POL S 555 B: American Politics Topics

Course Overview:

This course explores the history of immigration, immigration policies, public opinion on immigration, and activism. The course will focus primarily on Latino immigrants in the U.S. context. Immigration policy is a highly salient and controversial issue in the current political landscape. This course will grapple with notions of citizenship and ‘illegality’ while examining backlash to demographic changes. Rhetoric on immigration is increasingly divisive and has caused differing reactions in the public and among voters, including immigrant rights activism and varying public opinions. Finally, this course will also examine undocumented immigration, dynamics on the border, and the politics of policing and immigrant detention.