Immigration and Education

Asha Dalton, Ally Jackson, Jessica Middleton, and

Bethany Sterritt

Immigration Laws in the Past

Immigration laws have been constantly changing and developing over time. In 1790, immigrants had to reside in the US for two years before being able to become a citizen. Eventually the 1882 Immigration Act passed which required new immigrants to pay a tax upon entry. Nearly a decade later, The Office of Immigration, now the Immigration and Naturalization Service, was created to ban all disease ridden, polygamists, and insane from entering the United States. Over time, the list of people excluded from the US began to lengthen as more categories were added. In 1907, the immigration tax was increased, and in 1917, immigrants under the age of 16 took a literacy test to prove their ability to read. Almost all Asian immigrants were banned by this point in time. A number of immigration acts were put into place throughout the 1900’s. An immigration ceiling was created of how many were allowed in each year, but every few years a new act was passed to reduce this number. Set percentages told how many immigrants were allowed from each area of the world. The US Border Patrol came about in 1924 and by 1996, more agents were being summoned and fences were being built along the US/Mexico border. (PBS-Immigration Policy: Past and Present)

Present Immigration Laws

Currently the Immigration and Naturalization Service has the immigration ceiling set for 675,000 per year. Some exceptions for family members may be considered under strict conditions. As an immigrant, one must be able to provide a valuable skill to the US, joining his or her family, protecting refugees, or extending diversity. (Immigration Policy Center)

In Process Immigration LawsOur immigration system is flawed in so many aspects. President Obama is currently working on ways to ensure that everyone abides by the rules. According to whitehouse.gov, “11 million people are living in the shadows” as employers hire undocumented workers. This is affecting both the economy and the country. Obama plans to strengthen border patrol and “crack down” on employers hiring illegal immigrants. He has high hopes that these immigrants will come forward and begin paying taxes, learn English, and go through background checks before they are able to become a US citizen. By everyone working together and following the same set of rules, Obama hopes that our country can achieve these goals. (Immigration-whitehouse.gov)

Impact on children, families, teachers, and schools

There are about 1.8 million undocumented students attending schools in the United States.  The United States offers every immigrant a K-12 education at no cost.  Plyer vs. Doe was a case where the Supreme Court struck down a case to not offer immigrant children the same education as a legal immigrant or U.S. citizens.  Also, immigrants can qualify for free and reduced lunches just like any other student.  Many immigrant students are on free and reduced lunch so this is a big help to the families.

Impact on children, families, teachers, and schools

The Family Education and Rights Policy Act is an act that protects immigrants from being turned into immigration services for being in the U.S. illegally.  This way the families do not have to worry about contacts at the school reporting them. The illegal students who are receiving a K-12 education did not bring this upon themselves.  It was a decision made by their parents or guardians.  Not providing them an education goes against the 14th amendment.  The amount of state funding that goes towards illegal immigrants education is about 11.2 billion a year.

Impact on children, families, teachers, and schools

School is a safe place for illegal immigrants. Teachers want the best for these students. Many of them are enrolled in a ESOL program. These programs, along with the loving environment and encouraging teachers, provide hope and a future for these students. I have taught many students who are not legal citizens. They have been some of the sweetest and most loving children I have ever taught. Their home environment is a tough one. Parents often work long and hard to make a living, there are often times no one to help with homework, and there is always the fear that someone will get deported. Two years ago I had a situation where one of my student’s Dads got deported back to Mexico. These situations are hard on the family and also tough for their children to understand. As a 10 year old who has a father who takes great care of him and provides the meals for the family to eat, it's hard to think why the United States would not allow him to stay.

Impact on children, families, teachers, and schools

Even though children are offered a free K-12 education, when these students graduate college, they are faced with challenges when attending college.  About 5-10% of illegal immigrants attend a 4 year university.  Many are forced to pay out of state tuition and are not offered any financial aid or scholarships.  Eighteen states allow illegal immigrants who have been in the United States school system for at least 5 years to pay in state tuition.    Georgia does not allow students to receive in-state tuition.  This affects many students that want to go on and receive an education.  Illegal immigrants that were here since an early age want the same education as their peers.  “Miguel Angel Martinez Olvera, 19, was brought to the U.S. illegally from Mexico when he was 3. He wants to go to one of the state’s technical schools to be a paramedic or nurse but can’t afford to pay out-of-state tuition.” (Marietta Daily Journal)

Immigration impact on the classroom

President Jimmy Carter said it best when speaking about our diverse country. He said, “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” For centuries families have immigrated to the United States in the hope of starting a new, prosperous life. Today is no different. Our country is the most diverse in the world. With that said, immigration, whether it be legal or illegal, has a major impact on our country, and in particular our education system. “Immigrant families frequently struggle with economic, social, and language constraints that impact their understanding of, and integration into American public schools” (Espósito and Favela, p. 73).

