Intro & Overview to Immigration (history & types of immigrants)
Overview of what Sociology is & what we focus on… (Will not be on test)
Key Contradiction between Economic Need for Immigrants (Labor Demand) vs. US Politics and Policy
(Identity politics—often nativist reaction against immigrants) – recurrent in In US Immigration History &
Current Period, and especially likely when economy in recession. (P&R Ch. 1)
Key Policies on Immigration (P&R Ch. 1)
 Pre-1924, largely Open Border, except 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
 1924---National Origins Act—closes off most immigration until 1965, except temp. Mexican
workers (Bracero prog. 1942-64.)
 1965 Amendments to Natl. Origins Act—Greatly increases legal avenues for immigration on 2
priorities—family reunification & skill/education level (but in 1964 end Bracero Prog. for
Mexican temp workers)
3 Phases of Immigration to US (3 hist. periods) (P&R Ch. 1)
1. Great European Wave –1880-1930
[& 1840-60 (Irish—1st wave 1 country, 2 MN) – not discussed by P&R]
2. Retrenchment / Exclusion -- 1930-1970 National Origin Quotas restrictions, except lots
Mexican temporary workers under Bracero prog. 1942-65, following mass deportations in
1930s…
3. Rebound / Opening –1970-2010
Overview of each Phase & some data on each, most focus on last phase (modern era)
Key issues 1970-2010 rebound period—1960s Civil Rights Movts., & end of bracero Prog.; Economy
increasingly bifurcated –shift from Pyramid to hour-glass model (& Immigration also becomes
more split economically—high & low skill); increasing deportations 2008 of labor migrants
Immigration Today—Population size and where large parts are from (regions of world)
4 types of Immigrants & key characteristics of each (P&R Ch. 1)
1. Labor Migrants (& example in Grande text Chs. 1 & 2)
2. Professional Immigrants
3. Entrepreneurial Immigrants
4. Refugees
Visas types and availability (H-1 for high skill etc.) (P&R Ch. 1)
Who gets most temporary worker visas? (Lecture stats)
Growth of Border and Immigration Enforcement—even at Super Bowl. Now in more parts of country,
2/3 US pop. Lives in “border zone” where they have fewer rights… (Miller Ch. 1)
Border Security Industrial Complex (ala Military industrial Complex) (Miller Ch. 1)
Difficulties that lead people to migrate, esp. labor migrants, and costs on families (Grande—Chs. 1-2)