Scope

This Research Guide focuses on immigration to the United States, both legal and illegal. It includes historical information as well as current controversies. It also includes government policy on immigration.

Overview

A Nation of Peoples: a Sourcebook on America's Multicultural Heritage
College Library Reference Collection: E 184 A1 N2866 1999

Dictionary of American Immigration History
College Library Reference Collection: JV 6450 D53 1990
A compendium on American immigration history with hundreds of articles on ethnic groups, individuals prominent in immigration history, immigration societies, and other facets of the immigration experience in the United States.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 1992 (updated daily)
Britannica Online is a searchable collection of authoritative references, including Britannica's latest encyclopedia articles. Basic instructions for Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Encyclopedia of American Immigration
College Library Reference Collection: JV 6465 E53 2001

Encyclopedia of North American Immigration
College Library Reference Collection: JV 6465 P68 2005

Facts About American Immigration
College Library Reference Collection: JV 6465 B73 2001

Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America
College Library Reference Collection: E 184 A1 G14 1995

Immigration: Opposing Viewpoints
College Library Main Collection: JV 6483 I5533 2004
Includes a variety of primary documents from American history, each of which expresses a different point of view about immigration and immigration policy.

Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center 1990 - to date (updated daily)
Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center (OVRC) includes the acclaimed social issues series published by Greenhaven Press, as well as core reference content from other Gale and Macmillan Reference USA sources and provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, statistics, primary documents, links to websites, and full-text magazine and newspaper articles.

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

immigra* and refugee policy
immigration and workforce
immigrants and United States and law*
immigration and naturalization and detention
immigra* and United States and econom*
immigra* and United States and refugee policy
immigration and naturalization and Mexic* and border
immigra* and illegal

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

Business Full Text 1982 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes 400 key business periodicals, including trade magazines and scholarly journals, covering all aspects of business. Basic instructions for Business Full Text

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

Ethnic NewsWatch 1960 - to date (updated monthly)
A full-text collection of more than 200 newspapers, magazines and journals of the ethnic, minority and native press. Basic instructions for Ethnic Newswatch

Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe Dates Vary (updated daily)
Contains the full-text articles from U.S. and international newspapers (including the New York Times, June 1980 - to date), as well as some news and business magazines and trade journals. The truncation symbol is an exclamation point (!). Basic instructions for Lexis/Nexis Academic Universe

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) 1972 - to date (updated quarterly)
Indexes journal articles, books, government documents, statistical compilations, committee reports, directories, serials, reports of public, intergovernmental and private organizations, and most other forms of printed literature from all over the world. The full-text of the articles is not available in the database. Basic instructions for PAIS

Social Sciences Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 415 scholarly journals in economics, politics, public administration, public health, sociology, criminology, environmental and urban studies, psychology and anthropology. Basic instructions for Social Sciences Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on immigration can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

immigra? and assimilat? and "united states"
immigra? and america
immigra? and "united states" and policy
immigra? and "united states" and history
illegal? and immigra? and "united states"

Searches can be limited to recent publications.

Internet Sites

America's Immigration Quandary: No Consensus on Immigration Problem or Proposed Fixes
http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=274
Presents the results of a 2006 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.

Center for Immigration Studies
http://www.cis.org
This independent organization operates with a "pro-immigrant, low-immigration vision which seeks fewer immigrants but a warmer welcome for those admitted." This site includes publications and reports by topic as well as current news.

Ellis Island
http://www.ellisisland.org
From the time Ellis Island opened near the Statue of Liberty in 1892 to the time it closed in 1954, it served as the portal for the vast majority of new immigrants to the U.S. Click on "Ellis Island" in the menu to find history, stories and photographs.

Immigration Equality
http://www.immigrationequality.org/
Immigration Equality is a national organization fighting for equality under U.S. immigration law for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive individuals." They host a frequently asked questions section, current news, issues, legislation, publications, and a quarterly newsletter on their web site.

NPR: The Immigration Debate
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5310549
In addition to current news stories on U.S. immigration policy, this collection features questions and answers about immigration debates and opinions about immigration from politicians and other leaders.

National Immigration Forum
http://www.immigrationforum.org/
"The Forum advocates and builds support for public policies that welcome immigrants and refugees and are fair and supportive to newcomers in the United States." Find current news, legislation and updates on the Department of Homeland Security. The Community Resource Bank has resources by topic and by community, including statistics, legal issues and a directory of local organizations.

Public Agenda Issue Guides: Immigration
http://www.publicagenda.org/issues/frontdoor.cfm?issue_type=immigration
Public Agenda, a nonpartisan opinion research and civic engagement organization, presents public opinion and arguments for and against different aspects of U.S. immigration policy.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (Department of Homeland Security)
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
Formerly the INS, the CIS is responsible for visa, naturalization, asylum and refugee services. This site contains documents and forms, laws and regulations and news.

Statistics

Statistical Abstract of the United States.
College Library Reference Collection: HA 202 U5

Office of Immigration Statistics
http://www.dhs.gov/ximgtn/statistics/
"This page will help you locate information about foreign nationals who enter or attempt to enter the United States for temporary or permanent residence through a variety of status categories, as well as subsequent actions such as apprehension, removal, or naturalization. The Office of Immigration Statistics periodically publishes reports on these various activities, as information becomes available from the immigration data collection systems. These reports can be accessed by use of the subject-matter choices presented on this page."

Migration Information
http://www.migrationinformation.org/Profiles
"The Migration Information Source provides fresh thought, authoritative data from numerous global organizations and governments, and global analysis of international migration and refugee trends. A unique, online resource, the Source offers useful tools, vital data, and essential facts on the movement of people worldwide." See the "US in Focus" section to view data and statistics on immigration in the United States.

Trac INS
http://trac.syr.edu/tracins
"The purpose of TRAC is to provide the American people -- and institutions of oversight such as Congress, news organizations, public interest groups, businesses, scholars and lawyers -- with comprehensive information about federal staffing, spending, and the enforcement activities of the federal government." This web site displays data on national trends of INS enforcement, new findings, and an overview of the department.

Videos

Balseros
College Library Inactive Reserves: E 184 C97 B35 2005

Destination America: The People and Cultures that Created a Nation
College Library Main Collection: E 184 A1 D42 2005

Global Cities: Immigration and the World Economy
College Library Main Collection: JV 6217 G56 2004

Go Back to Mexico!
College Library Ethnic Studies Collection: HV 6920 G63 1994

Journey to America
College Library Main Collection: E 184 J68 1989

New Faces on Main Street : A Review of Immigration in the U.S. at the Dawn of the 21st Century
College Library Ethnic Studies Collection: F590 A1 N49 1998

New World Border
College Library Inactive Reserves: JV 6483 N489 2001

The Irish in America: Long Journey Home
College Library Main Collection: E 184 I6 1683 1998

Organizations

American Immigration Lawyers Association
http://www.aila.org/
918 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004-1400
Phone: (202) 216-2400

National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (NNIRR)
http://www.nnirr.org
310-8th St., Ste. 303
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 465-1984

The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
http://www.fairus.org
1666 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: (202) 328-7004