Immigration

History

Current System

Backlash

Other Issues/Proposals

The modern Period

• 1965 Immigration Act- Not based on race or ethnicity

- priority given to family reunification

• The new boom--3rd world immigration- air travel, chain sponsorship

- 1986 IRCA granted amnesty for 3 million here illegally

- Today an estimated 12 million in the country illegally

Current System

• Types of legal immigration:- Family sponsored (for Green Card only

spouse or child)- Student or Employment based- Refugee/Asylee—“reasonable fear of

persecution for ethnic, cultural, religious reasons”

- Other—“Diversity Lottery”, etc.

Post 9/11

Is immigration (still) good for the country?

• costs: schools, medical, courts, police, etc.

• benefits: provide labor, pay many taxes, reinvigorate cities

• objection: new immigrants not assimilating like old--a permanent foreign underclass, especially given “new economy”

• defense: are assimilating

Backlash

• English as Official Language- Since 1980s 16 states and several municipalities passed

Official Language laws, ban bilingual ed and services

• 1994 Prop 187- denying illegal immigrants state-funded education and

non-emergency medical care

- thrown out by the courts

Other issues

• Drivers licenses- permitted in four states

• Matricular IDs- granted by foreign countries’ consulates

- accepted as valid in a dozen states, some cities

• Voting- a history of non-citizen voting

- NY and LA allow it for school boards

Proposals before Congress• House version:• Criminalize as a felony illegal immigration

• Penalties for assisting, or hiring

• Expand border patrol and build 700 mile wall

• No path to legal status from within US

• Senate version:• Illegal immigrants (and new immigrants) would be eligible for a new

temporary guest worker program if they:

• Pass a criminal background check

• Pay $1000 fine for illegal entry

• After 6 years of steady employment, can apply for a green card