ImmigrationImmigration

Statue of LibertyStatue of Liberty

““give us your tired, your poor, give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”breathe free.”

Immigration restrictions: 1800’sImmigration restrictions: 1800’s ““paupers, ex-convicts, mental paupers, ex-convicts, mental

defectives and Chinese”defectives and Chinese” 18 million new citizens came in and 18 million new citizens came in and

U.S. became a “melting pot”U.S. became a “melting pot”

Currently brings in 1 million new Currently brings in 1 million new residents a yearresidents a year

More than 1 in 10 U.S residents are More than 1 in 10 U.S residents are immigrantsimmigrants

1890-1910 it had been 15% 1890-1910 it had been 15% population population

Most new immigrants come from Most new immigrants come from Latin America and AsiaLatin America and Asia

Will fundamentally change America Will fundamentally change America (like it did in the early 1900’s)(like it did in the early 1900’s)

How close is Immigration and How close is Immigration and Naturalization Service guarding Naturalization Service guarding nation’s borders?nation’s borders?

3 of the 19 hijackers from Sept 11 3 of the 19 hijackers from Sept 11 attacks were here in the U.S. with attacks were here in the U.S. with expired visasexpired visas

Other 16 were able to roam country Other 16 were able to roam country at will even though they should have at will even though they should have raised suspicionsraised suspicions

2 were on a “watch list”2 were on a “watch list”

After 9/11 immigration regulations After 9/11 immigration regulations were looked at to try to combat were looked at to try to combat domestic terrorismdomestic terrorism

Government tired to bolster border Government tired to bolster border security, detain young Middle security, detain young Middle Eastern men for questioning and Eastern men for questioning and deportation on immigation violationsdeportation on immigation violations

Was it fair to immediately focus Was it fair to immediately focus suspicion on immigrants? Did the suspicion on immigrants? Did the detention of young Middle Eastern detention of young Middle Eastern men amount to racial profiling?men amount to racial profiling?

Immigration Act of 1965Immigration Act of 1965 Emphasis on reuniting families and Emphasis on reuniting families and

granting asylum to refugees, favoring granting asylum to refugees, favoring immigrants with desired job skills immigrants with desired job skills and ending the longstanding and ending the longstanding preference for Western Europeanspreference for Western Europeans

Increased rate of legal immigration: Increased rate of legal immigration: 297,000 in 1965 to 850,000 in 2000297,000 in 1965 to 850,000 in 2000

Prior to 1965, 9 out of 10 legal Prior to 1965, 9 out of 10 legal immigrants to the U.S. were from immigrants to the U.S. were from Europe or CanadaEurope or Canada

More than half come from Asia or More than half come from Asia or Mexico nowMexico now

Figures don’t include rate of illegal Figures don’t include rate of illegal immigrationimmigration

At least 275,000 a year are illegalAt least 275,000 a year are illegal Some say illegal immigrants exact a Some say illegal immigrants exact a

high cost on society without making a high cost on society without making a contributioncontribution

Others say illegal immigrants take jobs Others say illegal immigrants take jobs many Americans don’t want, urban many Americans don’t want, urban areas and agricultural statesareas and agricultural states

Now, the concern is not about how Now, the concern is not about how many immigrants are in the country, many immigrants are in the country, but about whether those immigrants but about whether those immigrants are being properly screenare being properly screen

Illegal Immigration Reform and Illegal Immigration Reform and Responsibility Act of 1996: restricted Responsibility Act of 1996: restricted benefits for illegal benefits, raised benefits for illegal benefits, raised income requirements for those who income requirements for those who sponsor, doubled Border Patrol agentssponsor, doubled Border Patrol agents

1996 Welfare reform law: excluded 1996 Welfare reform law: excluded legal immigrants from many federal legal immigrants from many federal benefits, such as food stamps and benefits, such as food stamps and Supplemental Security Income for the Supplemental Security Income for the disableddisabled

State governments were in control of State governments were in control of whether legal immigrants could receive whether legal immigrants could receive welfare and Medicaidwelfare and Medicaid

