Is America Still a Melting Pot?

Growing public opinion surrounding the national borders of the United States has fueled debates in the nation's capital by politicians demanding stricter enforcement of border patrol and regulation. The topic of immigration is under scrutiny as the national threat of terrorist attacks from unfriendly nations rocked the world in the early days of the twenty first century. Since the attack of September 11, 2001 legislation regarding the nation's borders has been on the forefront of political leaders' minds throughout the nation. The requirements of naturalization for legal and illegal aliens residing in the United States have been tightened as the terror threat continues to loom over the country.

Those that live and work in the United States after fleeing another country are finding it increasingly difficult to be granted visas and legal resident status because of government crackdowns along the borders. Once the gateway to America for immigrants entering the country through New York harbor, immigration lawyers in New York are assisting foreign nationals to gain permission to remain in the United States legally. People of Middle Eastern descent are especially concerned about issues of deportation or possible imprisonment based on their ethnic backgrounds.

Immigration attorneys in New York are fighting the government to allow peace abiding foreign nationals the opportunity to become naturalized citizens of the United States. The immigration process already includes a thorough background investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that includes a fingerprint verification of everyone filing for legal residency and naturalization status. Once nicknamed the melting pot, has America closed the doors on the tired, the poor, and the huddled masses yearning to breathe free?

Berd and Klauss, PLLC (http://www.berdklauss.com) is an immigration attorney in New York The firm represents clients that require an immigration lawyer in New York. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.