Immigration Law

3 units

This course is an introduction to the rules, policies, and justifications governing non-U.S. citizens entering, staying, and exiting the United States. The complex system of statutes, regulations, case law that make up immigration law, as well as the history behind them, tell a uniquely American story about our multi-cultural society, all within the context of the international community. This course provides a wide survey of immigration law and policy, which includes topics such as the constitutional basis for regulating immigration into the Unites States; citizenship and naturalization; legal immigration and procedures for obtaining visas; grounds for admission and removal, including inadmissibility and grounds for deportation; defenses to removal; the intersection of criminal, family, employment, and immigration law; and refugee and asylum law. In addition to legal analysis, the course will also use international relations, philosophical, and social methodologies to analyze immigration law and policy. There are no prerequisites or co-requisites for this course, although students will be expected to rely heavily on their knowledge of U.S. constitutional law. Laptop use in class will be permitted, for note-taking only, unless participation is inadequate. Grades will be based on a timed, open book final examination and class participation. [BCCCR Requirement: this class contains 5 or more hours of BCCCR instruction.]