The Last Word: Quiz Monday FrontPage: Research Qs on your desk. What image or picture comes to mind when you think of “immigration”? The Last Word: Quiz Monday

A Nation of Immigrants Immigrants and Aliens

A Nation of Immigrants What is the purpose of the Statue of Liberty? What is the meaning of the following inscription found on Ellis Island? The New Colossus Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. "Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

A Land of Immigrants? Why is the United States often considered a “land of immigrants”? So, where are Americans from?

Where do most legal immigrants come from ** Where do most legal immigrants come from? Origin of Legal Immigrants to the US (2006)

Getting into the US Need a visa to gain entrance into the US 2 types: Immigrant visa: if you want to stay here permanently Non-immigrant visa: if you are just visiting Need a “Green Card” to stay permanently “Permanent Residency Card”; not really green

A Land of Immigrants? How have immigrants often been treated throughout the history of the United States? Is this true today?

There is a great deal of controversy over the issue of immigration in the US today…

Some Statistics The US admits approximately 900,000 legal immigrants (permanent residents) every year (900,000 is .3% of the US population). The State Department issues 5 million visas authorizing temporary admission to the US. The criteria for admission for permanent residence is much more stringent than for temporary visitors. US population is 300 million

Foreign Born Population

Mexico China Philippines India Vietnam Cuba Korea Total Foreign Born Top Ten Foreign Countries - Foreign Born Population Among U.S. Immigrants 2010 2010, % Mexico 9,600,000 23.7% China 1,900,000 4.7% Philippines 1,700,000 4.2% India 1,610,000 4.0% Vietnam 1,200,000 3.0% Cuba 1,100,000 2.7% Korea 880,000 2.2% Total Foreign Born 40,500,000 Historical Data from 2000 U.S. Census and 2004 Yearbook of Immigrant Statistics

The goals of current immigration policy To reunite families by admitting immigrants who already have family members living in the US To admit workers in occupations with a strong demand for labor To provide a refuge for people who face the risk of political, racial, or religious persecution in their home countries To provide admission to people from a diverse set of countries Note that they were more focused on workers than on families.

Why is there Illegal Immigration? Pathways of legal immigration are slow and costly: significant backlogs at USCIS. Under the category of unskilled workers in shortage areas, there is a cap of only 10,000 green cards annually. Citizens and LPRs often wait several years for relatives’ petitions to be processed. Then after petitions are processed, the relatives wait for a visa. Siblings of US citizens are waiting 12 years. Unmarried adult sons and daughters of US citizens who filed petitions five years ago are now eligible for visas. Prospective LPRs from the Philippines face the most substantial waiting times; consular officers are now considering the petitions of the brothers and sisters of US citizens from the Philippines who filed more than 22 years ago. Delays have increased with 9/11 and greater security concerns (more background checks).

Number of Illegals (est.)

Origin of Illegal Immigrants

Which areas are most Hispanic?

FrontPage: Discuss the cartoon and question at your table. Artist Dain Fagerholm creates these stereographic GIF drawings that are simply amazing. Homework: Citizenship/Immigration quiz Monday

What does this cartoon say about immigration and the history of America?

What does this cartoon say about our attitude towards immigration today?

And this?

And what does this say about American attitudes towards immigration?

Current Issues in Immigration Who gets in legally and why/how many? 4-12 million illegals; what to do? Path to citizenship or path back home Should we try to stop the flow? Increased border patrol? Border fence? “Virtual” border fence? Open border? How will these increased security measures be funded? “Guest-workers” and illegals working in the US; Help or hurt the economy? Guest Worker: someone who travels (legally or illegally) to another country for a specified time to work and does not necessarily intend to stay How urgent is this problem? Is American security impacted by immigration or are there other issues that are more important?

Everyone Agrees the System is Broken As is…. But What to Do to Fix It? Congress is currently debating more than a dozen proposals to alter or overhaul US immigration policy

The Last Word/FrontPage What symbol/statue would you create for the US/Mexican border to send an immigration message? Should the US still support that message on the Statue of Liberty?