Debates on U.S. Immigration

Gr 8 Up—This comprehensive roundup of beliefs and commentary on current issues relating to U.S. immigration should be required reading for serious students of any aspect of the topic. In 33 pairs of "Point" and "Counterpoint" articles, academics square off (though in eight cases the pro and con sides are presented by the same author) on subjects from whether Arizona's S.B. 1070 is or could ever be a successful model law to the putative relationship between immigration and crime rates. Gathered into the three broad areas of political, economic, and cultural debates-each section with an overview introduction-the article-pairs open with two pithy platform statements, then develop each one in substantial detail, with frequent references to supporting scholarship. Each article ends with an ample list of sources and of further reading. Though the approach and level of discourse can be characterized as intellectual rather than an exchange of passionately held views, the prose is rescued from aridity by a briskly argumentative tone. A closing section of sometimes-lengthy speeches, policy papers, and court decisions, beginning with President Coolidge's disparagement of the Immigration Act of 1924, provides some primary-source material while underscoring this resource's close focus on contemporary attitudes and arguments. For historical balance, shelve it with Patrick J. Hayes's Making of Modern Immigration: An Encyclopedia of People and Ideas (ABC-CLIO, 2012).—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York City