Recent ImmigrationRecent Immigration

Current IssuesCurrent Issues

FactsFacts

• In proportion to population, In proportion to population, immigration is low in the USimmigration is low in the US

• Most illegal immigrants enter Most illegal immigrants enter legally, but overstay their visaslegally, but overstay their visas

• US has multiple melting pots US has multiple melting pots defined by regiondefined by region

• Recent immigration wave began in Recent immigration wave began in 19651965

Hart-Cellar Act of 1965Hart-Cellar Act of 1965

• Repealed national origins quotas Repealed national origins quotas enacted in the 1920’s.enacted in the 1920’s.

• The US no longer allowed only certain The US no longer allowed only certain numbers of people from each country numbers of people from each country to enter the USto enter the US

• Allowed family reunification and Allowed family reunification and highly skilled individuals to immigratehighly skilled individuals to immigrate

• >18 million immigrants have entered >18 million immigrants have entered since this lawsince this law

www.parkridgecenter.org

Immigrants of the last 20 Immigrants of the last 20 yearsyears

• Eastern EuropeansEastern Europeans• Middle EasternersMiddle Easterners• AfricansAfricans• Caribbeans Caribbeans • MexicansMexicans• South AmericansSouth Americans• CanadiansCanadians

www.thepetersoninstitute.org

Why do they comeWhy do they come

• War in their homelandWar in their homeland• FamineFamine• Seeking opportunitySeeking opportunity

• HealthHealth• WagesWages• Standard of livingStandard of living

www.cis.org

Struggles of Recent Struggles of Recent ImmigrantsImmigrants

www.thepetersoninstitute.org

Additional StrugglesAdditional Struggles• Learning EnglishLearning English• Finding well-paying jobsFinding well-paying jobs• Getting an educationGetting an education• Racism/discriminationRacism/discrimination• Keeping tradition/cultureKeeping tradition/culture• Becoming permanent citizensBecoming permanent citizens• Understanding the lawUnderstanding the law• HousingHousing• Suitable healthcareSuitable healthcare

Localities’ StrugglesLocalities’ Struggles

• Providing to more people with the Providing to more people with the same tax $ or slightly more (with same tax $ or slightly more (with illegal immigrants)illegal immigrants)

• Curbing hate crime/discriminationCurbing hate crime/discrimination• Surges in population with an aging Surges in population with an aging

infrastructureinfrastructure• Schools unprepared to deal with ESL Schools unprepared to deal with ESL

studentsstudents

National StrugglesNational Struggles• Deporting or evicting those whose visas Deporting or evicting those whose visas

have expiredhave expired• Preventing terrorist attacksPreventing terrorist attacks

• Patrolling borders for illegalsPatrolling borders for illegals• Fences?Fences?• Night patrolNight patrol• Citizen vigilantesCitizen vigilantes

• Human TraffickingHuman Trafficking• Identity TheftIdentity Theft• Public assistance fraudPublic assistance fraud• Racism/discrimination/hate crimesRacism/discrimination/hate crimes