The Immigration Debate in Historical Perspective

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The United States had an essentially open border at the turn of the twentieth century, so why has increased border control become one of the top concerns of many Americans at the start of the twenty-first? The current, often volatile and certainly emotional debates about immigration raise questions about not only the reform of immigration policy, but also the meanings of American citizenship and the futures of the nation. This course will analyze the contemporary immigration controversies through a close examination of their historical roots. Course topics will include the history of immigration policy in the United States; analysis of the relationships between the cultural, political, and economic dimensions of immigration, past and present; engagement with contemporary community groups that take different perspectives on immigration; analysis of the current proposals for immigration reform by the House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and individual political representatives; and critical comparisons with immigration policies used by other countries.