A Brief History of
A Brief History of
Immigration Policy
Immigration Policy
Quantitative Methods for Public Policy
Quantitative Methods for Public Policy Macalester College Macalester College Spring, 2005 Spring, 2005 Steve Holland Steve Holland
“Landing of Columbus”
The greatest number of legal
immigrants to arrive in the United
States in any single decade is…
1) 130,000 2) 550,000 3) 1 million 4) 3 million 5) 6 million 6) 9 million 7) 16 million 8) 27 million 9) 52 million 10) 93 million
Which decade had the greatest number
of immigrants arrive in the United
States?
1) 1870 2) 1890 3) 1900 4) 1910 5) 1920 6) 1930 7) 1950 8) 1960 9) 1980 10) 1990What percentage of people residing in
the United States are immigrants
(2003)?
1) 0.6% 2) 1.9% 3) 6.4% 4) 11.7% 5) 22.4% 6) 39.1%The first restrictions on immigration
into the United States were placed
upon:
1) Chinese 2) Irish
3) Illiterates 4) Paupers
The United States first began
patrolling its borders in:
1) 1779 2) 1865 3) 1924 4) 1941 5) 1968 6) 1987
Number of legal immigrants to U.S. by decade 9095 7338 4493 3322 2515 1035 528 4107 5736 8795 3688 5247 2812 2315 2598 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1880 1870 1860 1850 Year Number (1,000's)
The greatest number of legal
immigrants to arrive in the United
States in any single decade is…
1) 130,000 2) 550,000 3) 1 million 4) 3 million 5) 6 million 6) 9 million 7) 16 million 8) 27 million 9) 52 million 10) 93 million
Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Percent of U.S. population that is foreign born
10.4 7.9 6.2 4.7 5.4 6.9 8.8 11.6 13.2 14.7 13.6 14.8 13.3 14.4 13.2 9.7 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1880 1870 1860 1850 Year % foreign born
What percentage of people residing in
the United States are immigrants
(2003)?
1) 0.6% 2) 1.9% 3) 6.4% 4) 11.7% 5) 22.4% 6) 39.1%In 2003 the percentage rose to 11.7%. There
were an estimated 33.5 million immigrants
living in the U.S. out of a total population of
about 290 million
EARLY IMMIGRATION POLICY
•Restrictions began to be implemented in response to tensions between immigrant and native groups or political events
•For example, the large number of
Chinese immigrants in the West did not assimilate well with settlers of European
“Whereas, in the opinion
of the Government of the
United States the coming
of Chinese laborers to this
country endangers the
good order of certain
localities within the
territory thereof.”
Forty-Seventh Congress. Session I. 1882 Chapter 126
The first restrictions on immigration
into the United States were placed
upon:
1) Chinese
2) Irish
3) Illiterates 4) Paupers
An East Coast, Eurocentric view of
immigration led to strong biases against
Chinese and Japanese immigrants on the
West Coast.
T
he
G
re
at
M
ig
ra
ti
on
(
18
80
-1
92
0)
•Mainly Southern and Eastern European immigrants (Italian, Greek, Poles) •Most stayed in the Northeastern U.S.•Sought wages in the new U.S. industrial society (factories, railroads, mines)
Number of legal immigrants to U.S. by decade
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1880 1870 1860 1850 Year Number (1,000's)
The Assassination of President McKinley
ALIEN IMMIGRATION ACT (1903)
Excluded:
“idiots”
“insane persons” “epileptics”
“paupers; persons likely to become a public charge; professional beggars”
“persons afflicted with a loathsome or with a dangerous contagious disease”
“persons who have been convicted of a felony or other crime or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude”
“polygamists”
“anarchists, or persons who believe in or advocate the overthrow by force or violence of the Government of the United States”
“prostitutes, and persons who procure or attempt to bring in prostitutes or women for the purpose of prostitution”
IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1917
The “Asiatic
Barred Zone”
IMMIGRATION ACT OF 1917
Also barred “illiterates”
Quota Laws (1920’s)
Limits on the number of
immigrants by nation of origin
First Border Patrol (1924)
