A Nation of Immigrants: Understanding Immigration Policy in the United States

1. A Nation of Immigrants • Key Terms • alien, resident alien, non-resident alien, enemy alien, illegal alien, amnesty, private law • Find Out • • How does the United States classify noncitizens? • • How has immigration policy in the United States changed over time? Section 1 Introduction-1

2. A Nation of Immigrants • Understanding Concepts • Cultural PluralismHow has immigration policy contributed to the diversity of cultures in the United States? • Section Objective • Describe immigration policy and explain how it has changed over time. Section 1 Introduction-2

3. By 2000, over nine percent of the population of the United States was born in other countries. More than 7 million Mexican Americans were included in this category, making Mexican nationals the largest group in our nation’s foreign-born population. Section 1-1

4. I. Immigrants and Aliens (pages 387–388) • A. Immigrants come to a new country intending to live there permanently; aliens live in a country where they are not citizens. • B. The federal government classifies aliens into five categories: • 1.resident aliens • 2.nonresident aliens • 3.enemy aliens • 4. refugees • 5.illegal aliens Section 1-2

5. I. Immigrants and Aliens (pages 387–388) • C. Protections of the Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech and assembly, apply to aliens as well as citizens. • D. Aliens cannot vote; most are exempt from military duty and serving on juries. Section 1-3

6. I. Immigrants and Aliens (pages 387–388) Section 1-4

7. I. Immigrants and Aliens (pages 387–388) What responsibilities do aliens have to the U.S. government? They must pay taxes, obey the laws, and be loyal to the government. Section 1-5

8. II. Immigration Policy (pages 389–390) • A. In 1882 Congress began to fully use its power to regulate immigration, and it imposed many restrictions during the next four decades. • B. The Immigration Act of 1924 sharply lowered the number of immigrants who could arrive each year and favored those who came from northern and western Europe. • C. The Immigration Reform Act of 1965 changed immigration policy by fixing a ceiling on countries in the Eastern Hemisphere and a different ceiling on those in the Western Hemisphere, as well as creating a complicated system for preferential treatment of selected immigrants. Section 1-6

9. II. Immigration Policy (pages 389–390) • D. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 was passed to stem the tide of illegal immigrants and to allow illegal immigrants to become permanent residents and citizens. • E. The Immigration Act of 1990 was passed to revise the 1965 immigration law, putting limits on the flood of immigrants from Asia and Latin America, and to open immigration to Europeans who had been adversely affected by the 1965 law. • F. The 1990 immigration law reduced the total annual immigration slightly, encouraged immigrants with special skills, and set up special categories for special immigrants like close relatives of United States citizens. Section 1-7

10. II. Immigration Policy (pages 389–390) What do you think should be the goals of the United States immigration policy? Answers will vary. Students should consider the historic issues of immigration policy. Section 1-8

11. Checking for Understanding • 1. Main Idea Use a graphic organizer like the one below to analyze the purposes of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. • stem the tide of illegal immigrants, provide a way for illegals to become residents, punish employers of illegals Section 1 Assessment-1

12. Checking for Understanding • A. a person from a foreign country who expects to stay in the United States for a short, specified period of time • B. applies to a particular person • C. a person from a foreign nation who has established permanent residency in the United States • D. a general pardon to individuals for an offense against the government • E. a person without legal permission to be in a country • F. a citizen of a nation with which the United States is at war • G. a person who lives in a country where he or she is not a citizen Match the term with the correct definition. • ___ alien • ___ resident alien • ___ non-resident alien • ___ enemy alien • ___ illegal alien • ___ amnesty • ___ private law • G • C • A • F • E • D • B Section 1 Assessment-2

13. Checking for Understanding • 3. Identify refugee. • A refugee is a person fleeing a country to escape persecution or danger. Section 1 Assessment-3

14. Checking for Understanding • 4. What are the five categories of aliens according to United States law? • The five categories are resident alien, non-resident alien, enemy alien, refugee, and illegal alien. Section 1 Assessment-4

15. Critical Thinking • 5. Making Inferences What changes in attitudes toward immigration does the Immigration Act of 1990 reflect? • Possible answer: The law favors skilled, educated immigrants, reflecting a desire to use immigration to the national advantage. Section 1 Assessment-5

16. Cultural Pluralism Every community has a unique ethnic history. When did people of various ethnic and racial groups begin to come to your community? Research your community’s immigration history at the local library. Draw a time line showing how your community grew and when each group began to arrive. Section 1 Concepts in Action