Disability and food stamps benefits Disability and food stamps benefits were restored to some legal immigrants were restored to some legal immigrants who were in the U.S. before 1996who were in the U.S. before 1996

Every state but Wyoming is permitting Every state but Wyoming is permitting immigrants to get Medicaid after a 5 immigrants to get Medicaid after a 5 year waiting periodyear waiting period

Every state but Alabama is Every state but Alabama is permitting immigrants who arrived permitting immigrants who arrived before 1996 to get welfarebefore 1996 to get welfare

Bush proposed restoring food stamp Bush proposed restoring food stamp benefits for an estimated 363,000 low benefits for an estimated 363,000 low income legal immigrants who have income legal immigrants who have been in the U.S. for at least 5 yearsbeen in the U.S. for at least 5 years

California’s Proposition 187, passed by California’s Proposition 187, passed by voters in 1994, would have denied voters in 1994, would have denied almost all benefits to illegal almost all benefits to illegal immigrants, including public educationimmigrants, including public education

Many of the restrictions were Many of the restrictions were overturned in court, state officials overturned in court, state officials eventually dropped their appealseventually dropped their appeals

Most Americans (63%) think majority Most Americans (63%) think majority of immigrants came here illegally of immigrants came here illegally

Half of American say the country is too Half of American say the country is too open to immigrantsopen to immigrants

Since Sept 11, there has been an Since Sept 11, there has been an increase in the number who want to increase in the number who want to reduce immigrationreduce immigration

58% want a reduction in immigration58% want a reduction in immigration We don’t know if this is a long term We don’t know if this is a long term

shift in attitudes or a short term shift in attitudes or a short term reaction to the shock of the terrorist reaction to the shock of the terrorist attacksattacks

Most Americans say they support Most Americans say they support detaining noncitizens indefinitely without detaining noncitizens indefinitely without charging them with a crime if they are charging them with a crime if they are believed to be a threat to national securitybelieved to be a threat to national security

86% say government is justified in 86% say government is justified in detaining immigrants who had overstayed detaining immigrants who had overstayed their visas or violated immigration lawtheir visas or violated immigration law

Perspective 1Perspective 1

Honor our commitment to Honor our commitment to newcomersnewcomers

Nation of immigrantsNation of immigrants Makes us different from so many Makes us different from so many

other societiesother societies Obligation to welcome newcomersObligation to welcome newcomers

Humanitarian concern and our Humanitarian concern and our commitment to the plight of refugeescommitment to the plight of refugees

Benefits from immigrationBenefits from immigration Hard working immigrants start Hard working immigrants start

businesses, create jobs, help businesses, create jobs, help economy groweconomy grow

Enrich America with arts, traditions, Enrich America with arts, traditions, and languagesand languages

US has always gained more by US has always gained more by immigration than we have lost, no immigration than we have lost, no reason to think that will changereason to think that will change

Maintain legal immigration at current Maintain legal immigration at current levelslevels

Give “guest worker” visas to illegal Give “guest worker” visas to illegal immigrants who have jobsimmigrants who have jobs

Keep native languages and customs if Keep native languages and customs if they choose tothey choose to

Continue to be a refuge for Continue to be a refuge for individuals who face political individuals who face political oppression in their home countriesoppression in their home countries

Ensure that all legal immigrants get Ensure that all legal immigrants get the benefits that come with the benefits that come with citizenshipcitizenship

Argument for ApproachArgument for Approach

Cultural and economic benefit we get Cultural and economic benefit we get from immigrants more than outweigh from immigrants more than outweigh the short-term coststhe short-term costs

Decency ought to require us to take Decency ought to require us to take in people feeling political and social in people feeling political and social persecutionpersecution

Immigrants are highly motivatedImmigrants are highly motivated

Concern about language and culture Concern about language and culture are overblownare overblown

We’ve always had ethnic We’ve always had ethnic neighborhoods and people who cling neighborhoods and people who cling to their home language- America has to their home language- America has coped with this before and we can do coped with this before and we can do so againso again

Argument Against This Argument Against This ApproachApproach

Our first obligation is to provide jobs Our first obligation is to provide jobs and social services for people already and social services for people already living in this country. We cannot living in this country. We cannot afford to help everyone who want to afford to help everyone who want to come.come.

