...and countless studies and debates can prove both sides of the argument. There are skilled versus unskilled migrants, educated versus uneducated, migrants from rich western nations as opposed to poorer asian and african nations and the list can go on.
I think most of our current reaction is simply knee-jerk. We are at the bottom of the barrel, as maybe Saras pointed out, we are at the short end of the stick right now, naturally we are reacting negatively (mostly) and complaining how things are so bad for us. Then we compare the US to Aust, Canada, UK etc etc.
What we do forget is that no other country in the world accepts over a million legal immigrants each year, and several thousand illegals who sneak in, because a life lived in shadows here in still far better than a life lived within the bounds of law in their own countries.
What we fail to remember is that in no other rich country do immigrants, be it east europeans, south asians, brazilians etc. do so remarkably well in the long run. The wealth accumulated, the professional opportunities afforded, the bright future prospects provided to progeny is unparalled in "ANY" other country that accepts immigrants like the United States does. At least, that's the reality of things today. Will the US continue to be the mecca of golden opportunity forever, no one can predict.
Retrogression sucks, this seemingly endless wait sucks, but it's a better "sucks" than a poor, unskilled migrant worker toiling in the fields of Florida, getting exploited at $3/hr, with no permanent dwelling, no health insurance, no future prospects for him or his children. There are countless indians too working menial jobs in hotels, gas stations, some with even undergradute degrees, and they are very "grateful" to be here. And will do anything to do continue to stay here, even break a few laws in the process.
The laws may be broke but is it not the prerogative of the citizens and law-makers of this nation to fix them. Is it akin to a few Americans saying that India should be more lenient and open it's borders for Bangladeshi and Nepali migrants, skilled or otherwise?
First-generation Immigrants are always "OUTSIDERS" and it takes several generations for them to establish deep roots in their new countries. It is not too unreasonable to expect a certain level of resistance and reluctance on the part of host countries in giving you the "privilege" of staying here. To quote an old saying, "it's the horse that goes to the well, not the other way around". We came here out of our own free will. Period.
This discussion is good and healthy and must continue for each one of us to better understand what it means to be an immigrant, and to be an immigrant stuck in a long wait of retrogression, but without gaining some objectivity in our perception, we will continue to react subjectively and consider it a bane to be caught in this process. Frankly, my expectations are not so high of USCIS, nor do I think that I am guaranteed a green card in the 11 years that I have been here. If it comes, wonderful, if not, well, life will go on...with few regrets.
