[LWV] League of Women Voters®
of Tallahassee

Immigration - New National League Study

Immigration

CALL TO LOCAL LEAGUES TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW NATIONAL LEAGUE STUDY

During the 2005-2006 LWVUS Program Planning Leagues across the U. S. expressed interest in immigration as an important issue for study. The delegates to National League Convention in Minneapolis in June 2006 voted to approve the recommended 3-year study of immigration (The first 2 years study and education and the 3rd year for consensus). A LWVUS Immigration Study Committee was selected to help provide local leagues with background information on the issue. Committee members: Carolie Mullan + Chair (TX), Chris Carson (CA), Katherine Fennelly (MN), Patricia Hatch (MD), Deborah Macmillan (NJ), and Dorrit Marks (FL). I am proud to serve on this committee. The scope of the Immigration Study was approved by the LWVUS board October 28th. The scope is broad. Few limits are imposed on local league study. Local leagues are encouraged to appoint an immigration committee to research the issue, inform their members, and to organize member discussion and consensus. Consensus questions will be framed by the LWVUS Immigration Study Committee and approved by the LWVUS board. League consensus lays the foundation for League positions and enables League to affect public policy on this very important national issue.

The Immigration Study Scope includes:

  • Underlying values and principles regarding immigration
  • Reasons for migration from other countries, including but not limited to: o Effects of global interdependence on migration o Motivation of refugees and asylees o Motivation of other immigrants
  • Current federal immigration policy, including but not limited to: o Overview o Effectiveness in uniting families o Effectiveness in meeting needs of businesses o Effectiveness of enforcement o Human rights concerns
  • Impact of immigration, including but not limited to: o Economic effects of authorized and unauthorized immigration o Diversity o Inclusion of immigrants in American society

A good place to find basic information about immigration is at the LWVUS website: http://www.lwv.org. Click on "For Members" and then on "Projects and Programs," then go to "Immigration 101 + the Basics"--a listing of books and articles to begin your research. Another useful tool, "How to do the LWVUS Immigration Study at the Local Level" is also posted in this area. In addition, League members will be able to participate in an Immigration Discussion List that will begin in January 2007 to discuss the study process and how best to educate members and the community. Click on "LWVUS Immigration Study Committee" to find brief background information about committee members. To help local leagues with their study process, members of the Immigration Study Committee are researching and writing about various aspects of immigration. My contribution is on the economic impact of authorized and unauthorized immigration and the effects of global interdependence on migration. You will be able to read this background information on the LWVUS website by February 2007 and also find additional suggestions for reading, topic specific resource lists. Look for the lead article on immigration in the February 2007 national Voter, written by a Committee member.

The United States is a country of immigrants. I, myself, am an immigrant, a refugee from Austria, fleeing Europe with my family at the start of World War II. America has welcomed immigrants and I have benefited. Waves of immigrants have successfully integrated into the fabric of the nation, enriching and contributing to all aspects of American life.

League is tackling an important national issue in studying and taking consensus and action on immigration. League work can help shape national consensus on what changes are needed in U.S. immigration policy. Together we can illuminate the topic for members and for the general public.

As Leagues research this complicated issue: Some issues to consider are:

  • What should U.S. immigration policies aim to achieve?

  • How do we best meet the future U.S. demand for workers to fill employer needs?

  • On a yearly basis some 1.5 million immigrants, skilled and unskilled enter the U.S. workforce. Quotas allow only 1 million immigrants.

  • The 2000-mile border with Mexico is the conduit of many unauthorized migrants (Mexicans and Central Americans). Yet, nearly half of unauthorized immigration is accounted by those who come to the U.S. as tourists and overstay their visas.

  • How should we best use the money it would cost to control unauthorized immigration effectively?

  • How can we best protect our country from entry into the U.S. of potential terrorists?

  • Can we enlist Mexico and Canada in helping to manage migration in North America?
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IMMIGRATION 101: The Basics

The following resource list contains introductory and overview information on US immigration.

Books and Reports

William Dudley, Ed. Illegal Immigration. Opposing Viewpoints Series. Greenhaven Press. 2002

Includes expert opinions in a pro/con format. Available new and used from amazon.com

Oscar Handlin. The Uprooted: The Epic Story of the Great Migrations That Made the American People. Little, Brown and Co. 1973 University of Pennsylvania Press. 2002.

As the title indicates, this book is about the history of immigration in this country. Both printings are available new and used from amazon.com

Immigration and America's Future: A New Chapter. Report of the Independent Task Force on Immigration and America's Future. Spencer Abraham and Lee H. Hamilton, Co-Chairs. Migration Policy Institute. 2006

Just released on September 20, 2006, this publication may be ordered on the Migration Policy Institute at amazon.com

Ann Chih Lin. Immigration CQs Vital Issues Series. CQ Press. 2002.

Even handed analysis of immigration, covering all sides of issue. Available new and used from amazon.com

Ruben Martinez. Crossing Over: A Mexican Family on the Migrant Trail. (Henry Holt and Co.).

First person, anecdotal account of a migrant family. New and used, paperback and hard copy available at amazon.com

Aristide Zolberg. A Nation by Design: Immigration Policy: the Fashioning of America. (Russell Sage Foundation. 2006)

Covers the history of US immigration policy from the Declaration of Independence to date.

Articles

The State of American Public Opinion on Immigration in Spring 2006: A Review of Major Surveys. Pew Hispanic Center Factsheet available at Pew Hispanic

Websites

Migration Policy Institute

Migration Policy Institute's Migration Information Source provides a gateway to solid demographic information in the US and a link to state-specific information

Pew Hispanic Center (see articles)

United States Citizenship and Immigration Service website includes not only the nuts and bolts of the various processes of the service, but also immigration statistics.

Coalition For Comprehensive Immigration Reform Pro-immigrant organization working for comprehensive immigration law reform. "Immigration Basics" includes helpful information.

National Immigration Forum website includes information about current events + reports, legislative action, news releases, etc.

National Immigration Law Center website includes mostly current event coverage.

Videos / DVDs

Finding Community - Sixty-minute excerpt from PBS series, New Americans. Includes guide book. More information at New Americans

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: August 7, 2008 13:37 PDT.

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