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Current Issues

Start exploring resources for various current issues.

Introduction

Immigration occurs when an individual or a group migrates, or travels from one place (a country, state or other region) to another. Many reasons may contribute to the decision to migrate; including economic, political, and religious ones. The effects of immigration are often wide-ranging and significant. This topic has been and continues to be a controversial one. Current issues included in this guide range from the controversy of the border wall, to the plight of the Dreamers, to the quest for citizenship.

Finding Resources

Search Terms

  • Immigration (coming in to another country)
  • Migration
  • Emigration (leaving a country)
  • Illegal immigration; undocumented aliens
  • Laws:
    • Immigration Act of 1924, 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
    • Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act
    • Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM) Act
  • ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
  • Border wall
  • Naturalization

Related Terms & Concepts

Asylum seekers/Refugees An individual applying for “refugee status” (a person from another country who has left because they fear that they are endangered because of their race, religion, nationality, social group or political views) in their native country.
DACA Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – A temporary residency program, signed by the Obama administration that provides a path to American citizenship for the undocumented children who were brought into the country and who had been living here for many years (DREAMers).
Detention Centers Camps where undocumented immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, including their children are held when crossing the border or when their immigration status changes or when being deported.
Ethnic diversity Having people from different ethnic groups, cultures, backgrounds, heritages, or ancestries living together in a country.
Sanctuary Cities Cities in the US that protect undocumented immigrants by refusing to cooperate with ICE (US Customs & Immigration Enforcement) and/or the USCIS (US Citizenship & Immigration Services).
Xenophobia “The fear of strangers,” which leads to persecution and discrimination of foreigners inside of a country by its citizens.

 

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About This Page

This page was originally developed by John Powell.

First published: Summer 2020