This policymaking simulation explores what policies the US should have in regard to immigration. You will receive some background on each issue, introduce you to some current debates, and then ask for your final recommendations. You do not need any background or previous experience in the subject.
| Family-Based Immigration Programs |
Policymaking Simulation |
- Whether to stop, reduce or increase the program that provides about 49,000 green cards for the adult children of U.S. citizens
- Whether to stop, reduce or increase the program that provides about 26,000 green cards for the adult children of permanent residents
- Whether to stop, reduce or increase the program that provides about 65,000 green cards for siblings (i.e. brothers and sisters) of S. citizens
- Whether to stop, reduce or maintain the program that provides about 175,000 green cards for the parents of US citizens; or replace with a renewable 5-year Visa program
|
Family-Based Immigration |
| Diversity Lottery |
Policymaking Simulation |
- Whether to change the number of green cards granted through the lottery system to individuals from countries under-represented in the US population
|
Diversity Lottery |
| Employment-Based Immigration |
Policymaking Simulation |
- Whether to keep the number of employment-based green cards fixed at 140,000, or allow the number to vary based on demand (but not rise above 140,000)
- Whether to replace current visa program that requires farmers to pay workers about $11-14 per hour and to provide them housing and transportation with one that allows farmers to pay the workers a minimum of $8.43 an hour and removes the requirement to provide them housing or transportation and extend the length of the visa from 10 to 18 months
- Whether to substantially increase the number of temporary work (H-2B) visas for industries that rely on temporary, often seasonal, labor
|
Employment-Based Immigration |
| Expand E-Verify Program |
Policymaking Simulation |
- Whether to require all employers to use the E-Verify system to verify that current employees and all new job applicants have the legal right to work in the US
|
Expand E-Verify Program |
| Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival Program (DACA) |
Policymaking Simulation |
- Whether to approve the DACA “Path to Citizenship” proposal, which allows people who entered the country illegally under the age of 18 will be able to apply for a special 8-year green card; apply for a permanent green card after 8 years, and apply for citizenship after another 5 years
- Whether to approve the proposal to allow 700,000 young people with DACA status to receive temporary legal status for another 3 years; No additional people would be allowed to apply for DACA status (the roughly 500,000 to 1,100,000 young people who were brought here illegally as minors but do not currently have DACA status would be subject to deportation)
|
Deferred Action for
Childhood Arrival Program (DACA) |
| Securing the Southern Border |
Policymaking Simulation |
- Whether to spend $25 billion on building a barrier along the southern border, primarily a wall
- Whether to spend $1 billion or more on strengthening the southern border
|
Securing the Southern Border |
