Im/migrant
Agency Report
In these brief reports, students respond to questions about the
migration perspectives of an assigned im/migrant agency or organization,
based on their Internet research. These annotations will compile a
resource list to serve as a guide for the class and others concerned
with im/migration issues.
A. Title of agency or organization? Center for Immigration
Studies www.cis.org
B. Where is home base (city/state/country)? Washington, DC USA
C. Date founded? 1985
D. Names of key spokespersons/officers: Mark Kirkorian, Executive
Director
Steven Camarota, Director of Research
E. What/who is key constituency or audience? Anyone interested in
immigration but especially those who consider themselves to be
low-immigration supporters coupled with stricter immigration policies.
F. What are the agency’s main activities? The agency conducts
research and policy analysis of the economic, social, demographic,
fiscal, and other impacts of immigration affecting the United States.
Their members also publish many articles and give congressional
testimony.
G. Mission statement? (you may quote mission statement if
available; use quotation marks)
“It is the Center's mission to expand the base of public knowledge and
understanding of the need for an immigration policy that gives first
concern to the broad national interest. The Center is animated by a
pro-immigrant, low-immigration vision which seeks fewer immigrants but a
warmer welcome for those admitted.”
H. What are the key im/migration issues of concern to this
agency? The Center for Immigration Studies is interested in a very board
array of topics concerning immigration effects on the United States. For
example they examine the number of legal/illegal immigrants in the
United States giving statistics on the total number, where they come
from, immigrants unemployment levels, immigration during the recent
recession, how the increase in immigration effects wages and jobs for
U.S. citizens, levels/trends of immigration poverty, immigrants becoming
citizens or becoming Americanized, and so on. They do support stricter
immigration policies.
I. What appears to be the most common informational basis for
statements issued, press releases, reports, etc.? The Center of
Immigration Studies does a vast amount of research and has made a lot of
information available in a variety of ways. However, the most common are
Backgrounders (monthly series which replaced the Immigration Review),
Op-eds, magazine articles and congressional testimony.
J. Any publications? (what types, sample titles; if online, give
links) Yes, several they publish Backgrounders (previously the
Immigration Review), reports, papers, books and have had may Op-eds and
magazine articles published. Some of which can be accessed online at
http://www.cis.org/articles/index.html#backgrounders.
K. Give at least one citation of this agency in a newspaper
article (preferably an Arizona newspaper). Use a citation index to
research this e.g., Lexis Nexis, available from the Migration Course Web
Page made by the Fletcher Library:
http://library.west.asu.edu/subjects/SOC/soc331.html Provide
a quote from the article that gives a good idea of this agency’s
perspective on im/migration. Note: not a quote from agency’s own web
site.
The Associated Press State & Local Wire, Mexico's migrant guide sparks
controversy in U.S. (April 27, 2004). Sample from aticle:
“"Illegal aliens will respond to the messages the government sends,"
Krikorian said. "When we send the message that we are thinking about
amnesty, they decide it may be worth it to try to cross."”
Article located:
http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com.library.lib.asu.edu/universe/document?_m=e0119952afdd487a022e698fb4a4f84f&_docnum=5&wchp=dGLbVzz-zSkVb&_md5=a9a7b35b5dcc7afcaa7d30043a67541f
L. Other issues of interest? none
M. Is the agency noticeably pro or con immigration? (you may need
to determine this from readings its position papers, press releases,
news reports, etc) They are pro/low immigration supporters but believe
immigration laws should be stricter.
N. Web site? Give URL
http://www.cis.org/index.cgi