Xenophobia In America

If thought about rationally, building a wall across the Mexican border presents itself with many flaws. Especially since by building this wall, we would be repeating history. Dynasties within China, built The Great Wall, to protect themselves from invasion. Nevertheless, the opposing forces always found a way around. So why would people want to build this wall? Xenophobia is the reason why people jump to these irrational decisions. Xenophobia is the intense dislike or fear of foreigners which brought me to realize why Americans want immigrants to leave and the close the borders, no matter what the cost. But, in all reality, the wall will symbolize nationalism and ethnocentrism, which stems from yet again, Xenophobia.
Xenophobia is not just
Europeans, and others nationals, who came to America, moved relatively freely and in great numbers until the early 1900s . The Quota Act, in 1921, established a new system of national origin restrictions, favoring European immigrants over other countries. In 1924, the Johnson-Reed Act created the U.S. Border Patrol. Non-White immigrants were able to become naturalized citizens starting in 1952, where White immigrants have had the privilege since 1790 . Immigration in the '40s and '50s was influenced by prejudices against German descent and “communists”. Xenophobia is often associated with economic and political instability. Economic imbalance pulls individuals toward countries with hopes of higher earnings or for survival, whereas political, economic, and cultural tensions can push many toward new lands. The country where individuals are migrating toward can cause nationals to feel threatened and even cause fears of diminished economic resources, and diminished political influence. Scholars from both western Europe and the United States indicated that foreigners are often targeted as convenient scapegoats during difficult cultural and economic