They Must Go? Current Issues Facing America: Immigration Directions: Read each of the following newspaper excerpts. Determine the issue being discussed and then explain whether you agree or disagree with the article. United States Sweeps Up 2,100 Illegal Immigrants June 15, 2006 HOUSTON, June 15, 2006 (UPI) — U.S. immigration authorities said they have rounded up more than 2,100 illegal immigrants in sweeps across the country in the past three weeks. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assistant secretary Julie Myers made the announcement in Houston, saying the raids had netted fugitives, child predators, and gang members, the Los Angeles Times reported. "America's welcome does not extend to immigrants who come here to commit crimes," Myers said. She said arrests were made in 34 states, with California accounting for the most, with 722. www.worldgeography.abc-clio.com
Issue: ____________________________________ Why is it an issue? ______________________________________________________________________ Do you agree or disagree with the article? ___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ Haitian Boat People Will Be Repatriated February 23, 2004 WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2004 (UPI) — Haitians trying to flee violence in their homeland by attempting to sail to the United States will be intercepted and returned, the White House said. "Safeguards are in place," spokesperson Scott McClellan said. "We have a plan in place to stop any boats and boat migrants will be returned . . . absent any safety concerns." Haitian refugees made the harrowing journey to Florida in the mid-1990s as political violence flared in the country when military rulers refused to allow the return to Haiti of elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Rebels are now fighting Aristide's regime over what they say is corruption, the crushing of dissent, and a refusal to share power. Cap-Haitien, the country's second largest city, has already fallen in the uprising, which has featured mass looting. The United States and other nations are attempting to broker a political settlement, but have advised their nationals to leave the country. www.worldgeography.abc-clio.com
Issue: ____________________________________ Why is it an issue? ______________________________________________________________________ Do you agree or disagree with the article? ___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ INS Begins Implementing New Immigration Restrictions October 3, 2002 WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2002 (UPI) — The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) this week began enforcing some new and old but unimplemented restrictions to ensure that those who enter the United States do not end up harming the country. On October 20 last year, soon after the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., Congress passed the USA Patriot Act (2001). The act mandated that the U.S. Justice Department to develop a system to better control immigration. The new system was implemented as a trial from September 11-30 and became operative yesterday. Besides making new laws, U.S. authorities also decided to increase vigilant enforcement of visa laws and arrest and deport visa overstays as well as deportation absconders. The State Department asked the INS to delay processing of work permits of aliens. Most of these restrictions have been in place since World War II but were not always enforced. Most controversial of these restrictions is the decision to fingerprint and photograph citizens of certain countries. Initially, it involved people from the so-called rogue states—Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Syria—but late last month the Justice Department sent a secret memo to INS officials informing them that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen had been added to the list. This restriction has been criticized by human rights groups as an example of racial profiling as it signals out Muslims, even those from the countries allied with the United States. www.worldgeography.abc-clio.com
Issue: ____________________________________ Why is it an issue? ______________________________________________________________________ Do you agree or disagree with the article? ___________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________ 1. What is the key issue these three articles have in common? ________________________ 2. Do you think Americans are dealing with this issue for the first time in U.S. history? Explain. _____________ _________________________________________________________________________________________
