Border Crossings

From the first arrival of pilgrims to the present influx of Mexican agricultural laborers, immigration has continuously been an essential part of United States (US) history. Despite the history of immigration in the US it still remains at the forefront of political discourse, creatingboth controversy and dispute. What is the current debate surrounding immigration?

Opening ActivityINSTRUCTIONSIn groups of 4, each student should choose one question and write down their answers. After 5 minutes, all groups can discuss the questions and answers as a class.1. What is the current relationship between U.S. and Mexican citizens, specifically immigrants?2. In what ways do you think factors resulting from immigration are connected to your daily life?3. Define immigration. What are some results of immigration? How does immigration affect the state of the location in regards to population, economy, and social factors?4. What are some reasons why people choose to leave their home country to immigrate into another country?

CLASS ACTIVITY

DIRECTIONS• Using this interactive map, students should identify immigration patterns in their geographical region from the past fifty years, as well as other major metropolitan hubs in the country, and in the states bordering Mexico.Immigration Explorer Map - NY Times.http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/10/us/20090310-immigrationexplorer.html• Answer the following question, “ Why do you think immigration patterns have changed in your community over the past twenty years?”• Take a look at the Mexico and US country profiles and discuss the factors that make the US an attractive place for Mexican and other immigrants.

Class ActivityTo further broaden your understanding, choose one vocabulary word below and identify words associated with it.In groups of 4, each student should choose a word from below and create a word diagram that consists of relevant words. Use the diagram below as an example. After ten minutes, all groups can briefly present their diagrams and explain their reasoning for choosing the relevant words.Citizen – a native or naturalized member o f a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection (distinguished from alien).Cost-benefit analysis - analyzing a project or a process in order to discover the benefits it could bring and the costs it will most likely includeEmigration - to leave one place or country, especially one’s native country, in order to settle in anotherGlobalization - the process by which the economics, politics, and societies from multiple countries around the world become interconnected with and/or dependent upon one anotherGreen Card - an official an official card, originally green, issued by the U.S. government to foreign nationals permitting them to work in the U.S.Immigration - the movement of non-native people into a country in order to settle thereRemittance - the sending of money, checks, etc. to a recipient at a distance

Word Diagram

ContentA broad overview of immigration between Mexico and the U.S.and the controversy behind it: Through case studies, students will learn about immigration through various perspectives and resources.Introduction: The U.S. is currently experiencing its largest wave of immigration since the 1920s. Emigrants from around the world cross the Mexico-US border to enter into the Unites States, both legally and illegally. However, Mexican Nationals are one of the largest sources of immigrants to enter the US. With so many immigrants entering the US, during the 2011 State of the Union, President Obama pledged to reform immigration legislation.Current US law has a complex set of procedures and statuses that present numerous challenges for immigrants. While terms such as “illegal”, “undocumented” or “unauthorized” are often associated with immigration and have become a source of great debate in politics they also have an impact on the daily lives of individuals. In this section, students will learn more about current issues surrounding the topic of legal and illegal immigration. Students will discuss these issues and draw their own conclusions based on the materials below as well as on any additional research they may pursue.

Country Profile Assignment• Each student will complete two CP’s. One on the US and one on Mexico.• This assignment will be completed for your country. Sources for current

events articles should be from the following magazines/annual/periodicals: (If you wish to use a source which is not listed, please ask me first)The EconomistForeign AffairsForeign PolicyChristian Science MonitorTimeNewsweekCurrent HistoryWashington PostNew York Times

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• Page One: Map of the country. Include major landforms and all major cities.Page Two: Statistical information:• Population• Area• Major Cities• Major Languages• Ethnic Composition and Percentage of the Total Population• Ethnic tensions• Major Religions and their Percentage of the Total Population• Population Growth Rate• Life Expectancy• Literacy Rate• Per Capita GDP• GDP Growth Rate• Inflation Rate• Unemployment Rate• Major Products for ExportPage Three/Four: • Current Head of State and Government and how selected• Identify All Major Political Parties/Divisions• Identify All Major Political Leaders and their Job Descriptions • Major Political, Social, and Environmental Problems• Human Rights RecordPage Six and beyond:• 3 Current Event Articles. The articles must be on topics related to government policies/issues (Do not duplicate issues). You must include the article for full credit. No sources may be older than one year. Cite your sources on a bibliography page at the end of your articles. A ½ page typed summary must be included for each article. Each summary must not only briefly describe the event but also, explain potential ramifications as a result of the action.

COUNTRY PROFILE PROJECT Due Date_____________________

Border Crossings• Students will read/watch the following:• 1. Immigration in the US – GOOD (4:00)• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3JToii4Aq4• This provides a brief history and overview of the role of immigration in the US and

a look at current controversies• 2. Kidding Ourselves About Illegal Immigration – TIME• http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1692059,00.html• How do we think and speak about immigration in the US?• 3. “Migrant’s Rights Quiz”• (cut and paste the link below into an internet browser)• http://discoverhumanrights.org/sites/7cc8fb84-899d-457d-a486-• 470ccb03fb16/uploads/Rights_of_Migrants_Quiz.pdf• Answer some of the most commonly misunderstood and contested questions

surrounding immigration and immigrant rights

Discussion• Reflect on the following guiding questions and to share your

perspectivesin groups of 4-5 students. After 20 minutes, regroup class and have a general discussion.• What are the big issues surrounding immigration? What do you think are the major challenges?• What is the great debate regarding illegal immigration?• What perspectives about immigration did you find most surprising. Why?• In what ways do you think immigration and the debates surrounding it impact your everyday life?• Which questions in the quiz were the most difficult to answer and why?

Homework Assignment:Coming to the US. Assign each student an immigrant profile from the list below, and have them research the legal process necessary to obtain their goal - refer to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services at www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis for information on immigration laws. Part of the goal of this activity is to expose students to the difficulty and complexity of immigrating legally.1. A high school student from Guatemala applying to a US university2. A Chinese engineer with a job offer from a US engineering firm3. An unemployed Mexican farmer looking for work in the US4. A Guatemalan single mother of three applying for asylum in the US5. An elderly Mexican woman who wants to live in the United States with her greencard holding grandson.6. Your parents came here from Ecuador when you were a baby. You grew up likean American kid, but do not have U.S. citizenship. Now you are finishing highschool and your friends are applying to college; what are your options?

Case StudiesIntroduction: The pursuit of economic opportunity has always been an integral part of the immigrant experience. This case study will examine the complex relationship between citizens, consumers, corporations, and policy makers in both the US and Mexico. The economic impacts of immigration are equally complex and, at times, uncertain. On the US side, there are both the costs accrued in the effort to prevent “illegal” immigration and also a dependency on foreign-born labor. In 2004, over a third of the US agricultural workforce was foreign-born,3 leading some pundits to claim that if all illegal immigrants were deported, theU.S.’ economy could potentially collapse.4 Meanwhile, in Mexico, countless families depend onremittances sent by immigrant workers in the United States. A recent study estimated thatnearly 8 billion dollars per year were sent to Mexico, making remittances Mexico’s third largestsource of revenue.5