Dynamics Of The US Immigration Policy Since 1950s

The US immigration system has undergone vicissitudes in line with changing situations such as the Cold War and the 9/11 terrorist attack. However, among large numbers of papers on immigration, far too much attention is paid to the specific aspects of the US immigration policy and far too little to the essential characteristics throughout the evolution process, especially after WWâ…¡, which makes us lack a macro-knowledge of the US immigration policy. The United States constantly claims that the objective of accepting the immigrants from all over the world is to provide opportunities and havens for them, which displays American spirit, generosity and freedom. Is that true? In this paper, the author will try to find out what is the real objective and essence of the US immigration policy.By studying the background and intention of the evolving US immigration policy in the recent 50-odd years, the author finds out that those determinants behind the US immigration policy are as follows: race and nationality, ideological biases, labor, political interest, and national security. The racial and ethnic marks are deep-rooted in the mind of American policymakers, yet in an increasingly hidden and elusive way. Ideological concerns have never gone away, especially during the Cold War and after 9/11. Labor demand is the priority in line with the changing economic context, designed to supplement the domestic labor market with well-targeted labor, and without undermining the high standards or incentives for the home workers. Political interest is deeply involved in the policymaking process, ranging from domestic politics, strategic interest, foreign policy, to international influence on the world stage. National security, as a paramount factor, is raised to an unprecedented high after 9/11 regardless of the claimed civil rights or international humanitarian spirits. Those factors ultimately converge into one point, i.e. national interest of the United States, which is the real objective and essence of the US immigration policy.