Every year millions of people immigrate to the US. Some enter after waiting years for visas and citizenship. For others, coming to the United States means dangerous and often expensive trip smuggled across rivers and deserts. As our nation’s early days, America offers new immigrants a chance to better themselves through education, labor and opportunity. However, to many citizens, immigrants are seen as a threat to jobs, the nation’s economic wellbeing, and our security in a post 9/11 world. What brings immigrants both legal and undocumented to this country? What are the costs and benefits of having an immigrant population? How has the Patriot Act and Homeland Security changed immigration? How have Free Trade Agreements impacted the influx of immigrants to this country?

• Around 75% of today’s immigrants have legal permanent (immigrant) visas; of the 25% that are undocumented, 40% overstayed temporary (non-immigrant) visas.
  
• During the 1990s, half of all new workers were foreign-born, filling gaps left by native-born workers in both the high- and low-skill ends of the spectrum.

Though there have been limits on numbers of people admitted from individual countries, the sweeping laws that criminalize the undocumented and create large backlogs for citizenship have only existed for a few decades. Concern over loss of jobs and security as well as an increasing number of immigrants have reached Congress and the President resulting in a slew of bills and legislation proposed to “fix” the immigration problem. How do immigration laws work? What are the considerations and interests that go into making immigration laws? What is the history of US immigrants? What is different now and when did it change?

The problems faced by many first generation immigrants are not addressed by current legislation. Their experience is shaped by trial and tribulation, successes and disappointments. Who are the people that come to this country? What can their stories tell us about why they come, and what they come from? What is the difference in the experience of a documented, versus an undocumented immigrant? What reforms would best serve the immigrant population and current citizens?

• Since 1995, 2600 people have died in their journey across the border.
  
• Immigrants pay between $90 billion and $140 billion a year in federal, state, and local taxes.

What are the current immigration laws? Why are people willing to come here illegally? What is being done to stop undocumented immigration? What’s working? What isn’t and why? Can we have security and an effective immigration system and policy? How do immigration laws affect those who come to this country for work, education or a better life differently? What are the costs and benefits of undocumented immigrants? Is race an underlying factor in our immigration policy and enforcement? How have new laws changed the immigrant experience? What are the immigrant experiences? How is labor affected by immigrants and undocumented? How do immigrants view reform policies?

Talking Points