This document provides a brief history of U.S. immigration laws and policies from 1790 to present day. It discusses the establishment of immigration quotas and restrictions over time. It also outlines current legal immigration pathways including family-based, employment-based, and humanitarian categories. Additionally, it presents arguments for and against granting permanent residency status to illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S. While some argue it would benefit the economy and integration, most argue it would encourage more illegal immigration and strain social services. There is no clear consensus on the issue.

1. Should Illegal AliensShould Illegal Aliens
Currently Living in theCurrently Living in the
United States beUnited States be
Granted PermanentGranted Permanent
Residency Status?Residency Status?
Benson, Berry, Cooney, StillwaterBenson, Berry, Cooney, Stillwater

2. A Brief History of U.S. ImmigrationA Brief History of U.S. Immigration
 In 1790, an act was adopted establishing aIn 1790, an act was adopted establishing a
uniform requirement of 2 years of residencyuniform requirement of 2 years of residency
for naturalization to the U.S.for naturalization to the U.S.
 In 1875, a direct federal regulation ofIn 1875, a direct federal regulation of
immigration was established by a law thatimmigration was established by a law that
prohibited the entry of prostitutes andprohibited the entry of prostitutes and
convicts.convicts.
 In 1891,In 1891, the Bureau of Immigration wasthe Bureau of Immigration was
established under the Treasury Department toestablished under the Treasury Department to
federally administer all immigration laws.federally administer all immigration laws.

3. A Brief History of U.S. ImmigrationA Brief History of U.S. Immigration
 The Immigration Act of 1924The Immigration Act of 1924 focused onfocused on
restricting immigration from Southern andrestricting immigration from Southern and
Eastern Europeans. (2% Rule)Eastern Europeans. (2% Rule)
 The Nationals Origins Formula of 1929The Nationals Origins Formula of 1929 mademade
the quotas of the 1924 act permanent,the quotas of the 1924 act permanent,
excluding Asians.excluding Asians.
 The Immigration and Naturalization Act ofThe Immigration and Naturalization Act of
1952 (McCarran-Walter Act)1952 (McCarran-Walter Act) combined thecombined the
multiple laws which governed immigrationmultiple laws which governed immigration
and naturalization at that time into oneand naturalization at that time into one
comprehensive statute with four parts.comprehensive statute with four parts.

4. A Brief History of U.S. ImmigrationA Brief History of U.S. Immigration
 The Immigration Act of 1965 (Hart-Cellar Act)The Immigration Act of 1965 (Hart-Cellar Act)
changed the criteria for admitting immigrants fromchanged the criteria for admitting immigrants from
concentrating on their nationality to focusing on theirconcentrating on their nationality to focusing on their
skills and profession.skills and profession.
 The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
granted amnesty to illegal aliens who had been in thegranted amnesty to illegal aliens who had been in the
U.S. before 1982 and made it a crime to hire anU.S. before 1982 and made it a crime to hire an
illegal alien.illegal alien.
 The Illegal Immigration Reform and ImmigrantThe Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996Responsibility Act of 1996 adopted stronger penaltiesadopted stronger penalties
against illegal immigration and streamlined theagainst illegal immigration and streamlined the
deportation process.deportation process.

5. Legal Immigration to the U.S.Legal Immigration to the U.S.
 Family Immigration Program admits spouses, parents, andFamily Immigration Program admits spouses, parents, and
minor children of U.S. citizens without numerical limits andminor children of U.S. citizens without numerical limits and
limited categories adult sons and daughters of citizens,limited categories adult sons and daughters of citizens,
siblings of citizens, and the spouses and children of non-siblings of citizens, and the spouses and children of non-
citizens.citizens.
 Employment based- collection of preferences ranging fromEmployment based- collection of preferences ranging from
“priority workers” to unskilled, and religious workers, and“priority workers” to unskilled, and religious workers, and
investors.investors.
 Humanitarian- refugees, asylees, and those receivingHumanitarian- refugees, asylees, and those receiving
“cancellation of removal”“cancellation of removal”
 Visa lottery for people from countries other than the primaryVisa lottery for people from countries other than the primary
sources of current immigration.sources of current immigration.

