Over the years the United States has been called a nation of immigrants. The fact that it is a melting pot for so many different cultures, races, and religions makes the nation quite unique in the world. Asian Americans, Cuban-Americans, European-Americans, African-Americans, and Mexican-Americans all of different backgrounds, and different cultures, but still all united by the fact that when the hyphen is eliminated they are all considered Americans. For more than 300 years, various ethnic, cultural, and social groups have come to the shores of the United States for a multiplicity of reasons. Some have come to reunite with their loved ones, others to seek economic opportunity, and still many more to find a haven from religious and political persecution. With them, they bring their hopes, their dreams, and, in turn, contribute, enrich, and energize America.

Less than one million immigrants arrive in the United States each year. Of these, 700,000 enter as lawful permanent residents an

Family-sponsored immigrants enter as either immediate relatives-spouses, unmarried minor children, parents- of United States' citizens, or through the family preference system, for relatives of permanent residents and siblings of U.S. citizens. While there are unlimited numbers of visas issued for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, INS data shows that only around 235,000 visas have been issued annually in this category in recent years. The family preference system is far more restrictive and limits the number of visas issued in its four categories to a total of 226,000 per year. Additionally, the waiting period for a visa can be very long. For example, a sibling of a U.S. citizen who applies today to immigrate to this country could get a visa 30 years from now. Consequently, it is easy to see that family reunification is the cornerstone of our legal immigration policy. It is truly one of the most visible areas in government policy in which the nation support and strengthen!

Spruell, Sakina, Ed., "Crossing the Border," Black Enterprise, October 2000, p. 19

Within recent years, while the country is complaining of no available jobs, businesses are citing that their biggest problem is the inability to find skilled labor. Firms claim that anyone with the necessary skills can find a competitive career in America, but very few Americans are as motivated to acquire these skills as those individuals overseas, and the U.S. is encouraging these workers to continue to gain education and training and to get American dollars.

Legal immigration to the United States totals approximately 800,000 per year. Family-sponsored immigrants total 480,000 each year. These immigrants are: Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens (no numerical limit, approximately 220,000 to 240,000 per year); Unmarried Adult Children of U.S. Citizens (23,400); Spouses and Children of Lawful Permanent Residents (87,900); Unmarried Adult Children of Lawful Permanent Residents (26,300); Married Adult Children of U.S. Citizens (23,400); Brothers and Sisters of U.S. Citizens (65,000) Employment-based immigrants total 140,000 each year. These are primarily skilled professionals with exceptional ability and other priority workers, immigrating to jobs for which U.S. Department of Labor has certified that no qualified U.S. worker is available. Diversity immigrants total 55,000 per year under the present lottery system that makes immigrant visas available to nationals from "under subscr!

Experts say that without sufficient numbers of high skilled workers, businesses will be forced to out source jobs overseas or cease expanding, productivity will erode and economic growth will be adversely affected. Immigrant workers have altered American life and their contributions were, and still are, significant to the economic growth of our nation. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the proportion of immigrants employed in the U.S. is at the highest level in seven decades. Experts believe that immigrants are expected to continue to spread throughout the U.S. economy and their impact will intensify in coming years.

Some common words found in the essay are:
United States', America Americans, Baloney Besides, United Compared, African-Americans Mexican-Americans, Labor Statistics, Texas--only York, Commerce Department, Vietnam United, Silicon Valley, foreign workers, developing nations, permanent residents, skilled workers, immigrants total, skilled foreign workers, skilled foreign, lawful permanent, visas issued, highly educated, legal immigration, lawful permanent residents, former soviet union, family preference system, adult children citizens,
Approximate Word count = 3143
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)