2. Immigration Laws in the Past
Immigration laws have been constantly changing and developing over time. In
1790, immigrants had to reside in the US for two years before being able to
become a citizen. Eventually the 1882 Immigration Act passed which required
new immigrants to pay a tax upon entry. Nearly a decade later, The Office of
Immigration, now the Immigration and Naturalization Service, was created to ban
all disease ridden, polygamists, and insane from entering the United States. Over
time, the list of people excluded from the US began to lengthen as more
categories were added. In 1907, the immigration tax was increased, and in 1917,
immigrants under the age of 16 took a literacy test to prove their ability to read.
Almost all Asian immigrants were banned by this point in time. A number of
immigration acts were put into place throughout the 1900’s. An immigration ceiling
was created of how many were allowed in each year, but every few years a new
act was passed to reduce this number. Set percentages told how many
immigrants were allowed from each area of the world. The US Border Patrol
came about in 1924 and by 1996, more agents were being summoned and fences
were being built along the US/Mexico border. (PBS-Immigration Policy: Past and
Present)
3. Present Immigration Laws
Currently the Immigration and
Naturalization Service has the
immigration ceiling set for
675,000 per year. Some
exceptions for family members
may be considered under strict
conditions. As an immigrant,
one must be able to provide a
valuable skill to the US, joining
his or her family, protecting
refugees, or extending diversity.
(Immigration Policy Center)
4. In Process Immigration Laws
Our immigration system is flawed in so
many aspects. President Obama is
currently working on ways to ensure that
everyone abides by the rules. According
to whitehouse.gov, “11 million people are
living in the shadows” as employers hire
undocumented workers. This is affecting
both the economy and the country.
Obama plans to strengthen border patrol
and “crack down” on employers hiring
illegal immigrants. He has high hopes that
these immigrants will come forward and
begin paying taxes, learn English, and go
through background checks before they
are able to become a US citizen. By
everyone working together and following
the same set of rules, Obama hopes that
our country can achieve these goals.
(Immigration-whitehouse.gov)
5. Impact on children, families, teachers, and
schools
There are about 1.8 million undocumented
students attending schools in the United
States. The United States offers every
immigrant a K-12 education at no cost. Plyer
vs. Doe was a case where the Supreme Court
struck down a case to not offer immigrant
children the same education as a legal
immigrant or U.S. citizens. Also, immigrants
can qualify for free and reduced lunches just
like any other student. Many immigrant
students are on free and reduced lunch so
this is a big help to the families.
6. Impact on children, families, teachers, and
schools
The Family Education and Rights Policy
Act is an act that protects immigrants
from being turned into immigration
services for being in the U.S. illegally.
This way the families do not have to
worry about contacts at the school
reporting them. The illegal students who
are receiving a K-12 education did not
bring this upon themselves. It was a
decision made by their parents or
guardians. Not providing them an
education goes against the 14th
amendment. The amount of state funding
that goes towards illegal immigrants
education is about 11.2 billion a year.
7. Impact on children, families, teachers, and
schools
School is a safe place for illegal immigrants.
Teachers want the best for these students.
Many of them are enrolled in a ESOL program.
These programs, along with the loving
environment and encouraging teachers,
provide hope and a future for these students. I
have taught many students who are not legal
citizens. They have been some of the sweetest
and most loving children I have ever taught.
Their home environment is a tough one.
Parents often work long and hard to make a
living, there are often times no one to help with
homework, and there is always the fear that
someone will get deported. Two years ago I
had a situation where one of my student’s Dads
got deported back to Mexico. These situations
are hard on the family and also tough for their
children to understand. As a 10 year old who
has a father who takes great care of him and
provides the meals for the family to eat, it's
hard to think why the United States would not
allow him to stay.
8. Impact on children, families, teachers, and
schools
Even though children are offered a free K-12
education, when these students graduate
college, they are faced with challenges when
attending college. About 5-10% of illegal
immigrants attend a 4 year university. Many are
forced to pay out of state tuition and are not
offered any financial aid or scholarships.
Eighteen states allow illegal immigrants who
have been in the United States school system for
at least 5 years to pay in state tuition. Georgia
does not allow students to receive in-state
tuition. This affects many students that want to
go on and receive an education. Illegal
immigrants that were here since an early age
want the same education as their peers.
“Miguel Angel Martinez Olvera, 19, was
brought to the U.S. illegally from Mexico when
he was 3. He wants to go to one of the state’s
technical schools to be a paramedic or nurse
but can’t afford to pay out-of-state tuition.”
