Immigration Policy and International Security
Aparna AgnihotriCary Chang
Daniel NguyenDiana Thai
Melissa GutierrezRina Patel
From Past to PresentPAST
• US welcomes immigrants• European immigrants were a
large majority in the First Wave • 1890’s: security at the ports of
entry now, necessary to pass a health examination
• Freedom to move freely within borders
PRESENT
• In the 21st century, immigration policies and international security is more complex
• Restriction on the amount of immigrants entering the country, due to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, passed by Johnson
• Original paperwork proving legality
• Time consuming to become a citizen, lengthy process
• More difficult to receive visa’s• More rules and regulations
Effects of 9/11Effects of 9/11
importance of international importance of international security has heightened security has heightened since September 11, 2001 since September 11, 2001
international scare and international scare and more emphasis needed to more emphasis needed to regulate the free regulate the free movement of individualsmovement of individuals
need for tighter security need for tighter security and border controland border control
•creation of the creation of the Department of Homeland Department of Homeland Security in 2003Security in 2003
•Senate and the House Senate and the House drafted many bills in order drafted many bills in order to prevent another 9/11 to prevent another 9/11 from occurringfrom occurring
The Patriot ActThe Patriot Act acronym stands for acronym stands for UUniting niting
and and SStrengthening trengthening AAmerica by merica by PProviding roviding AAppropriate ppropriate TTools ools RRequired to equired to IIntercept and ntercept and OObstruct bstruct TTerrorism Act of 2001errorism Act of 2001
increases the ability of law increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to enforcement agencies to search telephone, e-mail search telephone, e-mail communications, medical, communications, medical, financial, and other recordsfinancial, and other records
detaining and deporting detaining and deporting immigrants suspected of immigrants suspected of terrorism-related acts. terrorism-related acts.
•signed into law by President George W. Bush in October 2001
•criticized for weakening protections of civil liberties
The REAL ID Act of 2005The REAL ID Act of 2005
• Became a federal law by Bush Became a federal law by Bush
• imposes certain security, authentication and issuance procedures imposes certain security, authentication and issuance procedures standards for the state driver's licenses and state ID cardsstandards for the state driver's licenses and state ID cards
• Homeland Security checks for these forms of identification for Homeland Security checks for these forms of identification for “official purposes” such as when boarding commercial flights, “official purposes” such as when boarding commercial flights, entering federal buildings, and nuclear power plantsentering federal buildings, and nuclear power plants
• Changes the visa limits for temporary workersChanges the visa limits for temporary workers
• New national standards for state issued drivers licensesNew national standards for state issued drivers licenses
• Tightens laws on the application for Tightens laws on the application for asylum and deportation of asylum and deportation of aliensaliens
The Comprehensive Immigration The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007Reform Act of 2007
Known as S. 1348Known as S. 1348 Would have provided legal status and a path to Would have provided legal status and a path to
legal citizenship for 12 million illegal immigrants legal citizenship for 12 million illegal immigrants in the USin the US
Seen as a compromise to legalization and Seen as a compromise to legalization and increased border enforcementincreased border enforcement
Would fund for 300 miles of vehicle barriersWould fund for 300 miles of vehicle barriers 105 camera and radar towers105 camera and radar towers 20,000 or more Border Patrol agents20,000 or more Border Patrol agents Attempting to restructure visa criteria for high Attempting to restructure visa criteria for high
skilled workersskilled workers Bill did not passBill did not pass
H.R. 4337 – The Border Protection, H.R. 4337 – The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Imm. Control Act of Antiterrorism, and Illegal Imm. Control Act of 20052005
Introduced by Introduced by Sensenbrenner, a Sensenbrenner, a Republican from Republican from WisconsinWisconsin
700 mile fence on 700 mile fence on the U.S. and the U.S. and Mexico borderMexico border
Mandates Mandates employers to verify employers to verify workers’ legal workers’ legal status through status through electronic meanselectronic means
Perhaps having a Perhaps having a fence on the U.S and fence on the U.S and Canada borderCanada border
Makes it a crime to Makes it a crime to assist undocumented assist undocumented people to stay in the people to stay in the U.S. – human U.S. – human smugglingsmuggling
Infringes human Infringes human rights of asylum rights of asylum seekersseekers
Did not pass in the Did not pass in the SenateSenate
Border Security and Terrorism Border Security and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2005Prevention Act of 2005
Bill was not passedBill was not passed If implemented would cost an additional $870 If implemented would cost an additional $870
million over the 2006-2010 periodmillion over the 2006-2010 period Give more power to DHS by allowing them to Give more power to DHS by allowing them to
dictate over maritime borders and international dictate over maritime borders and international landland
would instruct the Department of Homeland would instruct the Department of Homeland Security:Security: to hire more personnel at borders for inspectionto hire more personnel at borders for inspection install monitors which can detect radiation at ports of install monitors which can detect radiation at ports of
entry into the U.S.entry into the U.S. create a division of Office of Air and Marine Operationscreate a division of Office of Air and Marine Operations
Border issue with Mexico
Most bills passed to deter illegal immigrants from entering the US
Threat of drugs, crime, and terrorism as people cross the border
Fear that criminals could be entering the country
ConclusionConclusion
► 9/11 questioned US supremacy militarily9/11 questioned US supremacy militarily► According to Professor Bach, at UCI, in the According to Professor Bach, at UCI, in the
past 4 decades 23,000 people have died from past 4 decades 23,000 people have died from terrorism – so are anti terrorist laws really terrorism – so are anti terrorist laws really that effective?that effective?
► Many of these bills have not passed because Many of these bills have not passed because they are extreme and don’t really ensure they are extreme and don’t really ensure safetysafety
► International security has been heightened International security has been heightened and more rules and regulations have been and more rules and regulations have been created to make it harder for “terrorists” to created to make it harder for “terrorists” to strike, yet it is a problem that will never reach strike, yet it is a problem that will never reach a finite solutiona finite solution