-
What have been the changes in national origin of immigrants to the US since the early 20th century?
- 1. Increasing volume of immigration since 1980s
- 2. Shift in primary sending countries
- -Latin America and Asia dominate since 1970s
- 3. Undocumented immigration increase since late 1960s
-
Which federal laws were introduced to control undocumented immigration and what have been the specific measures that were introduced?
- 1. 1986 IMMIGRATION REFORM AND CONTROL ACT
- -reverse trend of increasing undocumented immigrants
- 2. 1996 IMMIGRATION ACT
- -makes asylum applications more difficult
- -enhanced border control
- 3. 1996 WELFARE REFORM ACT
- -illegals are not eligible for benefits
- 4. 2001 Patriot Act
- -deportation based on suspicion
- 5. 2006 SECURE FENCE ACT
- -borders
-
How effective have federal immigration laws and policies been in controlling undocumented immigration?
Not so much
-
What were the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act?
- 1. Employer sanctions - $250 - $10,000
- 2. Legalization of illegal aliens
- 3. Temporary employment of foreign agricultural workers
-
What are the provisions in the Secure Fence Act and what have been the responses?
- 1. 700 miles of 2 layer reinforced border fence and additional physical barriers
- 2. Systematic border surveillance through lighting, cameras, ground-based sensors, and satellites
-
What are the dominant discourses about the impacts of immigration (legal and undocumented) on the US security, economy, welfare state and culture?
- 1. Security
- -immigrants as a security threat
- -immigrants threat to national security
- -immigrants are responsible for increase in crime, feel less secure
- 2. Economic
- -Immigrants have negative effect on employment and wage prospects of US residents
- -impact on state resources
- 3. Culture
- -Non-European immigrants are a threat to American standards and values(dilute american culture)
- -US is a nation of immigrants
-
In how far are these arguments substantiated by empirical evidence?
- -Most studies show no evidence thatimmigrants proportionally commit more crimes than native residents
- -Overall NO major adverse impact on the earnings and job opportunities of natives in the US labor market
- -Immigrants, particularly undocumented, are NOT competing with domestic workers
- -Immigrants contribute to economic growth in the US through their cheap labor, hard work and expertise
- -Difficult to estimate net costs of immigrants to public sector
-
What is the nature of exclusionary and inclusionary local immigration policies proposed and/or implemented by US municipalities, counties, and states? (see Leitner & Preston chapter)
- 1. Exclusionary
- -Federal-local partnerships: Secure communities
- -local ordinances:rent and employment bans
- 2. Inclusionary
- -ID cards for all immigrants
- -day worker centers
-
What has motivated these policies? (see Leitner & Preston chapter)
-
How do visions of nation/national community in the US influence attitudes towards immigrants and the position on immigration policies?
|
|