Unauthorized Immigrationto the United States

Daniel Foley

ED 639

Use this lesson for:

• Current events/issues

• High school level (best for 11th and 12th grade)

• Illegal immigration and legal immigration

Objective:

• To bring to student’s attention the current debate over immigration.

• Have students form their own opinions on immigration.

• Have them connect to their own roots of immigration.

Introduction– Immigration has been a key

characteristic of the United States since its’ formation.

– For this reason, it has always been a key issue and a topic of numerous debates.

– Today’s big debate• Controlling and monitoring illegal,

unauthorized, and undocumented immigration, while still allowing some sort of flow of legal immigration.

Topics of the immigration issue

• Population growth

• Labor market implications

• Economic strain

• How to allow, but control the flow

Population growth

– According to the middle series projections from the U.S. Census Bureau, the immigrants arriving after 1990 and their offspring are expected to contribute two-thirds of the population growth in the U.S. between 2000 and 2050, when the total population of the U.S. will increase from 281 million to 404 million. Estimates indicate that these immigrants and their children will comprise more than one out of four residents in 2050.

Population trend of immigrants as a percentage

Over the years

• Will this new wave of immigration be the next new face of a new melting pot?

The answer……

• Signs are pointing towards yes.– Similarities

• Immigrants are facing the same problems immigrants of a century past had to deal with.

• A new call for closing the boarders is a current issue.

• Assimilation, amalgamation, accommodation (Little Havana), and ethnogenesis (Latin festivals) are all occurring.

Recent years

– Based on immigrants that came to the United States between 1990 and 2002

In essence

• The melting pot is getting bigger and more ingredients have been added.

So what is the big problem?

• Lack of control– We have:

• Boarder patrol• INS (Immigration and

Naturalization Service)

– But….• An “estimated” 200,000 to

300,000 illegal immigrants still slip by.

How illegal immigrants enter

• A substantial proportion of illegal aliens enter legally. "Only 4 out of 10 undocumented aliens cross the border illegally or enter without inspection. Six out of 10 undocumented aliens enter legally--as visitors, students, or temporary employees--and become illegal by failing to leave when their visas expire"

Illegal immigration “guesses”

• About 200,000 to 300,000 per year.• Total foreign born population

– Increase of about 700,000 each year after the combined effects of legal and illegal entry, emigration, and death.

Where our illegal immigrants come from

A brief history lesson• 1790 – 75% of the United

States’ population was of British decent.

• 1800-1890 – a mass immigration from German and Northern European countries.

• 1890-1930 – a mass immigration from Southern and Eastern European countries.

• Presently, most come from Asia or Hispanic countries predominately Mexico.

The big shift• In 1965, 9 out of every 10

immigrants came from Europe

• Now, 6 out of 10 come from either Asia or Mexico.

• Note: over half of all illegal immigrants come from Mexico.

History of controlling immigration• Open door until the early 1900’s.• Literacy tests were established• Quota systems

• 1921 based on 1910 census• 1924 based on 1890 census

– To keep out Southern Europeans• 1952 based on 1920 census

– Racial distinctions were emitted

• Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965

• Abolished system of national origin quota systems.• These new immigrants were to be accepted based

on their skills and not their nationality.

Since 1965

• The annual number of annual legal immigrants was estimated at 500,000 to 600,000 in 1989, subsequently increased and is now well over 1 million, not including illegal migration or temporary work visas.

What is the public’s opinion?

• Whenever a big wave of immigration happens, people become nervous.

• Why?– They will take away jobs from the natives.

– By working for less

– They will increase the poverty levels.– More crime

– They will raise the competition for education, health, and other social services.

– Higher taxes

In simple terms….

• As immigration numbers go up, so does the level of insecurity.

• Ex. Quota systems in the 1920’s• Counter ex. 1965 – opened the boarders to

any nation.

• Today, with the rising threat of terrorism, a majority of people are wanting to shut the boarders down.

• Because people are beginning to feel insecure.

Labor Market Implications

• Undocumented migrants are paid less than other workers.

• Mexicans earn the least of migrants– $2.66 an hour.– Work about 9 more hours a week than

legal immigrants.

Policies Affecting Unauthorized Immigration• Late 19th century

• Illegal immigrant workers could be deported

• Quantitative Restrictions (the quota system)

• Boarder patrol created in 1924• The enforcement agency of the INS• Began keeping statistics on the number of

apprehended aliens.

Policies continued

• Bracero Program• Allowed for migrant workers to temporarily

work in the United States.• Tried to control illegal immigration.

– Did not do well

• 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act• Fines and possible imprisonment for

persons found guilty of harboring illegal aliens.

• Also did not work

Policies continued

• 1965• Opened the boarders to all countries

regardless of nationality.

• 1986 – Immigration Reform and Control Act.

• To curb the flow of illegal aliens• To decrease the number of illegal aliens

residing in the United States.

Myths about Immigration

• 1. American is being overrun with immigrants.

• 2. Immigrants take jobs from U.S. citizens.

• Jobs they take on are easier to see.• Often very productive.• Own businesses and employ both

immigrants and citizens.

Myths about Immigration

• 3. Immigrants are a drain on society’s resources.

• Immigrants generate significantly more in taxes paid than they cost in services received.

• 4. Aliens refuse to assimilate, and are depriving us of our cultural and political unity.

Assignment (choose two)

• 1. Write one page about your stand on immigration and what you think should be done. Use this site as a reference http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5310549&sourceCode=gaw

• 2. Browse http://www.bergen.org/AAST/projects/Immigration/ and write about something you learned.

Assignments continued

• 3.Go to http://www.ellisisland.org/ and type in any name to find out information about that immigrant.

• 4. Use this website http://www.nyc.gov/html/nyc100/html/imm_stories/index.html and read the story of one family and summarize it.

Mini-project

• Find out more about your family– Where did your family come from?– How did they get here?– Why did they leave that place?

• Write about your findings and we will share with the class in one week.