Immigration in the United States of America: a historical and political review

This article focuses on two main interconnected subjects. The first subject examines the nearly four-hundred-year history of immigration in the United States. The second evaluates how this remarkable phe-nomenon of immigration experienced by the United States has become a global threat not only to the United States but all nation-states in the twenty-first century. Since the adoption of its Constitution in 1791, the United States has welcomed immigrants from various parts of the world. However, this process has been subject to certain restrictions and conditions. In this frame at times, the United States has made agreements with neighboring countries to accept large numbers of immigrants. Conversely, at other times, they have deported to different countries the previously accepted immigrants or completely banned their entry. Despite extensive experience with both positive and nega-tive results, illegal immigration remains a primary concern for U.S. leaders. Today, immigration and the problems of immigrants continue to be unresolved issues. In the twenty-first century, immigration has emerged as a worldwide issue affecting not only the United States, but all countries due to a multitude of reasons. The challenges of immigration we face today are just one aspect of a larger set of issues that I refer to as the ‘Integrated Threat,’ which encompasses numerous global challenges. In this article, I will begin by outlining the history of immigration in the United States and the perspectives of three re-cent presidents on this issue. Furthermore, the worldwide challenge of immigration will be assessed alongside the Integrated Threat.