopting free market economic policies and democratic political reforms, Cuban immigration is not viewed as a national security concern However, not all migratory movements caused or contributed to by US. foreign policy actions are by design. Generally, migrant flows occasioned by US. the foreign policy was accidental reflecting a historic lack of attention to migration from foreign policy makers. United States Central America foreign policies are cited as a cause for emigration. As the dominant foreign actor in Central America for more than one hundred years, the United States intervened militarily on numerous occasions and supported repressive governments.

United States-owned businesses have been dominant in the region, and US trade, aid, and development policies have been instrumental in the area's economic development. Another important foreign policy tool having an impact upon immigration is the United States' symbolic position as the world‘s preeminent immigration country. The immigration tradition of the US, has a privileged place in American myth and national self image that is reflected in the positive image the United States projects abroad of national generosity, attractiveness, and toleration. Not surprisingly, a consequence of this image projected abroad is its magnet effect upon potential migrants throughout the world which certainly has contributed to increased immigration. The effect of immigration on the foreign policy of a receiving country is determined by a number of considerations: if the numbers of immigrants are small or they are otherwise easily assimilated into society, the impacts on the foreign policy of the host country are likely to be small; if immigrants gain entry through the appropriate legal processes, the effect on foreign policy also may be negligible.

However, if the receiving country perceives that either the level of immigration is too high or substantial numbers of immigrants are entering the country outside its legal framework, then an entire range of foreign policies may be implemented to reduce immigration. Unauthorized migration is generally the result of a combination of 'push‘ and 'pull' factors. The pull factors include the prospects of employment and better wages, freedom, physical security, the opportunity for easy remittal of earnings to home countries, and ineffective immigration enforcement Push factors include lack of employment, poor wages and working conditions, separation from family members, civil conflict, and political, social, and religious repression. Policymakers have begun to consider the impact of trade, foreign aid, and investment strategies on push factors of emigration.

However, much remains to be done in this area The role of immigrants and ethnic groups in the foreign policymaking process of the United States has engendered much debate. The idea that the ethnic composition of the United States is critical in the making of its foreign policy was expressed by Nathan Glazer: 'Without too much exaggeration it could be stated that the immigration process is the single most important determinant of American foreign policy This process regulates the ethnic composition of the American electorate. Foreign policy responds to that ethnic composition. It responds to other things as well, but probably first of all to the primal factor of ethnicity. In contrast to this statement, Gerson claims that immigrants and ethnic groups have only a limited impact on the making of US, foreign policy: 'Ethnic pressures on foreign policies, with accompanying claims of success or failure, have led to false beliefs at home and abroad that the policies were based on domestic ethnic considerations.

Seldom, if ever, have major US. foreign policy decisions been affected by purely ethnic considerations.‘  But even if the first idea might indeed sound exaggerated, one cannot deny an enourmous impact of immigration and ethnic groups on making US foreign policy whatsoeverr An examination of particular cases reveals that while ethnic lobbies may influence US foreign policy, several factors constrict such influence An ethnic lobby may have success in the foreign policymaking process when the policy in question affects the homeland of the particular ethnic group, where the issue involved does not threaten US national security, where there is no equally effective lobbying effort against the proposed policy, or where the proposed policy is within the mainstream of overall US. foreign policy. Much has been written about a powerful influence of Greek, Jewish, Mexican, Cuban and other lobbies. Those lobbies have their own structures and are well- financed.

Their success is determined by the fact that their activity and goals are consistent with larger US. foreign policy interests Summing up, whether one subscribes to traditional or modern ideas of national security, it is fair to conclude that under certain circumstances immigration can pose a threat to national security, Immigration is closely interconnected with foreign policy and national security, with each acting upon and being influenced by the other, To advance national security, US. foreign policy has been used to stimulate or inhibit migratory movements. The historical lack of attention by foreign policy decisionmakers to immigration has resulted in unintended migration to the United States. Virtually every type of foreign policy tool - economic, military, trade, or propaganda - has been used at one time or another to respond to concerns arising from immigration.

Immigrants and their descendants attempt to influence US. foreign policy in the same manner as other interest groups. The presence of immigrants in the United States creates situations where foreign governments become involved in attempting to influence US foreign policy and immigration policy either to protect their countrymen in the US. or their national interests that may be advanced by the presence of their nationals in the United States. As advances in travel and communication make migrations increasingly easy, the ramifications of foreign policy decisions upon immigration will need more than ever to become an established part of the foreign policy decisionmaking process. The connections and implications between these issues need more focused attention. Addressing migration concerns effectively requires multilateral approaches and cooperation with international agencies.

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