Immigration 101
Immigration in the United States is complex and ever-evolving. Start here to understand the fundamental aspects of immigration policy, its history, and its impact on both individuals and the country at large. Learn commonly used terms about immigration law and how the U.S. immigration system is designed. Explore layered topics like how and whether immigrants can become citizens, as well as what individual protections look like under the law.
How the United States Immigration System Works
- How the Immigration System Works
- June 24, 2024
U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. This fact sheet provides basic information…
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Birthright Citizenship in the United States
- Birthright Citizenship
- July 9, 2026
This fact sheet explains birthright citizenship, the Fourteenth Amendment, and its interpretations. Who is…
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Asylum in the United States
- Asylum
- August 27, 2014
Asylum seekers must navigate a difficult and complex process that can involve multiple government…
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The Impact of Immigrant Women on America’s Labor Force
There are nearly 12 million immigrant (foreign-born) women workers in the United States today, comprising just over 7 percent of the total labor force. Read More
Unintended Consequences: When U.S. Blocks Access, Fewer Unauthorized Immigrants Leave America
David Molina, a professor at the University of North Texas, is the product of two cultures. Born in Detroit, Molina was raised by an American mother and a Mexican father, who was in Michigan to complete a medical residency. The family moved to Mexico City when Molina was… Read More
Wisconsin Dairy Farms Rely on Immigrant Labor
John Holevoet is the director of government affairs for the Dairy Business Milk Marketing Cooperative, a Midwest trade group. The Green Bay, Wisconsin, organization advocates for the industry and the farmers and workers that drive it — and that includes the region’s immigrant residents. “In Wisconsin, we rely pretty… Read More
Long-Time HR Manager Could Lose Own Job Without DACA Fix
As the human resources manager for a Greensboro, North Carolina, company, Laura Garduño García has had to tell many job applicants that she cannot hired them if they are unauthorized to work in the United States. But there’s a twist: While she has lived in North Carolina for the past… Read More
Undocumented Immigrants Are Making a Huge Impact as Taxpayers
President Trump made many promises on the campaign trail. One of which was to breathe new life into what some see as a stagnant U.S. economy. In fact, there are indications that it was this one promise that motivated a great many of his supporters and may have won… Read More
“Sanctuary” Policies Protect Communities, Not Criminals
State by state “sanctuary” policies have received significant attention lately. Hundreds of communities across the nation have passed some version of a sanctuary policy and in doing so have made decisions about how they want to use their local resources. Yet the new administration, as well as others,… Read More
Dreamer Brings Innovation to North Carolina Farmers
In 2013, Estefania Castro Vazquez was valedictorian at Smithfield-Selma high school, where she gave an upbeat speech urging her fellow graduates to set out fearlessly, and build a life on their own terms. But when she went to embrace her mother afterward, Estefania saw that she was crying. These weren’t… Read More
Becoming a citizen would mean finally being accepted in my own country
Like her parents, Leslie is an undocumented immigrant. But while her parents are still working hard in low-paid jobs, Leslie is majoring in psychology at Meredith College, working at a student-run preschool for children with autism, and dreaming of a career as a high school psychologist or counselor. “There’s… Read More
Utah Is Begging for Workers Then ‘Making Them Hide in the Shadows,’ Says Senior Citizen Activist
Dee Rowland remembers when she first realized how large the Hispanic immigrant population in Utah really was. “We started having masses in Spanish, and people just came out of the woodwork,” Rowland says. “We just didn’t realize how many people were here until they started filling our churches.” Rowland is… Read More
Retiree to Immigrants: Prescott, Arizona, is ‘Everybody’s Home Town’
Every Friday in Prescott, Arizona, retiree Dennis Duvall stands in the town center holding an 8-foot-long red banner that proclaims “Immigrants and Refugees Are Welcome.” “Immigration has been a big issue here in Arizona,” Duvall explains. “Because of our border here with Mexico, it has been virtually divisive. Arizona is… Read More
America's story is an immigrant story.
