Transforming America: Perspectives on U.S. Immigration [3 Volumes]

Utilizing multiple perspectives of related academic disciplines, this three-volume set of contributed essays enables readers to understand the complexity of immigration to the United States and grasp how our history of immigration has made this nation what it is today. Transforming America: Perspectives on U.S. Immigration covers immigration to the United States from the founding of America to the present. Comprising 3 volumes of 31 original scholarly essays, the work is the first of its kind to explore immigration and immigration policy in the United States throughout its history. These essays provide a variety of interdisciplinary perspectives from experts in cultural anthropology, history, political science, economics, and education. The book will provide readers with a critical understanding of the historical precedents to today's mass migration. Viewing the immigration issue from the perspectives of the contributors' various relevant disciplines enables a better grasp of the complex conundrum presented by legal and illegal immigration policy.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Chapter One: An Overview of Immigration to the United States, 1945–2010 Michael C. LeMay Introduction Immigration Laws and Policy Enacted since 1945 The Storm-Door Era, Enacting "Fortress America" Immigration and Related Policy Issues Conclusion References Chapter Two: Immigration and Education from 1945 to the Present: A Complicated and Contentious Connection Edmund J. Sass Introduction An Immigration and Education Chronology The 1940s and 1950s: Not Much to Talk About Civil Rights, Education, and Immigration Reform in the 1960s The Litigious 1970s The 1980s: Refugees and the Reagan Years The 1990s: Litigation and Legislation The 21st Century Now and in the Future References Chapter Three: The Search for Talent Allan C. Ornstein Introduction Geography and Smart Thinking Reaffirming the Best and the Brightest Brain Drain Counts Centers of Creativity Conclusion References Chapter Four: The Policy Conundrum of Illegal Immigration: Exponential Growth, 1970–2010 Michael C. LeMay Introduction The Roots of the Problem Legislative Acts, 1965–2006 Border Control and Antiterrorism Concerns The Policy Conundrum—Good Politics, Bad Policy Continuing Issues Conclusion Notes References Chapter Five: Post-9/11 Immigration Policy, National Security, and Human Rights Implications for Muslim Americans Elizabeth Shaffer-Wishner Introduction Impetus and Methods Immigration and Post-9/11 Policies Useful Frameworks Immigration Policy as National Security Immigration Policy and Human Rights After the Scare: Post-9/11 Policy Results and Ongoing Initiatives Questioning Realism Implications and Recommendations Notes References Chapter Six: Immigration and the U.S. Liberal Welfare State: Why Mainstream Theories Fail to Explain Patterns of Immigration and Access to Political Mobilization Laura C. Thaut and Carla L. Reyes Introduction Migrant Access to the U.S. Liberal Welfare State: Stratification by Entry Categories Pre-1965 Welfare Policy: Restriction 1965–1990: Relative Open Access 1990s: Restriction by Immigration Status Current Policy: Further Restriction at the State Level and through Federal Enforcement Priorities Immigrant Mobilization: Institutional Opportunity Structure in Theory and Practice Immigrant Social Rights and Claims-Making: Power Resources Theory and Stratification The Stratifying System of Immigrants' Social Rights: Obstacles to Collective Mobilization Power Resources Theory Analysis Informal Modes of Immigrant Mobilization and Social Welfare Conclusion Notes References Chapter Seven: Gender, Immigration, and the U.S. Labor Market Katharine M. Donato Introduction Immigration Policy and Implications for Employment Gender, Employment, and Immigration Gender and the Immigrant Labor Force Immigrant Labor Force Participation by Age and Gender Labor Force Activity of Specific Immigrant Groups Discussion and Conclusion Note References Chapter Eight: Thwarting Federal Immigration Reform: The Politics of Welfare Devolution in the United States Adriano Udani Introduction Background of PRWORA and IIRIRA States' Rights and Noncitizen Membership in America Implications Suggestions for Research Conclusion Note References Chapter Nine: Attitudes toward Immigrants and Immigration Policy Elizabeth Fussell Introduction Trends in Public Opinion on Immigration and Immigrants Theories Explaining Attitudes toward Immigrants and Immigration Policy Contact, Conflict, and Worldviews as Causes of Prejudice toward New Racial Groups Prejudice, Interests, Identities, and Symbolic Politics as Explanations of Immigration Policy Preferences Future Directions in Research on Attitudes toward Immigrants and Immigration Notes References Chapter Ten: Immigrant Health and Health Care Provisions in the United States: Contemporary Paradoxes and Challenges Fernando Riosmena and Warren C. Jochem Introduction The Immigrant Health Advantages Data Artifacts Return Migration Selection Emigration Selection Sociocultural Protection Originating in the United States and Sending Countries Immigrant Health Trajectories in the United States and the Negative Acculturation Hypothesis Immigrant Access to Health Care Private and Public Insurances Options beyond Health Insurance Conclusion A Final Cautionary Note on the Limitations of Our Review Notes References Chapter Eleven: Remigration of Immigrants to the United States: Who Remigrates and Why? Ayumi Takenaka Introduction General Trend of Remigration to the United States Growing Remigration Worldwide Estimating the Volume of Remigration to the United States Where Do Remigrants Come From? The Characteristics of Remigrants to the United States Why Do They Remigrate to the United States? Return to Human Capital Type of Capital Accumulated in the First Host Society Conclusion Notes References Chapter Twelve: Where Is Immigration Policy Headed? Policy Conflicts Then and Now Katherine Fennelly and Donna R. Gabaccia Introduction Warfare and Immigration Wartime Nationalism, Xenophobia, and the Creation of the Alien Invader Rational Policies and Expanding Governments: Protecting Americans in Wartime Warfare and the Foreign Laborers War and Refugees Some Concluding Thoughts References About the Editor and Contributors Index

About the Author :
Michael C. LeMay is professor emeritus from California State University-San Bernardino. His published works include ABC-CLIO's Illegal Immigration and Praeger's Guarding the Gates: Immigration and National Security.

Review :
This is a useful resource for undergraduates. Summing Up: Recommended. The chapters provide interesting details of immigration during the intended time period and present the issues that were at the forefront at that time. . . . This book could be useful in the reference collection or in the circulating collection of academic libraries.