Immigration continues to be a recognized issue around the world. Some people believe the US should export all immigrants others believe that we should grant amnesty to all immigrants, legal and illegal. That part doesn’t really matter though. What really needs to be addressed is the affect that immigration has on people of all ages, but children most importantly, and how immigration laws will affect them. Every situation is unique and there isn’t a simple solution. Immigration can have both negative and positive effects on children that can ultimately last a lifetime. Being a part of immigration affects children in several ways, physically, emotionally, and mentally.
First, immigration affects children physically. In “Supporting Family Values,” …show more content…
Immigration is usually relatively instable. Unless a child’s parents find jobs immediately, they are often forced to move around quite a bit and this can lead to a lot of stress and mental insecurity. There is so much doubt involved in immigrating to another country and often immigrants aren’t freely welcomed into the new country. People teach their children that different is bad and it is sometimes really difficult for immigrant children entering a new school and new community to figure everything out. In “U.S. Immigration Policy and Family Separation: The Consequences for Children 's Well-being,” Joanna Dreby addresses the mental and emotional affects that immigration has on children. She says that many times the families are split and one or both of the parents stay to work and send the family on without them, or else leave the family at home and go find work in another country. This is the best way that they can support their family but it’s not mentally or physically easy for the kids. Dreby gives examples of children who live with grandparents or other relatives because the parents had to leave the country to find work (248). Many times the children are sad or bitter at their parents for leaving them. They miss their parents and the money isn’t a substitute for a parents love. On the other hand, there is a positive aspect to all of this. Immigration can also have a positive mental effect to children. Yu and Singh point out that immigrant children have “resilience and the academic and socioeconomic success” (2102). Immigration is never easy, but it doesn’t prevent the success of children in school or in the community. Immigration though hard, can build resilience, encourage a good work ethic, and force thriftiness among immigrants, all of which are good qualities for leaders and
First, immigration affects children physically. In “Supporting Family Values,” …show more content…
Immigration is usually relatively instable. Unless a child’s parents find jobs immediately, they are often forced to move around quite a bit and this can lead to a lot of stress and mental insecurity. There is so much doubt involved in immigrating to another country and often immigrants aren’t freely welcomed into the new country. People teach their children that different is bad and it is sometimes really difficult for immigrant children entering a new school and new community to figure everything out. In “U.S. Immigration Policy and Family Separation: The Consequences for Children 's Well-being,” Joanna Dreby addresses the mental and emotional affects that immigration has on children. She says that many times the families are split and one or both of the parents stay to work and send the family on without them, or else leave the family at home and go find work in another country. This is the best way that they can support their family but it’s not mentally or physically easy for the kids. Dreby gives examples of children who live with grandparents or other relatives because the parents had to leave the country to find work (248). Many times the children are sad or bitter at their parents for leaving them. They miss their parents and the money isn’t a substitute for a parents love. On the other hand, there is a positive aspect to all of this. Immigration can also have a positive mental effect to children. Yu and Singh point out that immigrant children have “resilience and the academic and socioeconomic success” (2102). Immigration is never easy, but it doesn’t prevent the success of children in school or in the community. Immigration though hard, can build resilience, encourage a good work ethic, and force thriftiness among immigrants, all of which are good qualities for leaders and