Positive impact in the classroom

Having immigrant students in the classroom ensures a culturally diverse mix of students.  “A heterogeneous team breeds heterogeneous thoughts” (TIDEs Inc., 2012), while these students bring new religion, culture, customs, and experiences to the classroom. Learning opportunities are provided for everyone, the teacher included. Many times these students provide a new vantage point and look at situations differently. These students have a special appreciation for learning opportunities and new experiences in and out of the classroom.

Negative aspects of immigration in the classroom

Having immigrant students in the classroom definitely makes the classroom diverse, but it can be very challenging, at the same time. These students are very transient. Because these students move so often it is sometimes difficult for them to make friends knowing there is a possibility they will move again. As mentioned before, “immigrant families frequently struggle with economic, social, and language constraints” (Espósito and Favela, p. 73). It is difficult to communicate with the parents due to language barriers. In addition, because many of these families struggle economically, in many cases both parents work, leaving the students at home alone after school. In many instances they are left to care for younger siblings. Unfortunately, homework and other school responsibilities get pushed aside. The lack of parental support at home is seen in many students’ low academic achievement.

Immigration in the classroom video

What Teachers Can Do• Country and region of origin and language spoken at home.• Specific immigration history of the child. For example: how long has the

child lived in the United States? Who does s/he live with? Which significant people or experiences where left behind?

• What was the child’s previous school experience like? Was it an urban or rural school? Did the child present difficulties in school?

• Get to know the parents’ skills, strengths and resources. What did the parents do for a living in their native country? How can their previous experiences be utilized in the school?

• Potential stressors the child may be facing such as family conflicts, work hardships, financial limitations.

• Availability of medical services. What kind of medical support does the child have in the United States? Do parents know about services available for them?

• Help the child stay connected with his cultural roots.• Encourage immigrant students to express their feelings in ways they are

able to communicate such as asking them to draw pictures of their previous school, familiar objects, stories, etc.

Resources

• Brumback, K. (2013, December 6). Immigrant Students Seek Georgia’s In-State Tuition Rates. Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved September 16, 2014 from http://mdjonline.com/bookmark/24174707-Immigrant-students-seek-Georgia-s-in-state-tuition-rates

• Expósito, S., & Favela, A. (2003). Reflective Voices: Valuing Immigrant Students and Teaching with Ideological Clarity. Urban Review, 35(1), 73.

• Fisher, E. (2012). Court Action on Immigration. Senate Research Office. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.senate.ga.gov/sro/Documents/AtIssue/September2012At_Issue_Court_Action_on_Immigration.pdf

• How the United States Immigration System Works: A Fact Sheet. (2014, March 1). Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/just-facts/how-united-states-immigration-system-works-fact-sheet

• Immigration. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2014, from http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration

• Immigration Policy: Past and Present. (n.d.). Retrieved September 17, 2014, from http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/newamericans/foreducators_lesson_plan_03.html

•  Library of Congress. Immigration. (n.d.) Retrieved September 15, 2014, from http://www.loc.gov/ teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/immigration/introduction2.html 

• National Association of Secondary School Principals. Undocumented Students. (2011) Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.nassp.org/Content.aspx?topic=Undocumented_Students

• TIDEs Inc. 5 Benefits of Diversity in a 21st Century Classroom. (2012). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.tidesinc.org/2012/09/30/5-benefits-of-diversity-in-a-21st-century-classroom/

• Shields,K. & Richard, B. (2004). Journal Issue: Children of Immigrant Families The Future of Children, Volume 14 (Number 2). Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=39&articleid=123&sectionid=808

• Undocumented Student Tuition State Action. (2014). National Conference State Legisllatures. • http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/934