Unit 2: citizenship in comparative perspective

1. Unit 2: citizenship in comparative perspective Lesson 10: Contemporary Arguments in Support of Immigration Reform

2. Lesson Objective • SWBAT assess arguments in support to immigration reform and evaluate the suggested economic benefits of S. 744.

3. Word of the Day/Initial Activity • Reform • Make changes in (something, typically a social, political, or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it. • Immigration Today • What do you know about immigration policy in America today? • Define the terms “undocument alien” and “illegal immigrant” • Discussion • Should America take steps to create a pathway to citizenship for people who immigrated to America illegally?

4. Current Immigration Policy • Family based Visas • 480,000 issued each year • Employment Based Immigration • Sponsered for temporary residence status based upon type of employment • Permanent Immigration • 140,000 issued each year for immigrants and their dependents • Can’t exceed 7% of the 140,000 from a single country • Refugees and Asylees • People with a “well-founded” fear of persecution • Limited decided each year, average is 80,000 and broken down per-country

5. Immigration Reform • DREAM Act • Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act • Entered America illegally • Arrived before age 16 • Lived consequetively for 5 years • Registered with Selective Service • Between ages of 12 & 36 • Graduate from high school/obtained GED/admitted to college • Be of good moral character (no arrests) • Then be on conditional status- must go to college or serve in the military. Process takes 6 years. • DACA • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals- 2012 • S. 744- 2013 Senate Immigration Bill • “Boarder Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act” • Bi-Partisan Bill passed the Senate and is going to the house for approval. • Compromised the DREAM Act with increased boarder security

6. Major purposes of government: Turn & Talk Senator Ted Cruz (R. Texas), On S. 744 • “If passed, S. 744 will leave our borders unsecure and our immigration system deeply dysfunctional.” • What are Ted Cruz’s concerns with immigration reform? • 1 minute to write down a response to this question: • Why would Ted raise these concerns? • Should boarder control be an issue when concerning our country’s immigration system? • Turn & Talk: 30 seconds per partner • Share Out

7. Activity: Jigsaw • Focus Question: How some Americans argue for increased support for immigration to America? • Read Breakdown of S. 744 • Create a chart depicting the key components to S. 744 • How does the bill aim at reforming immigration policy in America? • Read White House Will Make Economic Arguments for Immigration Reform • How does the White House support their position on immigration reform? • How will immigration reform support existing illegal immigrants within America? • Share Out

8. Summary • Exit Ticket • According to today’s mini-lesson and activity, do you believe that S. 744 will serve an effective immigration reform policy? • Discussion • Why do you believe Republicans added the boarded security requirement to the passage of S. 744? • Parking Lot • Develop one critical thinking question from today’s mini-lesson or activity. • Write onto post-it and place onto parking lot. You will address these questions as a class during the initial-activity each following day.