6. What Attracts Illegal ImmigrantsWhat Attracts Illegal Immigrants
to the U.S.?to the U.S.?
 Many are attracted by jobs. The typicalMany are attracted by jobs. The typical
Mexican worker earns 1/10th of what hisMexican worker earns 1/10th of what his
American counterpart makes.American counterpart makes.
 Communities of recently arrived legalCommunities of recently arrived legal
immigrants help create immigration networksimmigrants help create immigration networks
used by illegal aliens and serve as incubatorsused by illegal aliens and serve as incubators
for illegal immigration, providing jobs,for illegal immigration, providing jobs,
housing, and entrance to America for illegal-housing, and entrance to America for illegal-
alien relatives and fellow countrymen.alien relatives and fellow countrymen.

7. Permanent Residency Status = Green CardPermanent Residency Status = Green Card
 Green Card recipients may travel freely to and fromGreen Card recipients may travel freely to and from
the U.S. and are considered permanent residents.the U.S. and are considered permanent residents.
They are legally entitled to work as well as health,They are legally entitled to work as well as health,
education, taxation, retirement, social security, andeducation, taxation, retirement, social security, and
other benefits and may also serve as sponsors forother benefits and may also serve as sponsors for
their relatives seeking immigration Visas (Greentheir relatives seeking immigration Visas (Green
Cards).Cards).
 A Green Card holder may later apply for U.S.A Green Card holder may later apply for U.S.
Citizenship and still maintain citizenship in his/herCitizenship and still maintain citizenship in his/her
country of origin.country of origin.
 Green Cards are valid for a lifetime.Green Cards are valid for a lifetime.

8. Current Immigration FiguresCurrent Immigration Figures
 34.24 million immigrants (legal and illegal) are now living in34.24 million immigrants (legal and illegal) are now living in
the U.S. This is the highest number of immigrants everthe U.S. This is the highest number of immigrants ever
recorded in American history.recorded in American history.
 There areThere are 10 million10 million illegal immigrants currently living in theillegal immigrants currently living in the
U.S.U.S.
 In the past 4 years there has been a 4.3 million increase in theIn the past 4 years there has been a 4.3 million increase in the
number of immigrants in America, 2 million comes fromnumber of immigrants in America, 2 million comes from
illegal immigration.illegal immigration.
 The U.S. admits between 700,000 to 900,000 legal immigrantsThe U.S. admits between 700,000 to 900,000 legal immigrants
each year.each year.
 Each year there is an increase ofEach year there is an increase of 500,000500,000 illegal immigrants.illegal immigrants.

9. Pro Arguments: National SecurityPro Arguments: National Security
 Granting current illegal immigrants permanentGranting current illegal immigrants permanent
residency status will not harm nationalresidency status will not harm national
security.security.
 Terrorists already enter the U.S. illegally andTerrorists already enter the U.S. illegally and
they would not take this opportunity tothey would not take this opportunity to
become American citizens because of thebecome American citizens because of the
background checks and screening that wouldbackground checks and screening that would
be involved before being given permanentbe involved before being given permanent
residency status.residency status.

10. Pro Arguments: CriminalityPro Arguments: Criminality
 Having the strength and determination toHaving the strength and determination to
create a better life for yourself and your familycreate a better life for yourself and your family
should not be considered a crime.should not be considered a crime.
 Many illegal immigrants after coming toMany illegal immigrants after coming to
America become contributing members of ourAmerica become contributing members of our
society.society.

11. Pro Arguments: EconomyPro Arguments: Economy
 Legalization equals taxation, granting illegal immigrantsLegalization equals taxation, granting illegal immigrants
amnesty will remove the fear of deportation and encourageamnesty will remove the fear of deportation and encourage
them to participate more fully in the economy.them to participate more fully in the economy.
 Illegal immigration fills the gaps in the low end of the laborIllegal immigration fills the gaps in the low end of the labor
market occupying jobs not desired by American workers.market occupying jobs not desired by American workers.
 Low-wages for immigrants may enable threatened AmericanLow-wages for immigrants may enable threatened American
businesses to survive competition from low-wage businessesbusinesses to survive competition from low-wage businesses
abroad.abroad.
 Granting amnesty is more cost efficient than deportation.Granting amnesty is more cost efficient than deportation.

12. Pro Arguments: IntegrationPro Arguments: Integration
 The government is responsible for allowingThe government is responsible for allowing
illegal immigrants here in the first place due toillegal immigrants here in the first place due to
their lack of funding and other oversights.their lack of funding and other oversights.
 Illegal immigrants have become integrated intoIllegal immigrants have become integrated into
the community and should be grantedthe community and should be granted
permanent residency status.permanent residency status.

