Since its creation the United States of America has been a nation without one ethnicity, religion, or race to bind all of its citizens together in unity. Throughout the course of history it has been dubbed "the melting pot," because it is a nation where immigrants from all over the world are forced to integrate creating a constant mix of all different nationalities (Trausch 12). Mark Krug, a writer for Newsweek, points out that the US "melting pot" is still on the burner with immigrants, now many from Mexico and Puerto Rico, pouring into America everyday (3). The steady influx of immigrants into this country is due to their dreams of a better life for them and their descendants in America and as a way to escape the dreadful hardships experienced in their native land. However, for most of these immigrants their anticipations of greater opportunity in the "promised land" are far different then the realities they encounter when they come to America.
             When The United States of America was first established most of the world saw it as a refuge for lost souls struggling with poverty and wishing for a second-chance of happiness, or In many cases, a chance of survival. The Statue of Liberty at the opening of New York's harbor was meant to be a monument symbolizing welcome to all people of the world. For example, Emma Lazarus, describing the Statue of Liberty, wrote, "From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame" (5). In addition, George Washington proclaimed in 1783 that the "bosom of America is open to receive not only the opulent and respectable stranger, but the oppressed and persecuted of all nations and religions" (Levey 8).
             During America's first century as a nation it stayed true to the words of its forefather and accepted people of all nationalities able to reach the country (levey 8). However, as time passed America's "world-wide welcome" slowly ca
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