The "Huddled Masses" Myth
Immigration and Civil Rights

Despite rhetoric that suggests that the United States opens its doors to anyone who wants to come here, immigration has been restricted since the nation began. This book argues that immigration policy reflects the social hierarchy that prevails in American society and that immigration reform is intertwined with the struggle for civil rights.

This book has particular resonance today as the public debates the uncertain status of immigrants from Arab countries and of the Muslim faith. Author note: Kevin R. Johnson is Associate Dean as well as Professor of Law and Chicana/o Studies at The University of California, Davis. His book, "How Did You Get to Be Mexican?: A White/Brown Man's Search for Identity" was published by "Temple" in 1999.

Acknowledgments 1. Immigration and Civil Rights in the United States 2. Exclusion and Deportation of Racial Minorities 3. Exclusion and Deportation of Political Undesirables 4. Exclusion and Deportation of the Poor 5. Exclusion and Deportation of Criminals 6. The Marginalization of Women Under the Immigration and Nationality Laws 7. Exclusion and Deportation of Lesbians and Gay Men 8. The Future of Immigration and Civil Rights in the United States Notes Index