Immigration and Inequality in the United States

Why do some immigrants excel in the United States, while others suffer? Why are some immigrants recruited from other countries for jobs, while others already living in the U.S. are fired, criminalized, or deported? The United States has long been touted as a “melting pot”; yet its policies have often restricted immigrants. In this course, we will read, discuss, and evaluate social science evidence to understand the relationship between U.S. immigration policies and inequality. The course will introduce students to the history of immigration policy; patterns of immigrant integration; and the forces that drive inequalities in these outcomes.