In the past, large waves of In the past, large waves of immigration were followed by period immigration were followed by period where the rules were tightened up. where the rules were tightened up. We need a breathing space to absorb We need a breathing space to absorb the immigrants we already have.the immigrants we already have.

Sept. 11 shows that we need better Sept. 11 shows that we need better border security. border security.

Amnesty programs reward people for Amnesty programs reward people for breaking the law. That’s not only a breaking the law. That’s not only a bad precedent, it’s also an insult to bad precedent, it’s also an insult to the many immigrants who followed the many immigrants who followed the rules and went through the red the rules and went through the red tape to get here legally.tape to get here legally.

Perspective 2Perspective 2 Cutting back to preserve our security Cutting back to preserve our security

and cultureand culture Tighten visa requirements. Increase Tighten visa requirements. Increase

funding to improve border security, funding to improve border security, upgrade computers, and hire upgrade computers, and hire immigration agents.immigration agents.

Sharply reduce legal immigration, Sharply reduce legal immigration, including student and word visas. including student and word visas. Accept only as many immigrants as Accept only as many immigrants as can be checked out by authorities. can be checked out by authorities.

Reform bilingual education and Reform bilingual education and require immigrant students to learn require immigrant students to learn English as quickly as possibleEnglish as quickly as possible

Deport immigrants who commit Deport immigrants who commit crimes in the U.S. and pursue illegal crimes in the U.S. and pursue illegal immigrants more aggressivelyimmigrants more aggressively

Arguments for this ApproachArguments for this Approach

In an age of terrorism, we cannot allow In an age of terrorism, we cannot allow lax immigration policy that allows lax immigration policy that allows terrorists to enter the country terrorists to enter the country unchallengedunchallenged

We can’t keep allowing more We can’t keep allowing more immigrants in than authorities can check immigrants in than authorities can check out, or more than we can integrate into out, or more than we can integrate into societysociety

Most countries insist that immigrants Most countries insist that immigrants enter the culture mainstream by enter the culture mainstream by learning their languagelearning their language

If trends continue, English will no If trends continue, English will no longer be our common language. longer be our common language. Without a common language, the U.S. Without a common language, the U.S. will fracture into separate cultureswill fracture into separate cultures

Arguments Against This Arguments Against This ApproachApproach

Historically, there have always been Historically, there have always been dire predictions that immigrants are dire predictions that immigrants are too different and won’t integrate into too different and won’t integrate into society- they were wrong before and society- they were wrong before and they’re wrong nowthey’re wrong now

Experience shows that while some Experience shows that while some first generation immigrants don’t first generation immigrants don’t master English, the second master English, the second generation is almost always fluent generation is almost always fluent and Americanizedand Americanized

This favors white Europeans and This favors white Europeans and excludes the rest of the worldexcludes the rest of the world

This punishes the vast majority of This punishes the vast majority of immigrants, who only want a better immigrants, who only want a better life, out of fear of a few radicals and life, out of fear of a few radicals and terroriststerrorists

Perspective 3Perspective 3

Cutting back in response to economic Cutting back in response to economic realitiesrealities

Concern should be economic cost Concern should be economic cost imposed by the huge influx of imposed by the huge influx of immigrants and their effects on immigrants and their effects on wages and jobswages and jobs

We need to educate and employ the We need to educate and employ the people we have here already before people we have here already before we can worry about paying for the we can worry about paying for the education, welfare, and health care of education, welfare, and health care of hundreds of thousands of newcomers hundreds of thousands of newcomers each yeareach year

Burden isn’t spread evenly- most Burden isn’t spread evenly- most immigrants settle in big cities and immigrants settle in big cities and Sun Belt statesSun Belt states

Should restrict the number of Should restrict the number of newcomers, and look more closely at newcomers, and look more closely at how their arrival affects ushow their arrival affects us

