What priorities should determine U.S. immigration policy?
Preview this unit for the table of contents, a student reading excerpt, and one lesson plan. Preview all units.
Additional unit descriptions for the Current Issues Series that summarize the historical context, student readings, and skill development are available on this MIRO board.
Second edition. September 2018. – The United States often defines itself as a nation of immigrants. The idealism surrounding immigration helps explain the deep feelings it evokes in the public policy arena. Today, these sentiments jostle with concerns about the economy, national security, social relations, and other issues that shape the discourse on U.S. immigration policy. In Immigration and the U.S. Policy Debate, students wrestle with the complex relationship between immigration policy, the responses of various stakeholders, and the experiences of immigrants in the United States throughout history. The unit explores the history of immigration to the United States and recent U.S. immigration policy. It is divided into three parts. Each part includes:
- Student readings
- Accompanying study guides, graphic organizers, and key terms
- Lessons aligned with the readings that develop analytical skills (including at least one that focuses on building geographic literacy) and can be completed in one or more periods
- Videos that feature leading experts
This unit also includes an Options Role Play as the key lesson and additional synthesis lessons that allow students to synthesize new knowledge for assessment. You do not need to use the entire unit; feel free to select what suits your classroom needs.
“I used your immigration unit on parent visiting day and it was a smashing success! The parents really gave wonderful feedback on the debate we had. Especially great was how up to date the material is.” – Christopher, History Teacher, Michigan