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Debates on U.S. Immigration
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Debates on U.S. Immigration

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October 2012 | 648 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
This issues-based reference work (available in both print and electronic formats) shines a spotlight on immigration policy in the United States. The U.S. is a nation of immigrants. Yet while the lofty words enshrined with the Statue of Liberty stand as a source of national pride, the rhetoric and politics surrounding immigration policy all-too-often have proven far less lofty. In reality, the apparently open invitation of Lady Liberty seldom has been without restriction. Throughout our history, impassioned debates about the appropriate scope and nature of such restriction have emerged and mushroomed, among politicians, among scholars of public policy, among the general public. In light of the need to keep students, researchers, and other interested readers informed and up-to-date on status of U.S. immigration policy, this volume uses introductory essays followed by point/counterpoint articles to explore prominent and perennially important debates, providing readers with views on multiple sides of this complex issue. While there are some brief works looking at debates on immigration, as well as some general A-to-Z encyclopedias, we offer more in-depth coverage of a much wider range of themes and issues, thus providing the only fully comprehensive point/counterpoint handbook tackling the issues that political science, history, and sociology majors are asked to explore and to write about as students and that they will grapple with later as policy makers and citizens.

Features & Benefits:

  • The volume is divided into three sections, each with its own Section Editor: Labor & Economic Debates (Judith Gans), Social & Cultural Debates (Judith Gans), and Political & Legal Debates (Daniel Tichenor).
  • Sections open with a Preface by the Section Editor to introduce the broad theme at hand and provide historical underpinnings.
  • Each section holds 12 chapters addressing varied aspects of the broad theme of the section.
  • Chapters open with an objective, lead-in piece (or "headnote") followed by a point article and a counterpoint article.
  • All pieces (headnote, point article, counterpoint article) are signed.
  • For each chapter, students are referred to further readings, data sources, and other resources as a jumping-off spot for further research and more in-depth exploration.
  • Finally, volume concludes with a comprehensive index, and the electronic version includes search-and-browse features, as well as the ability to link to further readings cited within chapters should they be available to the library in electronic format.

 
Political Debates Introduction
 
Admission and Membership
 
Legal Immigration Selection System
 
Gender and Refugee Status
 
Naturalization Process
 
Legalization (Amnesty) for Unauthorized Immigrants
 
Birthright Citizenship
 
Immigrant Voting
 
Nativism
 
Control and Enforcement
 
Federal Policy Versus Decentralized Policy
 
U.S. Border Control
 
Immigrant Detention and Deportation Under the Obama Administration
 
Arizona S.B. 1070
 
Drivers' Licenses
 
Crime
 
Economic, Labor, and Demographic Debates Introduction
 
Economic Impact
 
Cost to Taxpayers
 
Depression of Wages and Price Levels
 
Remittances
 
Labor Market
 
H-1B Visas
 
Temporary Worker Programs
 
Secure ID Cards
 
Worksite Enforcement
 
Worksite Raids
 
Demographics and Environment
 
Population Growth
 
Environment and Immigration
 
Social and Cultural Debates Introduction
 
Family and Society
 
Family-Based Immigration
 
Cultural Assimilation
 
Social and Political Integration
 
Catholic Church and Immigration
 
Language and Education
 
English as Official Language
 
English Instruction in the Classroom
 
Higher Education and Immigration Status
 
Responses to Illegal Immigation
 
Racial Profiling
 
State and Local Law Enforcement
 
Use of the Term "Illegal Alien"
 
Appendix: Documents Highlighting Key Moments in U.S. Immigration History, 1924 to 2011

This well-balanced, thorough, well-organized book will be an excellent addition to any library collection.

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ISBN: 9781483306056

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This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn’t have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.