Course Description:
US Immigration Reform examines the strengths and weaknesses of current US immigration policy and proposals for its reform. The course focuses on the system for legal permanent admissions and temporary admissions (nonimmigrant categories) for work, family reunification, study, and other similar purposes. It also examines policies designed to curb unauthorized migration, assessing the effectiveness of border and interior enforcement activities. The course also examines policies related to forced migration, including refugee resettlement, asylum and temporary protected status. These issues will be discussed in a comparative framework, analyzing how other countries address issues affecting the United States. The course will examine the role of federal, state and local authorities in implementing policy reforms. It also examines the role of public opinion and various interest groups in affecting policy formulation. Students will be required to write a 10-page paper, due after the course completion, on a specific reform issue.