IMMIGRATION POLICY/ LATINOS IN THE U.S.

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IMMIGRATION POLICY/LATINOS IN THE U.S.
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THE NUMBERS GAME(S)

• Flows
• Stocks
• Proportions
• Costs and benefits
• Rates of assimilation
• Key issue Diversity or melting pot?

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Undocumented Immigrants in the United States
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Mexican-Origin Population in United States,
1900-2003
Mx-born (9.9)
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Geographical Concentration of Mexican Migrants
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Remittances to Mexico, 1990-2003
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Border Patrol Agents
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Effects of Border Enforcement

• 1. Shifting routes (toward Arizona)
• 2. Increased use of coyotes (smugglers)
• 3. Reduced circularity (more permanent stays)
• 4. More women and families
• 5. Increased loss of life (gt 500 per year)

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Migration and the Global Economic Crisis (2008)

• Context joblessness everywhere
• New entries down (not due to border enforcement,
  since 95 of migrants without papers get through)
• Return migration growing (despite concern in
  Mexico about major increase)
• Net migration from Mexico zero

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OBAMA AND THE CIR

• Path to citizenship Apply for green card in 10
  years, citizenship 3 years after that pay 1,000
  fine plus back taxes stay employed and learn
  English (faster track for Dream Act youth)
• Border patrol DHS to receive 3 billion for
  improved border security, including use of
  surveillance drones and 3,500 additional agents,
  plus 1.5 billion for fencing. Within 5 years DHS
  must achieve 100 surveillance of border and
  apprehend 90 of illegal crossers in high-risk
  (densely populated) areas
• Skilled workers visas for skilled engineers and
  computer programmers to increase from 65,000 per
  year to 110,00, with an eventual cap as high as
  180,000
• Guest workers new program of 20,000 for
  low-skilled workers, rising to 75,000 by 2019
  limitation on farm workers
• Family visas tighter restrictions on family
  unification point system based on family ties
  and work skills by 2015

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What Would You Do?