US Immigration and Citizenship Policy 383C
Professor Ruth Wasem
Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
SRH 3.226
Course Objectives
This course introduces graduate students to policy development principles in the context of US Immigration and Citizenship policy. The course provides foundational readings and discussions of key theories and policy constructs. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of US Immigration and Citizenship policy as well as refine their skills as policy analysts. Successful participants will synthesize complex immigration issues succinctly, analyze controversial immigration issues objectively, and develop a policy proposal to reform or revise US Immigration and Citizenship policy.
Brief Description
This course synthesizes immigration issues as a multi-tiered debate. It opens with a global perspective on the push-pull forces driving international migration. It reviews the historical underpinnings of U.S. immigration law. In turn, it breaks down current U.S. immigration law and policy into key elements: border control and visa security; legal immigration; documentation and verification; interior immigration enforcement; and refugees and other humanitarian populations. It delineates the debate for a range of issues, including asylum seekers, birthright citizenship, border security, detention and removal, employment eligibility verification, legalization, naturalization, permanent admissions, temporary workers, and worksite enforcement.
Participants will prepare for each session by watching the video presentation for the topic of the week and reading the materials assigned for the topic. The weekly readings are typically four articles, book chapters, or reports that represent a range of approaches to the topic. All the required readings, podcasts, and videos will be available on Canvas. The video will be available on Canvas and UTBox. Participants will submit a discussion question from the preparatory materials for each class and will engage in a discussion of the readings during class.