13. Con Arguments: National SecurityCon Arguments: National Security
 Allowing amnesty to illegal immigrants onlyAllowing amnesty to illegal immigrants only
encourages more illegal immigration making itencourages more illegal immigration making it
easier for terrorists to enter the U.S.easier for terrorists to enter the U.S.

14. Con Arguments: CriminalityCon Arguments: Criminality
 It is necessary to make distinctions betweenIt is necessary to make distinctions between
those who obey the law and those who violatethose who obey the law and those who violate
it.it.
 Granting amnesty to illegal immigrants isGranting amnesty to illegal immigrants is
rewarding lawbreakers and undermines ourrewarding lawbreakers and undermines our
ability to regulate immigration. It alsoability to regulate immigration. It also
legitimizes illegal immigration bylegitimizes illegal immigration by
incorporating it into our immigration policy.incorporating it into our immigration policy.

15. Con Arguments: EconomyCon Arguments: Economy
 It is a myth that immigration to the U.S. is largely connectedIt is a myth that immigration to the U.S. is largely connected
to the availability of employment.to the availability of employment.
 Illegal immigrants deplete social services, education, andIllegal immigrants deplete social services, education, and
emergency medical care paid for by American citizens.emergency medical care paid for by American citizens.
 Based on Census Bureau data, a study found that when allBased on Census Bureau data, a study found that when all
costs are considered, illegal households created a net fiscalcosts are considered, illegal households created a net fiscal
deficit at the federal level of more than 10 billion dollars indeficit at the federal level of more than 10 billion dollars in
2002. This study also estimated that if amnesty for illegal2002. This study also estimated that if amnesty for illegal
aliens was granted the net fiscal deficit would grow to 29aliens was granted the net fiscal deficit would grow to 29
billion dollars.billion dollars.

17. ConsensusConsensus
We should not grant illegal immigrantsWe should not grant illegal immigrants
permanent residency status because:permanent residency status because:
 it would only encourage more illegal immigrationit would only encourage more illegal immigration
 the majority of illegal immigrants arethe majority of illegal immigrants are
uneducated/unskilled and if granted amnesty theyuneducated/unskilled and if granted amnesty they
would create a major drain on the economywould create a major drain on the economy
 we should not break the promise made to thewe should not break the promise made to the
American people in 1986 that granting permanentAmerican people in 1986 that granting permanent
residency to illegal immigrants would only occurresidency to illegal immigrants would only occur
onceonce

18. SourcesSources
 http://uscis.gov/graphics/ihttp://uscis.gov/graphics/i
ndex.htmndex.htm
 http://www.cis.org/index.chttp://www.cis.org/index.c
gigi
 http://www.us-green-card-http://www.us-green-card-
lottery.orglottery.org
 http://uscis.gov/graphics/shttp://uscis.gov/graphics/s
hared/aboutus/statistics/2hared/aboutus/statistics/2
003Yearbook.pdf003Yearbook.pdf
 http://www.whitehouse.gohttp://www.whitehouse.go
v/news/releases/2002/10/v/news/releases/2002/10/
print/20021016-18.htmlprint/20021016-18.html
 http://www.immigrationlinhttp://www.immigrationlin
ks.com/news/newshints0ks.com/news/newshints0
8.htm8.htm
 ImmigrationImmigration by Mary E.by Mary E.
WilliamsWilliams
 The Immigration DebateThe Immigration Debate
Remaking AmericaRemaking America byby
John IsbisterJohn Isbister

19. AsylumAsylum
 A form of protection that allows individuals who are in theA form of protection that allows individuals who are in the
U.S. to remain here, provided that they meet the definition of aU.S. to remain here, provided that they meet the definition of a
refugee and are not barred from either applying for or beingrefugee and are not barred from either applying for or being
granted asylum. Eventually asylees are able to adjust theirgranted asylum. Eventually asylees are able to adjust their
status to lawful permanent resident.status to lawful permanent resident.
 A refugee is a person outside of his or her country ofA refugee is a person outside of his or her country of
nationality who is unable or unwilling to return because ofnationality who is unable or unwilling to return because of
persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on accountpersecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account
of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular socialof race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social
group, or political opinion.group, or political opinion.

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