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Immigration Policy in America: A Sociological Perspective

Explore the complex story of immigration in America through the lens of sociology. Follow the journey of Ali and Samra Sabir, a young couple from Pakistan, as they navigate the clash between their Muslim beliefs and American lifestyles. Dive into the history, terminology, and tensions surrounding immigration, from involuntary participants like American Indians to current controversies over illegal immigration and citizenship. Examine the evolving policies from open borders to restrictive measures, and the impact on society. Gain insight into the costs, benefits, and identity struggles of immigrants in the U.S. population.

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Immigration Policy in America: A Sociological Perspective

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  1. Sociology 134 The Peopling of America

  2. Story: Ali and Samra Sabir; a young couple from Pakistan • Won a special lottery for a work visa • Residing in New York City; celebrated their first fourth of July in 1999. • Picnic: chicken and rice dish; potato chips; cricket (passed on lasagna) • Clash between strict Muslim beliefs and American life styles • Ali wants his family to remain in America, become citizens, but not become Americans • Question: Is this possible?

  3. Overview of Peopling of America • Involuntary participants • American Indians • Africans • Mexicans in Southwest • Immigration: Concepts and History • Terminology • Tensions over immigration • Immigration Policy

  4. Overview, continued • Current Immigration Policy and Numbers • Current Immigration Controversies

  5. Involuntary Participants • “The Indian Problem” • Removal • Reservations • Urbanization (1/4 on or near reservations) • Slavery and Its Aftermath • Concentration in South; Great Migration;Return Migration • Why did the net migration flow switch directions? • The Original Mexican Americans • Citizenship, but discrimination and prejudice

  6. Concepts • Over 70,000 foreigners arrive in the U.S. each day • Immigrants (2,200) • Over 60,000 are tourists, students, and workers on temporary visas • Approximately 5,000 are illegal immigrants, but about 4,000 of these are apprehended quickly; around 1,000 or so remain for some time

  7. Concepts, continued • Generations: 1st, 2nd, 3rd • Refugee (outside the U.S.) • Asylee (inside the U.S.) • We are the leading receiver of immigrants in most years; 2000: 10% of the U.S. population was foreign born

  8. Tensions Over Immigration • Mexico (2nd leading country of origin of immigrants in our history) • Who is first? • Tensions over origins (Germans, Irish, Italians, Asians, Mexicans) • Tensions over numbers (why are numbers important?) • Costs and benefits • Effects on countries of origin?

  9. Immigration and Immigration Policy: Open Borders, 1780-1875 • 1790: individuals who were “free” and “white” could become naturalized citizens; it was 1952 before Asians could become naturalized citizens • 1870: extended to aliens of African nativity and individuals of African descent; anyone born in U.S. is automatically a citizen (14th Amendment)

  10. Restrictive Policies, 1875-1965 • 1875: prohibitions on entry of convicted criminals and prostitutes • 1882: prohibitions on entry of those likely to become a public charge • 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act • 1903: excluded anarchists and revolutionaries • Early 1900s: Gentlemen’s Agreement with Japan

  11. Nativism and Policies • Nativism: immigration is dangerous for our society—especially from certain countries • 1924: Quota system favoring Northern and Western European countries • 1952: all aliens became eligible for naturalization

  12. Purposeful Immigration Policies, 1965-Present • Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965: • Abolished national origins quota system • Established preferences based on relationship to U.S. citizens and permanent residents and labor needs • Refugee Act of 1980 • IRCA of 1986 • 1996: additional funds for Border Patrol; restrict benefits available to immigrants

  13. Changes in Numbers • 1881-1890: 4.7M from Europe; .06M from Asia, .4M from America • 1981-1990: .8M from Europe; 2.7M from Asia, 3.6M from America • 1991-1995: .8M from Europe, 1.6M from Asia, 2.7M from America

  14. Current Immigration Policy • Legal Immigration: flexible cap of 421,000 to 675,000 (too much or too little?) • Refugee/Asylee • Illegal Immigration (5M in 1996, increasing by 275T each year; probably 6.5M in 2002; 2% of U.S. population) • Naturalization 1999: 840,000 • Rights of Immigrants

  15. Current Immigration Controversies • Costs and Benefits of Immigration • Illegal Immigration • Refugees • Citizenship and Naturalization • Culture and Identity

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