Immigration has become a hotly contested political issue in the United States, and many Americans hold beliefs based on widely-held misconceptions. Our goal of this panel discussion is to dispel the myths associated with immigration and give the audience a clearer understanding of the subject. We will explore the history of immigration to the United States, U.S. immigration policy, and how border protection efforts have failed to deter immigrants from risking their lives for the opportunity to work in this country. We will look at the impact of immigrant workers on the U.S. economy and consumer prices, and associated human rights issues. We will discuss how American culture has been influenced by immigrant populations, and how many iconic symbols like our national anthem and country music are actually cultural hybrids. Finally, we will cover how the impacts of U.S. foreign policy has fueled the exodus of emigrants from nations in Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. 

Adriana Crocker - UIS Associate Professor of Political Science  

Anette Sikka - UIS Assistant Professor in the Legal Studies Department 

Yona Stamatis - UIS Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology