Description
This class explores many of the major trends in the history of American immigration and the legal and policy structures developed over time to regulate the flow of immigrant populations into the country. The course examines the politics and debates that have shaped major policy shifts since 1965, when the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965 marked a radical departure from a system of preference based on national origin, up to and including the immigration debate today. The class will be taught from a multidisciplinary perspective utilizing short readings drawn from legal and government documents, newspaper articles, historical essays, and oral histories to inspire class discussion and personal reflection.