There are both positive and negative aspects to the large number of immigrants entering the United States. The impact is significant in many areas of society. This leads to a variety of opinions on this topic. The current influx is especially great and diverse such that it requires special attention. .
The large number of immigrants entering the United States impacts the culture of the country in many ways. One way the immigrant influx changes this country is with their language. People born in other countries often do not speak English and those that do speak English usually do not speak it as their mother tongue. A trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles will quickly illustrate that Spanish is now a very common language in California.
Immigrants also change the culture of the United States by changing eating habits. A family from Japan would eat more rice and fish, whereas a Mongolian family would eat a diet of fatty meats. As the composition of the country changes, the availability and dietary traditions change with it. For example, Mexican food is much more available in Northern California today than it was 20 years ago. .
There are also significant economic implications of great numbers of immigrants entering this country. New people mean a larger workforce. This increase in the labor pool is beneficial for labor-intensive industries like farming, food service or computer assembly. A larger workforce is synonymous with an increase in the supply of labor. Given the same amount of demand for labor, the price of labor will fall. Falling labor costs are beneficial for employers. However, a larger workforce causing negative pressure on wages also affects workers. Workers will not make as much money as they would have with a smaller workforce.
The economic impact of immigration is not limited purely to its effects on the labor pool. The educational system is strained by immigration.
