9.5 Migration and Immigration and the 1990s and 2000s

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 - dissolves racially based quota system from 1920s, gave preference to immigrants with relatives in the U.S. or with critical occupations

• key stimulus to population and economic growth

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986

• Reagan attempted to create fair entry process for immigrants

• failed to stop unauthorized immigrants in search of work

• granted amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants from Latin America

Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 - Clinton reformed admission and deportation

• strengthened immigration laws, restructured immigration law enforcement, addressed undocumented immigration, ineffective

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (2012) - protected undocumented young people from deportation, allowed to continue education and apply for work permits (controversial and partially blocked by federal judges)

border guards increased, increased deportation of undocumented immigrants, still anger at Obama immigration policies

promised to force Mexico to build border wall and require Mexico and Central American governments to stop migrants at borders

promised to use courts to end Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (2012) program

restricted legal immigration, limited the number of green cards to legal residents and asylum seekers, prevent all immigrants from receiving welfare in first 5 years of arrival

economies - shift to Sun Belt, friendly business environment (small government, low taxes, weak labor unions, low-wage economies)

political power - increased population in conservative states → more political representation, movement of Southern conservatives to Republicanism

culture - increased popularity of country music, Christianity, conservatism, guns, some cultures changed by immigrants

population - growing, increasingly diverse, aging

decline of traditional family, growing number of single-parent families