Rethinking United States Immigration Policy, Diversity, and the Politics of Exclusion

The discourse over the U.S. immigration policy in recent years like other “wedge” issues such as unemployment, racism, sexism, classism, and crime evoke cultural, racial, and socioeconomic disquietudes. Immigration issues, of late, have been made even more contentious with quasi-political parties and social movements like the Tea Party, and by state legislatures such as Alabama, Arizona, California, and New Mexico. Moreover, since the 2008 election (and reelection in 2012) of U.S. President Barack Obama, the stakes have been raised even higher, with his calls for “level-headedness” and “fairness” in any discussions regarding immigration. Nonetheless, the 2012 Republican Party presidential primary