Contemporary Immigration in America: A State-by-State Encyclopedia

Gr 9 Up—Immigration policies have been a key talking point for 2016 presidential hopefuls, and the topic is unlikely to fade in the near future. This is a compact (about 15 to 30 pages per state), all-in-one reference for immigration history and policy. Each entry begins with a "Chronology and Historical Overview," in some cases starting with the settlement by nonindigenous explorers. Entries continue with "Topical Essays" on immigration issues from about 1945 to 2015 and conclude with "Notable Figures" or "Notable Groups" and a detailed bibliography. The contemporary emphasis means that the focus is on the post-World War II era, such as fear of terrorists entering the United States, current immigration policies regarding those from Mexico and Central America, and refugee crises related to civil wars and human rights abuses. The writing is unbiased. However, limited page space means that not every facet of a topic can be covered. Each bibliography points students toward further information for most topics.