The immigrants we do accept should The immigrants we do accept should either have jobs waiting here or have either have jobs waiting here or have the skills to support themselvesthe skills to support themselves

Nation’s first obligation is to protect Nation’s first obligation is to protect the welfare and well being of those the welfare and well being of those who are already American citizenswho are already American citizens

Cut the total number of legal Cut the total number of legal immigrantsimmigrants

Accept immigrants only if they can Accept immigrants only if they can support themselves heresupport themselves here

Favor newcomers who either have Favor newcomers who either have useful skills or who are willing to useful skills or who are willing to take jobs Americans don’t wanttake jobs Americans don’t want

Require sponsors of legal immigrants Require sponsors of legal immigrants to earn substantially more than to earn substantially more than poverty level wagespoverty level wages

Grant political asylum only to Grant political asylum only to individuals who can prove that they individuals who can prove that they face persecutionface persecution

Arguments for this ApproachArguments for this Approach Influx is straining public schools, Influx is straining public schools,

hospitals, and over serviceshospitals, and over services Many Americans are struggling Many Americans are struggling

economically- the government should not economically- the government should not make things worse by inviting immigrants make things worse by inviting immigrants to compete for jobsto compete for jobs

Take care of our citizens first- in public Take care of our citizens first- in public services, jobs, and educationservices, jobs, and education

Arguments Against This Arguments Against This ApproachApproach

Immigrants open businesses, create jobs, Immigrants open businesses, create jobs, and bring needed skills to U.S. companiesand bring needed skills to U.S. companies

Relatively few immigrants receive public Relatively few immigrants receive public assistanceassistance

Legal immigrants pay taxes. They ought Legal immigrants pay taxes. They ought to be able to benefit from the public to be able to benefit from the public services their taxes pay for.services their taxes pay for.

Many immigrants are working in Many immigrants are working in menial low-wage jobs that native-menial low-wage jobs that native-born Americans shun. They’re not born Americans shun. They’re not depriving anyone of work.depriving anyone of work.

Today:Today:

DREAM: Development, Relief, and DREAM: Development, Relief, and Education for Alien MinorsEducation for Alien Minors

This bill would provide conditional This bill would provide conditional permanent residency to certain illegal permanent residency to certain illegal aliens of good moral character who aliens of good moral character who graduate from U.S. high schools, graduate from U.S. high schools, arrived in the United States as minors, arrived in the United States as minors, and lived in the country continuously and lived in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's for at least five years prior to the bill's enactmentenactment..

If they were to complete two years in If they were to complete two years in the military or two years at a four-the military or two years at a four-year institution of year institution of higher learning, , they would obtain temporary they would obtain temporary residency for a six-year period.residency for a six-year period.

Within the six-year period, they may qualify Within the six-year period, they may qualify if they have "acquired a degree from an if they have "acquired a degree from an institution of higher education in the United institution of higher education in the United States or has completed at least 2 years, in States or has completed at least 2 years, in good standing, in a program for a bachelor's good standing, in a program for a bachelor's degree or higher degree in the United degree or higher degree in the United States" or have "served in the armed States" or have "served in the armed services for at least 2 years and, if services for at least 2 years and, if discharged, has received an honorable discharged, has received an honorable discharge”discharge”

Military enlistment contracts require Military enlistment contracts require an eight-year commitment, with an eight-year commitment, with active duty commitments typically active duty commitments typically between four and six years, but as between four and six years, but as low as two years.low as two years.

"Any alien whose permanent resident status is "Any alien whose permanent resident status is terminated... shall return to the immigration terminated... shall return to the immigration status the alien had immediately prior to status the alien had immediately prior to receiving conditional permanent resident status receiving conditional permanent resident status under this Act."under this Act."[6][6] This bill would have This bill would have included illegal immigrants as old as 35 years included illegal immigrants as old as 35 years of ageof age

Criticism/SupportCriticism/Support

Opponents of the DREAM Act argue Opponents of the DREAM Act argue that it is an amnesty that encourages that it is an amnesty that encourages more illegal immigration and rewards more illegal immigration and rewards immigrants.immigrants.

