Document Type
Symposium
Publication Date
Fall 1994
Publication Citation
2 Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies 5 (1994)
Abstract
Through the use of their own empirical studies, the authors
address three themes: 1) immigration in the global context; 2) the
scale and characteristics of immigration to the United States; and
3) the. expected future impact of immigration to the United States.
The authors focus on U.S. immigration by giving an empirical
comparative history which suggests that, while the sheer number of
immigrants to the United States has grown, the share of foreignborn
people in the U.S. population is well below historic highs.
Next they discuss the characteristics of recent and current
immigrants to the United States in terms of magnitude, diversity,
and conventional notions of "quality" (education and income), as
well as the differing types of U.S. immigration policy immigrants
may face. Finally, the authors consider the future of immigration
to the United States and suggest that legal immigration will
continue to have predominantly positive impacts, while negative
impacts will continue to flow from illegal immigration. They note,
however, that there are powerful principles and restraints that limit
efforts to curb illegal immigration. The authors conclude that the
situation is not dire; rather, they believe that the ties created by
immigrants may become increasingly important to the United States
in an interrelated world economy.
Recommended Citation
Passel, Jeffrey S. and Fix, Michael
(1994)
"U. S. Immigration in a Global Context: Past, Present, and Future,"
Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 2.
Available at:
https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ijgls/vol2/iss1/2