Legal and Undocumented Immigration Overview

Legal Immigration

• Department of Homeland Security, Justice, and State oversee legal immigration.
• 13.2 million legal permanent residents, primarily from Latin America (mostly Mexico), followed by Asia and Europe.
• Department of State deals with visas (student, worker, family).
• USCIS handles citizenship processes.
• Legal residents receive green cards; 5 years of continuous residence, citizenship test, language test, and pledge of allegiance are needed for naturalization.

Asylum Seekers/Refugees

• Immigration and Nationality Act of 1990 sets annual refugee intake (60-100,000).
• Geneva Convention defines a refugee as someone unable/unwilling to return to their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution (race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion).

Undocumented Immigration

• Approximately 12 million undocumented immigrants in the US.
• Play a significant role in the economy.
• Often work low-wage jobs without benefits, but also without labor protest.
• Democrats often advocate for amnesty and a path to citizenship.
• Republicans usually support stronger border controls, no amnesty, and no path to citizenship.
• Dream Act supported by Democrats, allowing undocumented children to have a path to citizenship (over 16, 5 years of residence, high school degree, no criminal record).
• Republicans' stance has evolved; the 1986 Reform and Control Act offered amnesty to 2.8 million immigrants.
• Trump administration favoured a wall, restrictive policies, and mass deportations.

US Foreign Policy

• George Washington warned against foreign entanglements.
• Territorial expansion: Louisiana Purchase (1803), War of 1812, Mexican-American War (1846-1848).
• Monroe Doctrine (1823): US hegemony over Latin America, preventing European intervention; promoting non-intervention.
• Alaska Purchase (1867), Spanish-American War (1898), Panama Canal (1903-1914).
• WWI entry (1917): Lusitania sinking, Zimmerman Note.
• League of Nations (1920).
• WWII entry (1941): Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
• UN membership (1945).
• Cold War (1945-1991): proxy wars, including Korea, Vietnam, and Cuba.
• First Gulf War (1990-1991).
• War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), Second Gulf War (2003-2011).
• Current tensions with China, War in Ukraine.
• 11 Congressional war declarations, 280+ troop deployments.
• President as Commander-in-Chief, depending on Secretary of Defense, National Security Advisor, and CIA, Congress approves/denies funding.
• Largest military budget globally (~$754 billion/year).
• Numerous military bases in more than 80 countries.

Soft Power

• International development aid and humanitarian assistance.
• World Bank and IMF roles.
• Peace Corps (240,000 volunteers to 76 countries).
• Cultural globalization (American products abroad).

Hard Power (Military-Industrial Complex)

• Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex in his farewell address.
• Network of companies, lobbyists, government officials, and military leaders influencing defense spending and policy.
• Major defence contractors (Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics).

US & EU Relations

• Trump's critical views of the EU ("foe", "worse than China").
• Biden's view of Europe as a cornerstone of global engagement.
• Trump's imposition of steel/aluminum tariffs.
• Potential future tariffs, retreat from Paris Agreement.

US & Russia Relations

• Trump's claim to quickly solve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Possible solutions – Korea-style settlement (Russia gains land, demilitarized zone).
• Ukraine's possible EU/NATO membership or neutrality.

US & China Relations

• Trump initiated trade war (tariffs).
• Biden also imposed tariffs.
• Nationalism as a driving factor for trade disputes.
• "America First" doctrine promises tariffs on imported goods in the future and is attempting to bring manufacturing jobs back to the US.