An Overview of Immigration Issues in Education: A Brief History and Contemporary Issues

Immigration to the United States has long existed as a part of an American tradition. While debates centering on immigration issues are often politically driven, we hope to highlight and examine immigration from an educational context. In this paper, we first provide a brief synopsis of policy measures affecting different immigrant groups. Then, we discuss major challenges of the immigrant experience from a perspective of departure and arrival. Finally, this overview offers a broad context for national and local responses to immigrant students and communities.