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Nicole J Moncada
PSY213-03 Race and Ethnic Relations
Professor Sweatte
Due February 22,2017
PAPER 1: Immigration and Welfare
Immigration and welfare has been a controversial topic due to the way the economy has
been set up. Many individuals come to America in order to get a better life for their family but,
due to the economic status, they end up in welfare in one way or another. When you think
about immigration, you think Mexican coming across the border not only to take our jobs but,
as well our welfares by having so many kids that we pay from our taxes. Sadly, we do not realize
that many turn to welfare to the inability to maintain their family. Especially, if the constitutions
mention if you are a citizen, no one can deny you for your main benefits. Meanwhile, there are
many Americans who play the system who play the system due to them being lazy while others
have no choice but, turn to the government for help.
According to DuBois, there is a relation with race being related to jobs and wage
competition. Many of those are undocumented tend to find jobs that are off the books in
addition to them receiving low pay without no benefits. He says “Birth began to count for less
and less and America became to the world a land of opportunity” (Dubois, 17). America is
known to be the land of the free but, we are not really free due to the different laws that
causes us to perform a certain way. The laws would limit certain race like the Blacks, Latinos
and any colored race but, it would lead to profit those non-colored. Especially, seeing one race
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superior than others for profit. When it comes to immigrants, people automatically see all
Latinos as Mexico, Muslims that came from Iraq but, fail to realize we are all one race.
As DuBois says “America is largely composed of foreign immigrants, and the new
American capitalism the basis upon which the new wealth was to be divided” (20). The reason
why America is so diverse is because many migrated from their country whether it was for job,
running away from violence, or the government. It may be another reason but, regardless, they
arrive to America with the hope they would do better but, fail at times. He also says
“immigrants were thrown in difficult and exasperating competition with black workers, their
attitudes changed (DuBois,18). Already the blacks were trying to fight their way up the ladder
to get to where white individuals stand at. However, it becomes more difficult due to more