They also claim that the act will cause social They also claim that the act will cause social and economic burdens such as taxpayers and economic burdens such as taxpayers paying for immigrants’ education, paying for immigrants’ education, diminishing both college admissions of diminishing both college admissions of native born students and opportunities of native born students and opportunities of federal aid. Many also claim that if the federal aid. Many also claim that if the DREAM Act is approved it would not have DREAM Act is approved it would not have provisions to provide proof for students who provisions to provide proof for students who are qualified.are qualified.

Advocates of the DREAM Act claim it Advocates of the DREAM Act claim it will benefit the country in numerous will benefit the country in numerous ways. It will make the country more ways. It will make the country more competitive in the global economy competitive in the global economy while at the same time having while at the same time having economic benefits by reducing the economic benefits by reducing the deficit and increasing government deficit and increasing government revenues.revenues.

]] The act would help universities by increasing The act would help universities by increasing their revenues since more students will be their revenues since more students will be enrolling yet it will not affect the admission rates enrolling yet it will not affect the admission rates of native-born students since 10 states already of native-born students since 10 states already allow in-state tuition and many have done so in allow in-state tuition and many have done so in community colleges.community colleges.[43][43] Taxpayers will not pay Taxpayers will not pay for these students to attend universities because for these students to attend universities because they will not be able to receive federal grants, they will not be able to receive federal grants, they would only be qualified for federal student they would only be qualified for federal student loans.loans.

Arizona SB 1070Arizona SB 1070

Going to the Supreme Court to be Going to the Supreme Court to be decideddecided

The The Support Our Law Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods ActNeighborhoods Act

(introduced as (introduced as Arizona Senate Bill 1070Arizona Senate Bill 1070 and thus often referred to simply as and thus often referred to simply as Arizona Arizona SB 1070SB 1070) is a legislative Act in the U.S. state ) is a legislative Act in the U.S. state of Arizona that at the time of passage was of Arizona that at the time of passage was the broadest and strictest anti-illegal the broadest and strictest anti-illegal immigration measure in recent U.S. history. immigration measure in recent U.S. history. It has received national and international It has received national and international attention and has spurred considerable attention and has spurred considerable controversy.controversy.

The Arizona Act additionally makes it a The Arizona Act additionally makes it a state misdemeanor crime for an alien to state misdemeanor crime for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying the be in Arizona without carrying the required documents,required documents,[8][8] requires that state requires that state law enforcement officers attempt to law enforcement officers attempt to determine an individual's immigration determine an individual's immigration status during a "lawful stop, detention or status during a "lawful stop, detention or arrest" when there is reasonable suspicion arrest" when there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is an illegal immigrant,that the individual is an illegal immigrant,

bars state or local officials or agencies bars state or local officials or agencies from restricting enforcement of from restricting enforcement of federal immigration laws, and cracks federal immigration laws, and cracks down on those sheltering, hiring and down on those sheltering, hiring and transporting illegal aliens. The transporting illegal aliens. The paragraph on intent in the legislation paragraph on intent in the legislation says it embodies an "attrition through says it embodies an "attrition through enforcement" doctrine.enforcement" doctrine.

Critics of the legislation say it Critics of the legislation say it encourages racial profiling, while encourages racial profiling, while supporters say the law prohibits the supporters say the law prohibits the use of race as the sole basis for use of race as the sole basis for investigating immigration status.investigating immigration status.[14][14] The law was modified by Arizona The law was modified by Arizona House Bill 2162 within a week of its House Bill 2162 within a week of its signing with the goal of addressing signing with the goal of addressing some of these concerns. some of these concerns.

There have been protests in There have been protests in opposition to the law in over 70 U.S. opposition to the law in over 70 U.S. cities, including boycotts and calls cities, including boycotts and calls for boycotts of Arizona.for boycotts of Arizona. Polling has Polling has found the law to have majority found the law to have majority support in Arizona and nationwide.support in Arizona and nationwide.

Passage of the measure has prompted Passage of the measure has prompted other states to consider adopting other states to consider adopting similar legislation.similar legislation.