U.S. Immigration: History and the Controversy

What?

• Immigration: Moving to a new country to live there permanently

• Emigrant: A person who leaves his or her country to live in another

• INS: (Immigration and Naturalization Service) The government bureau that administers the U.S. immigration policy

What? con’t

• Naturalization: the process by which an alien becomes a citizen

• Refugee: A person who flees to another country for safety

• Quota: A numerical limit on a type or race of people who can come into a country; started in 1924

• Illegal alien: A person who has entered the country in violation of immigration laws

What? Con’t• Green Card: A document authorizing an

alien to work or study in the U.S.

• Legalization: A government process in which an illegal immigrant becomes a legal resident

• Preference System: A system that chooses which immigrants can enter the U.S.

• Non-Immigrant Aliens: Foreign college students & temporary workers in the U.S

Legal U.S. Immigration History

• Northern Europeans: – Ireland, Sweden, Germany,

Norway

• Eastern Europeans: Russians, Jews, Polish

• Southern Europeans: Italians, Greeks, Turks

• Holocaust Victims• Vietnam War Refugees• Today: Mexican, Central/Middle

Americans, Somalians

• Late 1800’s – early 1900’s

• Late 1800’s -early 1900’s

• 1930’s -1940’s• 1940’s• 1960’s – 1970’s• 1980’s - Present

Who When

Legal Immigration to the U.S.

Legal Immigration in the U.S.

Illegal U.S. Immigration History

• Primarily From:– Mexico– Central America

• Cuba• Haiti

– China

* Why these groups?*

• Really started in the 1960’s

Who? When?

Where do Illegal Immigrants Come From?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Mexico Cen Am S. Am SE Asia M East Other

In Percentage

Where, Why, and How LEGALLEGAL Immigration Works

• Land of Opportunity• Freedom• Social Equality• Famine• To escape a

revolution or war

• Get a Green Card

• Take the Citizenship test

Where?Where? Why? Why? How?How?

Immigration Centers

Where, Why, & How ILLEGALILLEGAL immigration works

• Jobs!!!• Reunite with family• Can’t pass the citizenship

test

Migrant worker: travel the country looking for work

* Much cheaper labor!

* Imagine the costs of our food/products without illegal immigrants

• Cross the border at night

• Hire a coyote: a professional smuggler

Where? Why? How?

•Along borders; especially our southern border

•In cargo, from China and Central America

Where Illegal Immigrants Live

05

101520253035404550

CA TX IL FL NY "Rest"

By Percentage

Are there Any Solutions?

• Building a fence along the border- $ 6

billion

• Let the illegal immigrants stay; most do

jobs legal citizens don’t want

• Kick out all illegal immigrants

Assignment

• We have discussed the issue of immigration. On a piece of paper (you will hand it in), write a paragraph paraphrasing the discussion. Include a possible solution (it must be humane!). A paragraph needs to be 5-7 sentences.