Number of legal immigrants to U.S. by decade
0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 9000 10000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 1900 1890 1880 1870 1860 1850 Year Number (1,000's)
The United States first began
patrolling its borders in:
1) 1779 2) 1865 3) 1924 4) 1941 5) 1968 6) 1987
OTHER NOTEWORTHY EVENTS
INS moved from DOL to
DOJ (1940)
Immigration and
Nationality Act of 1952 and
Amendments (1965)
Kept quotas but now calculated by hemisphere
100.0 656,111 TOTAL 100.0 265,398 TOTAL 48.0 314,747 All Others 34.8 92,236 All Others 2.7 18,031 Iran 2.6 6,968 Portugal 2.9 18,828 Jamaica 2.7 7,257 Hungary 3.9 25,350 Soviet Union 2.9 7,687 Ireland 4.4 28,679 India 3.0 7,949 Poland 4.4 28,746 China 3.1 8,283 Cuba 4.5 29,548 Korea 5.6 14,933 Italy 4.9 32,064 Dominican R. 9.3 24,643 U.K. 7.4 48,662 Vietnam 11.7 30,990 Canada 8.4 54,907 Philippines 12.0 31,768 Germany 8.6 56,549 Mexico 12.3 32,684 Mexico % of total Immigrants Country % of total Immigrants Country 1990 1960
European countries in blue
Asian countries in red
TOP 10 COUNTRIES FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS: 1960 AND 1990
The Current State of U.S.
Immigration Policy
Immigration
Status
Numerical
limits
Illegal
immigration
Benefits
Naturalization
What group accounts for the largest
number of legal immigrants to the
United States?
1) Lottery winners 2) Refugees
3) Employment sponsored
Of the illegal immigrants who are
apprehended in the United States,
what percentage are removed?
1) 10% 2) 20% 3) 30% 4) 40% 5) 50% 6) 60% 7) 70% 8) 80% 9) 90% 10) 100%
Can illegal immigrants apply to become
legal residents after a certain length
of time?
1) Yes 2) No
Which of the following is NOT true
about illegal immigrants?
1) They have full access to public K-12 education. 2) They pay taxes.
3) They receive the same legal protections as documented workers.
4) All of these statements are true. 5) None of these statements are true.
IMMIGRANT STATUS
1. Non-immigrants
• Visitors, temporary workers, students, government officials, and some others
2. Immigrants
• Family-sponsored immigration • Employer-sponsored immigration • Win the visa lottery
• Apply to adjust status to lawful permanent resident
3. Refugees (outside the U.S.) and Asylees (inside the U.S.) • Must show a “well founded fear of persecution”
• Limits on the number of refugees but not asylees 4. Parolees
• A temporary protected status due to an extraordinary condition in the home country
NUMERICAL LIMITS
Limited Groups: 2001 Figures (approx.)
•Family-sponsored preference 225,000
•Employment-sponsored preference 140,000
•Lottery winners 55,000
•Refugees 125,000
Not Limited:
•Immediate family members 450,000
(spouses and minor children of citizens)
•Asylees small
Total: 1,065,000
What group accounts for the largest
number of legal immigrants to the
United States?
1) Lottery winners 2) Refugees
3) Employment sponsored
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Illegal entry
•Stop immigrants and the border •Punish employers who hire illegal immigrants
Overstayed a temporary visa
•About 40% of illegal immigration
Removal
•“Expedited removal” •“Removal proceedings”
•About 10% of illegal immigrants are removed How do you become “illegal”? What happens once you are caught?
Of the illegal immigrants who are
apprehended in the United States,
what percentage are removed?
1) 10% 2) 20% 3) 30% 4) 40% 5) 50% 6) 60% 7) 70% 8) 80% 9) 90% 10) 100%
FISCAL COSTS AND BENEFITS
Employment
•Immigrants, even illegal ones, pay income tax
•Employers are punished for hiring illegal immigrants
Education
•Immigrants, even illegal ones, may receive a public education
Means-tested benefits
•Entering prior to 1996:
Benefits to “qualified” immigrants
•Entering after 1996:
Which of the following is NOT true
about illegal immigrants?
1) They have full access to public K-12 education. 2) They pay taxes.
3) They receive the same legal protections as documented workers.
4) All of these statements are true. 5) None of these statements are true.
