Jenny Zhang
BASIS Scottsdale
Senior Research Project Proposal
11 December, 2011
Immigration Laws in the U.S
Statement of Purpose:
I wish to research the process of how to obtain the permanent resident status in the United States. After compiling my research, I will propose a new policy which I believe will improve the system we have now. Within my research, I wish to find out the duration it takes to achieve the permanent resident status, and any problems green card holders have faced in obtaining their residency. I hope my research will show what policies are implemented today, and which ones should be implemented in order to better the United States.
Background:
I am a Canadian currently living in the United States on a TD visa. My family is trying to get the permanent resident status; thus, this research is relevant to what I am experiencing now. I have taken a law course, but did not learn about immigration law. I am planning on pursuing law and international relations; thus, this project will allow me to learn about a potential area of interest. My situation allows me to approach this research with a unique view point, and I believe that will make my research more interesting.
Significance:
I believe this issue is significant because of our developing global relations. As a global citizen, I can bring a unique perspective to this research. Immigration has always been an important issue, ever since the nineteenth century. I will look at the history of immigration, and see how the laws today correspond to the laws then, and what changes improved the country and what did not. Then I hope to voice my own opinion on the immigration laws after reviewing my research materials.
The significance of this topic can also be seen on the news. Arizona is currently faced with an immigration crisis. I will not only be able to understand Arizona’s problem after my research, but give an opinion on how to fix it.
Description and Methodology:
I will be working closely with Mrs. Auer, my mentor, to learn from her as much as I can about immigration laws. I will be doing an internship with her at the BEG office. Then I hope to read books and articles to compile information; I will search online for information on immigration laws. I will also interview some people, if possible, on how they went through the process of getting a green card, and what they liked or did not like about the system. My method of going about this project will be to intern with a lawyer for most of the week, then do individual research. While interning, I will learn more about the immigration cases and laws. Individual research will consist of going to the library to read sources and staying at home to research sources online. If I have any questions about technical jargon or places to find resources, I will ask my law mentor.
Problems:
There may be a limited supply of data. There might be some sort of privacy issue, where I cannot share the cases I study. I may not be able to find any interview subjects. Websites I will conduct research from may not be up when I revisit them. Ways to solve these problems include searching for other data in various other forms.
Bibliography:
Bray, Ilona M. Loida Nicolas Lewis. How to Get a Green Card. Berkeley, Calif. Nolo. 2008.8th ed. Print.
Ewing, Walter. “The Many Facets of Effective Immigration Reform.” Society. 1 Mar, 2010. Vol. 47. No. 2. 110-117. Print.
--“How to immmigrate with green card into America.” 2011. Web. 8 Dec, 2011. < http://www.americagreencard.org/how-to-immigrate-with-green-card-into-america.html>
Kelly, Claudia Smith. “The Influence of a Change in Immigration Law on US Marriage Rates.” Eastern Economic Journal. 01 Sep, 2010. Vol. 36. No. 4. 500-522. Print
Kimmel, Barbara Brooks. Alan M. Lubiner. Immigration made simple: an easy to read guide to the U.S.Immigration process. Chester, N.J.: Next Decade, 2009.8th ed. Print.
Miller, Debra A.. Ed. Illegal immigration. Detroit. Greenhaven Press, 2007. Print.
Perl, Lila. Immigration : this land is whose land? New York : Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2010. Print.
--United States Citizenship and Immigration services. USCIS. N.d. Web. 8 Dec, 2011. <http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=ae853ad15c673210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=ae853ad15c673210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD>
