Global debates about migration have become key political issues in many countries. In the context of the upcoming presidential election in the United States, this panel focuses on the recent history of migration debates and policies in the U.S. since 1965. The panel will examine the evolution of immigration laws, the shifting public attitudes toward immigrants, and the role of these topics in U.S. politics. Key moments, such as the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the rise of anti-immigration sentiment in the 1990s, and the more recent debates over border security and asylum policies, will be discussed. By tracing these developments, the panel aims to provide an understanding of how migration has shaped, and continues to shape, the political landscape in the U.S.
With discussants Nancy Foner, City University of New York and Carly Goodman, Rutgers University, moderated by Tobias Brinkmann, Penn State University. This roundtable is part of the panel series “The Bigger Picture,” which is co-convened by the German Historical Institute (GHI) Washington and the Heidelberg Center for American Studies (HCA). The series is endorsed by the German Association for American Studies.