9.2: Immigration

Immigration in the United States

Historical Immigration
  • For the first ~century of the US’ existence, any immigrant could become a permanent resident
  • In the late 19th/early 20th century, however, becoming a citizen became more difficult
    • Chinese Exclusion Act (1882): put off entrance of Chinese immigrants for 10 years
    • Immigration Act of 1917 (1917): required immigrants to pass a literacy test
    • Misc. Immigration legislation (1920s): established a quota system, limiting the numbers of immigrants from specific countries
    • Hart-Cellar Act (1965): abolished national origins quota and instituted a system that gave preference to immigrants who had family in the United States or who had job skills
The Guest Worker Program
  • Allows unskilled laborers into the US to complete temporary or seasonal work
    • H-2A program — agricultural work
    • H-2B program — nonagricultural work
  • Workers are systematically exploited and abused
    • Guest workers are often forced to live in crowded and substandard housing
Undocumented Immigration
  • Undocumented immigration: immigrants enter a country without going through legal channels
    • Between 10 and 12 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States and make up 5% of the workforce (~7.8 million workers)
  • Border crossings
    • Some people cross or attempt to cross the U.S.–Mexico border with the help of “coyotes”
    • Coyote: a person who is paid to lead people across the border
    • Nativist extremist group: a group that advocates for restrictive immigration policy and encourage members to use vigilante tactics to confront or harass suspected undocumented immigrants
Immigration Policy
  • Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986): made hiring illegal immigrants an illegal act punishable by fines and even prison sentences
  • The Trump administration implemented at least 400 restrictive policy changes on immigration
    • Many have been/are expected to be overturned
  • Sanctuary city: a jurisdiction that has implemented rules to limit local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration regulations
  • Americans are sharply divided on many issues surrounding immigration policy, but there is strong support for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program

Obtaining American Citizenship

  • More than half of the 44.7 million foreign-born U.S. residents in 2018 were naturalized citizens
    • Naturalized citizenship: citizenship granted to immigrants that apply for it and meet certain requirements
  • Five requirements to obtain citizenship:
    • Lawful permanent residence
    • Ability to read, write, speak, and understand basic English
    • Being a person of good moral character
    • Willingness to defend the U.S. Constitution
    • Passing an examination on English, U.S. history, and government
  • Common myths and stereotypes about immigrants include:
    • Increase unemployment and lower wages among native workers
    • Drain the public welfare system and our public schools
    • Do not want to learn English
    • Have children in the United States as a means of gaining legal status
    • Have high rates of criminal behavior