U.S. immigration is some seriously complicated business.
Contrary to what politicians from both parties often say, there isn't a single line you can just wait in to get a green card and become a permanent resident. As this Above the Noise video makes clear, the process can take years, even an entire lifetime, depending on where you're from, who you know, what skills you have and even how big your bank account is.
So the idea of "going to the back of the line" and waiting your turn doesn't even remotely reflect the reality of what the immigration process actually looks like for most people trying to come here legally.
Teach with the Lowdown and Above the Noise
Ideas for analysis, discussion and multimedia projects. Browse our lesson archive here.
Read-Think-Respond: What are your suggestions for a fairer, more efficient immigration process? [comment here]
Youth media: A PBS Student Reporting Labs video on a program for recent youth arrivals (part of the New Americans series).
Teach: An original lesson plan and list of sources for introducing this topic in the classroom.
It doesn't help that immigration is among the most explosively divisive issues in America, one that's easily misunderstood and often exploited for political gain. But there is one thing that almost everyone across the political spectrum -- from President Trump to pro-immigration advocates -- does actually agree on: America's immigration system is sorely outdated and in dire need of serious overhaul.