Immigration in America's Future

by Heer, David M.

• ISBN13: 9780813387390
• ISBN10: 0813387396
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-04-01
• Publisher: Westview Pr

Summary

Immigration policy is one of the most contentious issues facing the United States today. The bitter national debate over California's Proposition 187, the influx of Cuban refugees into Miami, and the continuous, often illegal, crossings over the Mexican border into Texas and California are just a few of the episodes that have created a furor on local, state, and federal levels.In this timely and informative book, David Heer invites readers to examine the data and the trends of immigration to the United States and, ultimately, make up their own minds about what our national immigration policy ought to be. He demonstrates how social science findings, together with a conscious recognition of our individual values, are necessary for the formation of a balanced policy for immigration.Some of the the nation's collective values that may be affected by U.S. immigration policy are the standard of living in this country, the preservation of existing American culture, ethnic and class conflict, and the power of the United States in international affairs. Heer examines the impact of these values on immigration policy and traces the history of U.S. immigration and immigration law and patterns of immigration to the United States. Finally, he offers proposals for change to existing immigration policy.

Author Biography

David M. Heer is professor of sociology and director of the Population Research Laboratory at the University of Southern California.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. vii
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Overview	p. 1
The Volume and Character of Future Immigration: The Values at Stake	p. 7
Standard of Living	p. 8
Equity	p. 10
Preservation or Modification of Existing American Culture	p. 11
Ethnic and Class Conflict	p. 13
The Power of the United States in International Affairs	p. 14
Notes	p. 15
The Influence of Social Science Findings	p. 17
The Relationship Between Social Science Findings and Value Judgments	p. 17
The Validation of Social Science Findings	p. 20
Drawing Policy Conclusions	p. 24
Notes	p. 25
The History of U.S. Immigration Law	p. 27
Unrestricted Entry: 1789 to 1874	p. 27
Initial Restriction: 1875 to 1917	p. 37
Maximum Restriction: April 1917 to December 1941	p. 42
Liberalization: December 1941 to April 1980	p. 50
Concern with Illegal Immigration: April 1980 to the Present	p. 58
Conclusion	p. 70
Notes	p. 71
Patterns of Immigration to and from the United States	p. 77
The Inflow of Legal Immigrants	p. 80
Undocumented Immigrants	p. 88
The Foreign-Born Population of the United States in 1990	p. 101
Sojourners and Settlers: Emigration from the United States	p. 109
The Net Contribution of Immigration of the Foreign-Born to Population Change	p. 116
The Context of Reception: Legal Rights Dependent on Immigration Status	p. 120
Becoming a U.S. Citizen	p. 124
Residential Segregation of the Foreign-Born Within Metropolitan Areas	p. 129
Notes	p. 133
Determinants of Immigration	p. 137
UN Forecasts of Future World Population	p. 137
A Conceptual Scheme for Determining Individual Propensities to Migrate	p. 145
Structural Determinants of Propensities to Immigrate	p. 150
Summary and Conclusions	p. 158
Notes	p. 159
Enforcement of Immigration Law	p. 161
The Activities of the Bureau of Consular Affairs	p. 161
The Activities of the INS	p. 164
Immigration-Law Enforcement: Effectiveness and Side Effects	p. 171
How Prior Illegal Immigration Facilitates Legal Immigration	p. 177
How Extending Rights to Undocumented Residents May Encourage Illegal Immigration	p. 179
Notes	p. 179
The Impact of Immigration	p. 183
Standard of Living	p. 183
Equity	p. 194
Preservation or Modification of Existing American Culture	p. 196
Ethnic and Class Conflict	p. 201
The Power of the United States in International Affairs	p. 202
Notes	p. 206
Proposals for Change in U.S. Immigration Law	p. 209
Current Public Opinion Concerning Immigration	p. 209
Suggestions for Revisions to Immigration Policy	p. 210
Reaching Your Own Policy Conclusions	p. 222
Notes	p. 222
Bibliography	p. 225
About the Book and Author	p. 237
Index	p. 238
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