What portion of Americans think there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States legally?
Current Event Friday
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, links provided, and your big brain:
According to data above, what portion of Americans think there should be a way for undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States legally?
According to data above, what racial group is least supportive portion of a legal pathway for undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States?
According to data above, what age group is most supportive portion of a legal pathway for undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States?
Incoming President Donald Trump has said that he wouldn’t be a dictator — “except for Day 1.” When he says, “I want to close the border.” His list of day one plans includes starting up the mass deportation of migrants. Speaking recently at his Madison Square Garden rally in New York, Trump said: “On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out. I will rescue every city and town that has been invaded and conquered, and we will put these vicious and bloodthirsty criminals in jail, then kick them the hell out of our country as fast as possible.” Do you think there should be a legal pathway for undocumented immigrants to stay in the United States or do you want them out of the country?
Trump can direct his administration to begin mass deportation efforts the minute he arrives in office, but it’s much more complicated to actually deport the nearly 11 million people who are believed to be in the United States illegally. That would require a huge, trained law enforcement force, massive detention facilities, airplanes to move people and nations willing to accept them, and lots and lots of money. A one-time effort to deport even more people in one year annually has been estimated to cost around $315 billion. Trump has said he would invoke the Alien Enemies Act. That rarely used 1798 law allows the president to deport anyone who is not an American citizen and is from a country with which there is a “declared war” or a threatened or attempted “invasion or predatory incursion.” Do you think Trump will be able to achieve his objective?
Donald Trump will come to power with a trifecta: control of the executive branch, House, and Senate. Still, almost 2/3 of Americans want undocumented immigrants to be able to stay legally in the U.S., and there will be a number of congress members who might push back on Trump’s plans. Imagine you were a member of congress opposed to mass deportation. Describe some of the powers Congress has to stop or slow mass deportations?
Federalism is the division of powers between state and national governments. What powers do states have to stop or slow mass deportations?
When geographers talk about the causes of immigration they talk about push factors (reasons people leave home) and pull factors (reasons people go to their new destination). Many people leave their homes because of violence, poverty, environmental degradation, political persecution, and other factors; they move to a new place for job opportunities, a reprieve from violence, or because they have connections there. What do you think is the biggest push factor and pull factor for immigrants crossing the Southwestern border?
The unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. grew from 10.2 million in 2019 to 11 million in 2022, the first sustained increase in more than a decade. This population consists of more than 3 million immigrants who have temporary protection from deportation and permission to be in the country, and includes those with temporary authorization to work in the U.S. legally. Some of these immigrants could be subject to deportation if government policy changes. For example, undocumented immigrants with Temporary Protected Status could be deported under plans announced by the Trump administration. What impact do you think a Trump presidency (pull factors) will have on the level of immigration into the United States?
Why do you think so many Americans who benefit economically and in many other ways from undocumented immigrants want them out of the United States?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Learn More
Check out the great visuals from WOLA below.
Act on your Learning
Contact the White House or call (202) 456-1111 and let President Biden and suggest one thing he could do regarding immigration before he leaves office.
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Get Creative
A "corrido" is a traditional Mexican ballad style of music that tells narrative stories, often about historical events, heroes, social struggles, or everyday life, typically celebrating individuals who show courage in the face of adversity; essentially, a storytelling song that originated in Mexico and is still popular today, often accompanied by guitar or bajo sexto. I had AI write a corrido about mass deportations (my AI speaks Spanish!). Have AI write one for you. Here’s mine:
Corrido de la Deportación Masiva
En tiempos de incertidumbre, bajo un cielo gris,
El fantasma de la deportación se alza otra vez.
Familias separadas, sueños rotos al partir,
El miedo en cada esquina, el dolor sin fin.
Desde el norte, un decreto, una orden sin piedad,
Millones de almas, con destino incierto y ansiedad.
La sombra de la migra, acechando sin cesar,
La angustia en cada hogar, la tristeza en cada altar.
Cruzando la frontera, buscando un futuro mejor,
Pero el sueño americano se convierte en terror.
La deportación masiva, una herida que sangra,
La injusticia y el desprecio, una historia que se arrastra.
Pero la esperanza no muere, la lucha sigue en pie,
Por la dignidad y el respeto, por la libertad que se fue.
Unidos en la resistencia, alzando la voz con valor,
Contra la deportación, contra el dolor.
No nos callarán, no nos vencerán,
La fuerza de la unión, la fe que nos sostendrán.
Por nuestros hermanos, por nuestros hijos, por nuestro hogar,
Contra la deportación, vamos a luchar.
Translation: Ballad of Mass Deportation
In times of uncertainty, under a gray sky,
The ghost of deportation rises again.
Separated families, dreams broken as they depart,
Fear on every corner, endless pain.
From the north, a decree, a merciless order,
Millions of souls, with uncertain destiny and anxiety.
The shadow of the migra, lurking incessantly,
Anguish in every home, sadness on every altar.
Crossing the border, seeking a better future,
But the American dream turns into terror.
Mass deportation, a bleeding wound,
Injustice and contempt, a story that lingers.
But hope does not die, the fight continues,
For dignity and respect, for the freedom that was lost.
United in resistance, raising our voices with courage,
Against deportation, against the pain.
They will not silence us, they will not defeat us,
The strength of unity, the faith that will sustain us.
For our brothers, for our children, for our home,
Against deportation, we will fight.
