Beside the golden door

Beside the golden door

by Pia M. Orrenius

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This volume addresses some of the toughest political issues that surround immigration reform. The authors propose a radical overhaul of current immigration policy designed to strengthen economic competitiveness and long-run growth in the United States. They outline a plan that favors employment-based immigration over family reunification, making work-based visas the rule, not the exception. They argue that immigration policy should favor high-skilled workers while retaining avenues for low-skilled immigration; family reunification should be limited to spouses and minor children; provisional visas should be the norm; and quotas that lead to queuing must be eliminated. They advocate a selective immigration policy focused on high-skilled, high-demand workers will allow the United Sates to compete in an increasingly global economy while protecting the interests of American citizens and benefiting taxpayers. The authors conclude that "while not all potential immigrants who knock at the golden door should be admitted, the door should swing wide open to welcome those who desire nothing more than the opportunity to work for the American dream."

Discussion questions for Beside the golden door

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  1. 1

    How does the book’s central metaphor, derived from the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, shape your understanding of who should be welcomed into the United States today?

  2. 2

    The authors argue for prioritizing employment-based immigration over family reunification; how do you think this shift would alter the traditional American narrative of the immigrant experience?

  3. 3

    In your own family or community history, what role did family networks play in supporting new immigrants, and how might limiting reunification to spouses and minor children affect those support systems?

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