The ideologies of racism and nativism affect people through racially motivated hate crimes and the overall humane treatment of immigrants and foreigners today, and must be changed by first and foremost changing the anti-immigration attitudes in America America. The social structures of politics and laws affect both immigrants and US citizens and can only be changed by reforming the US immigration system. Racial prejudice and nativism are still social issues that define our current reality and affect us all. Every day, immigrants to America find themselves victims of hate crimes such as genocide because of their race and ethnicity (Wong 2). Genocide, “the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political, or cultural group,” manifests itself in racial crimes of every degree in America (Merriam-Webster 1). Of the 6,216 single-bias hate crime incidents reported in 2011, 46.9% were racially motivated and 11.6% resulted from ethnicity/national origin bias (FBI 1). Racial crimes are a major problem in America today and will only get worse over time if they are not stopped and changed. The very ideologies of racism and nativism must be changed to change the mindset and actions of most Americans. The structural issues and obstacles to racism cannot be expected to change without first changing the attitudes of the American people. As a nation we must start from the heart and center of immigration problems and find a way to rid our nation of this anti-immigration thinking. Instead of viewing immigration as “bad for our country” and as “a threat to the America we know today,” we as Americans must understand that immigration primarily serves to benefit and improve the country's already destitute economy. our country and that immigrants add a further contribution. ..... middle of paper ...... The FBI December 10, 2012. The FBI Web. December 6, 2013.Legrain, Philippe and Myers, Joanne. “Immigrants: your country needs them”. Carnegie Council on Ethics in International Affairs. 2013. Web. Carnegie Council. Network. December 6, 2013.Marcotte, Amanda. “The Arizona law affects more people than undocumented immigrants.” Slate.com. nd The Slate Group. Network. December 6, 2013.Merriam-Webster. "Genocide." Merriam Webster. 2013. Merriam-Webster. Network. December 6, 2013.Wong, Jessica. “Racism in America has not disappeared.” The Herald Sun. 29 October 2013. The Herald Sun.Web. December 6 2013.