Immigration Unit wrap up Unit wrap up

What we know about immigration  We have discussed how immigration legislation affects the movement of peoples.  We have read second-hand accounts of the immigrant experience.  We have discussed how immigration legislation affects the movement of peoples.  We have read second-hand accounts of the immigrant experience.

What we want to know about immigration  What factors influence U.S. immigration laws?  How are American values and ideologies reflected/affected by the country’s relationship with immigration?  How can we better understand the immigrant experience?  What factors influence U.S. immigration laws?  How are American values and ideologies reflected/affected by the country’s relationship with immigration?  How can we better understand the immigrant experience?

Exploratory Questions  How does a person’s status in the dominant culture affect his or her immigration experience?  What is the difference between the English colonizers of this country and immigrants today?  How do immigration laws serve to exacerbate power differentiation between peoples?  How do race and class drive immigration policy and the movement of peoples?  How does a person’s status in the dominant culture affect his or her immigration experience?  What is the difference between the English colonizers of this country and immigrants today?  How do immigration laws serve to exacerbate power differentiation between peoples?  How do race and class drive immigration policy and the movement of peoples?

Immigration Act of 1924  Established a maximum allowance quota for immigrants.  2% of the immigrant group’s U.S. population in the 1890 census would be allowed every year.  Established a maximum allowance quota for immigrants.  2% of the immigrant group’s U.S. population in the 1890 census would be allowed every year.

Why the 1890 Census?  The 1890 Census was taken a year before Southern and Eastern Europeans started immigrating to the U.S. in large numbers.  The 1924 Immigration Act severely curtailed immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.  The 1890 Census was taken a year before Southern and Eastern Europeans started immigrating to the U.S. in large numbers.  The 1924 Immigration Act severely curtailed immigration from Southern and Eastern Europe.

The Asian Exclusion Act  This was just one of many pieces of legislation aimed at ending Asian immigration.  It banned immigration from some Asian countries entirely.  It discouraged immigration from other Asian countries (like Japan) by not allowing land ownership in the U.S.  This was just one of many pieces of legislation aimed at ending Asian immigration.  It banned immigration from some Asian countries entirely.  It discouraged immigration from other Asian countries (like Japan) by not allowing land ownership in the U.S.

Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996  INS no longer has to give refugees fleeing from war and/or torture a hearing. They may simply be turned away.  If an immigrant remains in the U.S. while his or her green card application is being processed--he or she may be barred from returning to the U.S. for a decade or more.  Legal immigrants with minor criminal records are subject to imprisonment without due process upon leaving and entering the U.S.  Anyone petitioning for an relative must make 125% of the federal poverty level.  Access to food stamps, welfare, and other social services is curtailed for legal immigrants and denied to illegal immigrants.  INS no longer has to give refugees fleeing from war and/or torture a hearing. They may simply be turned away.  If an immigrant remains in the U.S. while his or her green card application is being processed--he or she may be barred from returning to the U.S. for a decade or more.  Legal immigrants with minor criminal records are subject to imprisonment without due process upon leaving and entering the U.S.  Anyone petitioning for an relative must make 125% of the federal poverty level.  Access to food stamps, welfare, and other social services is curtailed for legal immigrants and denied to illegal immigrants.

Operation Liberty Shield  A short-lived post September 11th immigration policy.  Asylum seekers from Arab and Muslim countries were to be detained for the duration of their asylum petition proceedings.  A short-lived post September 11th immigration policy.  Asylum seekers from Arab and Muslim countries were to be detained for the duration of their asylum petition proceedings.

Rationale Since its inception, the U.S. has been divided in its sentiments and policies toward immigration. Exploring some aspects of the immigrant experience will personalize an often dehumanized debate. Further, in light of this exploration of immigration, the U.S. creation myth of being a nation of immigrants must be scrutinized. There is a fallacy to this idea of a nation of immigrants considering that the U.S. was already inhabited by Native Americans at the time of its 'discovery.'

Homework Assignment Conduct a community survey to see how residents respond to the following ten statements regarding immigrants. Try to ask at least 3 different people. If possible, try to ask people that are not in your family or close friends. Once you get the answers write a paragraph or two on how your answers compare to those of the people you surveyed. In your reflection be sure to address why you think your responses were similar or different than those of the people you surveyed.  1. There are too many immigrants coming to the United States.  2. The U.S. government should put more Immigration and Naturalization Service border patrol agents on the border with Mexico.  3. Illegal immigrants take away jobs from U.S. citizens.  4. U.S. immigration policy has been fair to all groups entering the U.S.  5. If a country is having economic problems, the U.S. should allow its residents to come here for a better life.  6. Immigration has helped the United States.  7. Having a variety of cultures and languages in America benefits everyone.  8. Most immigrants come to the U.S. just to get on welfare.  9. Everyone who comes to the U.S. should be required to learn English.  10. If a country is having political problems, the U.S. should allow persecuted citizens from this country to seek asylum here. Conduct a community survey to see how residents respond to the following ten statements regarding immigrants. Try to ask at least 3 different people. If possible, try to ask people that are not in your family or close friends. Once you get the answers write a paragraph or two on how your answers compare to those of the people you surveyed. In your reflection be sure to address why you think your responses were similar or different than those of the people you surveyed.  1. There are too many immigrants coming to the United States.  2. The U.S. government should put more Immigration and Naturalization Service border patrol agents on the border with Mexico.  3. Illegal immigrants take away jobs from U.S. citizens.  4. U.S. immigration policy has been fair to all groups entering the U.S.  5. If a country is having economic problems, the U.S. should allow its residents to come here for a better life.  6. Immigration has helped the United States.  7. Having a variety of cultures and languages in America benefits everyone.  8. Most immigrants come to the U.S. just to get on welfare.  9. Everyone who comes to the U.S. should be required to learn English.  10. If a country is having political problems, the U.S. should allow persecuted citizens from this country to seek asylum here.