(Marietta Daily Journal)
9. Immigration impact on the classroom
President Jimmy Carter said it best
when speaking about our diverse
country. He said, “We become not a
melting pot but a beautiful mosaic.
Different people, different beliefs,
different yearnings, different hopes,
different dreams.” For centuries
families have immigrated to the United
States in the hope of starting a new,
prosperous life. Today is no different.
Our country is the most diverse in the
world. With that said, immigration,
whether it be legal or illegal, has a
major impact on our country, and in
particular our education system.
“Immigrant families frequently
struggle with economic, social, and
language constraints that impact their
understanding of, and integration into
American public schools” (Espósito
and Favela, p. 73).
10. Positive impact in the
classroom
Having immigrant students in
the classroom ensures a
culturally diverse mix of
students. “A heterogeneous
team breeds heterogeneous
thoughts” (TIDEs Inc., 2012),
while these students bring
new religion, culture,
customs, and experiences to
the classroom. Learning
opportunities are provided
for everyone, the teacher
included. Many times these
students provide a new
vantage point and look at
situations differently. These
students have a special
appreciation for learning
opportunities and new
experiences in and out of the
classroom.
11. Negative aspects of immigration in the
classroom
Having immigrant students in the classroom definitely makes the classroom diverse,
but it can be very challenging, at the same time. These students are very transient.
Because these students move so often it is sometimes difficult for them to make friends
knowing there is a possibility they will move again. As mentioned before, “immigrant
families frequently struggle with economic, social, and language constraints” (Espósito
and Favela, p. 73). It is difficult to communicate with the parents due to language
barriers. In addition, because many of these families struggle economically, in many
cases both parents work, leaving the students at home alone after school. In many
instances they are left to care for younger siblings. Unfortunately, homework and other
school responsibilities get pushed aside. The lack of parental support at home is seen
in many students’ low academic achievement.
12. Immigration in the classroom video
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13. What Teachers Can Do
• Country and region of origin and language spoken at home.
• Specific immigration history of the child. For example: how long has the child
lived in the United States? Who does s/he live with? Which significant people or
experiences where left behind?
• What was the child’s previous school experience like? Was it an urban or rural
school? Did the child present difficulties in school?
• Get to know the parents’ skills, strengths and resources. What did the parents do
for a living in their native country? How can their previous experiences be utilized
in the school?
• Potential stressors the child may be facing such as family conflicts, work
hardships, financial limitations.
• Availability of medical services. What kind of medical support does the child have
in the United States? Do parents know about services available for them?
• Help the child stay connected with his cultural roots.
• Encourage immigrant students to express their feelings in ways they are able to
communicate such as asking them to draw pictures of their previous school,
familiar objects, stories, etc.
14. Resources
• Brumback, K. (2013, December 6). Immigrant Students Seek Georgia’s In-State Tuition Rates. Marietta Daily
Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2014 from
http://mdjonline.com/bookmark/24174707-Immigrant-students-seek-Georgia-s-in-state-tuition-rates
• Corredor, M. (n.d.). Climbing the school ladder: A challenging task for immigrant Latino students. Retrieved
September 21, 2014.
• Expósito, S., & Favela, A. (2003). Reflective Voices: Valuing Immigrant Students and Teaching with Ideological
Clarity. Urban Review, 35(1), 73.
• Fisher, E. (2012). Court Action on Immigration. Senate Research Office. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from
http://www.senate.ga.gov/sro/Documents/AtIssue/September2012At_Issue_Court_Action_on_Immigration.pdf
• How the United States Immigration System Works: A Fact Sheet. (2014, March 1). Retrieved September 17,
2014 from
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/how-united-states-immigration-system-works-fact-sheet
• Immigration. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2014, from
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration
• Immigration Policy: Past and Present. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2014, from
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/foreducators_lesson_plan_03.html
• Library of Congress. Immigration. (n.d.) Retrieved September 15, 2014, from http://www.loc.gov/
teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/introduction2.html
• National Association of Secondary School Principals. Undocumented Students. (2011) Retrieved September
16, 2014, from http://www.nassp.org/Content.aspx?topic=Undocumented_Students
• TIDEs Inc. 5 Benefits of Diversity in a 21st Century Classroom. (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from
http://www.tidesinc.org/2012/09/30/5-benefits-of-diversity-in-a-21st-century-classroom/
• Shields,K. & Richard, B. (2004). Journal Issue: Children of Immigrant Families The Future of Children, Volume
14 (Number 2). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from
http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?
journalid=39&articleid=123§ionid=808
• Undocumented Student Tuition State Action. (2014). National Conference State Legisllatures.
