Learning Objectives

  • Understand the volume and diversity of recent immigration to the United States.
  • Understand the general characteristics of recent immigrants, especially new Hispanic and Asian groups, groups from the Caribbean, Middle Eastern and Arab groups, and immigrants from Africa.
  • Characterize the new immigrant groups in terms of whether they are entering through the primary or secondary labor markets or through ethnic enclaves.
  • Explain the attitudes of the American public as well as the values and statistical characteristics of the immigrants.
  • Understand the various positions regarding the costs and benefits of immigration, undocumented immigrants, and DREAMers.
  • Explain the points of view and evidence regarding whether contemporary immigration will be segmented.
  • Place current immigration in the context of globalization, and cite some of the implications of immigration for “traditional” American minority groups.