The DOL’s position is to enforce minimum wage and other labor regulations regardless of whether a worker is documented. The Supreme Court recently said undocumented workers are not protected by the NLRA. This decision casts doubt on whether the DOL’s position is legally sound.
Illegal immigrants are also excluded from food stamps, welfare programs and many other federal benefits.
NATURALIZATION
Available to “lawful permanent residents”
Must be a legal resident of the U.S. for five
continuous years
Requirements:
Good moral character
Knowledge of English and U.S. civics
Can illegal immigrants apply to become
legal residents after a certain length
of time?
1) Yes
POST 9-11 POLICY
Tighter borders
More restrictions on
student and visitor
visas
Stronger
enforcement, more
detention and
quicker deportation
(the “Patriot Act”)
Who said it?
“Undocumented workers and their families make enormous contributions to their communities and
workplaces and should be provided permanent legal status through a new legalization program.”
A) George W. Bush B) John Kerry
C)Miami Herald editorial D)The AFL-CIO
Who said it?
“Undocumented workers and their families make enormous contributions to their communities and
workplaces and should be provided permanent legal status through a new legalization program.”
A) George W. Bush B) John Kerry
C)Miami Herald editorial
D)The AFL-CIO
The AFL-CIO Policy on Immigration (undated, but currently on their website, www.aflcio.org)
Who said it?
“[Immigration policy] should grant currently working
undocumented aliens a temporary worker status to prevent exploitation. Participants would be issued a temporary
worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the U.S. without fear of being denied re-entry into America.”
A) Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union
B) The CEO of Archer-Daniels-Midland C)Vicente Fox
Who said it?
“[Immigration policy] should grant currently working
undocumented aliens a temporary worker status to prevent exploitation. Participants would be issued a temporary
worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the U.S. without fear of being denied re-entry into America.
A) Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union
B) The CEO of Archer-Daniels-Midland C)Vicente Fox
D)George W. Bush
Who said it?
“___________, its entities, and those speaking in its name will take no position on immigration levels or on policies governing immigration into the United States. “
A) The Mexican government B) The Sierra Club
C)The Teamsters
Who said it?
“___________, its entities, and those speaking in its name will take no position on immigration levels or on policies governing immigration into the United States. “
A) The Mexican government
B)The Sierra Club
C)The Teamsters
D)Amnesty International
Who said it?
When asked about President Bush’s statement that
immigration reform is a “priority,” this person said, “[we are] going to be plenty busy with other priorities….”
A) A senior Democrat B) A senior Republican C)Dick Cheney
Who said it?
When asked about President Bush’s statement that
immigration reform is a “priority,” this person said, “[we are] going to be plenty busy with other priorities….”
A) A senior Democrat
B)A senior Republican
C)Dick Cheney
Wisconsin Representative F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., the
BUSH WOULD GIVE ILLEGAL
WORKERS BROAD NEW RIGHTS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6 - President Bushwill propose a sweeping overhaul of the nation's immigration laws on Wednesday that could give legal status to millions of undocumented workers in the United
States, senior administration officials said Tuesday night.
•Protecting the Homeland by Controlling Our Borders:
It must support ongoing efforts to enhance homeland security.
•Serve America's Economy by Matching a Willing Worker with a Willing Employer:
When no American worker is available and willing to take a job, the program should provide a labor supply for American
employers.
•Promoting Compassion:
The program should grant currently working undocumented aliens a temporary worker status to prevent exploitation. Participants
would be issued a temporary worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the U.S. without fear of being denied re-entry into America.
•Providing Incentives for Return to Home Country:
The program will require the return of temporary workers to their home country after their period of work has concluded.
•Protecting the Rights of Legal Immigrants:
It should not permit undocumented workers to gain an advantage over those who have followed the rules.
Republicans Squaring Off Over Bush
Plan on Immigration
By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 - The battle within the Republican Party over immigration policy was joined Wednesday as President Bush vigorously promoted his proposal for a guest worker program and conservatives in Congress introduced an alternative proposal to tighten immigration restrictions.
A Brief History of
A Brief History of
Immigration Policy
Immigration Policy
Quantitative Methods for Public Policy
Quantitative Methods for Public Policy Macalester College Macalester College Spring, 2005 Spring, 2005 Steve Holland Steve Holland
