Immigration Law

This course will explore the legal, historical, and policy perspectives that shape U.S. law governing immigration and citizenship. We will examine the constitutional and international law foundations underlying immigration regulation, the history of immigration law in the U.S., the source and scope of congressional and executive branch power in the realm of immigration, and the role of the judiciary in making and interpreting immigration law. In the course of that exploration, we will address citizenship and naturalization, the admission and removal of immigrants and nonimmigrants, and the issues of undocumented immigration and national security. We will also analyze the impact of immigration in other areas, including employment, criminal law, family unification, international human rights law, and discrimination. Evaluation is by unscheduled exam and paper.