Myth and Reality in the U.S. Immigration Debate

This textbook takes a critical perspective on how current immigration laws have been formulated. Central insights from the rich immigration literature and from law and society scholars show how "illegality" is itself produced by law, a status with challenging consequences for individuals and families. Various periods of liberalization and restriction in U.S. history demonstrate that politics shape law and, consequently, whether and how immigrants can come to the U.S. and what opportunities are made available to them once they arrive. This insight is crucial to the current debate because it returns the decision about our collective treatment of immigrants to the realm of politics and society. Here we can reconsider the efficacy and humanity of current immigration law.