A lecture by Leah Boustan, Princeton University Immigrants to the US today move up the economic ladder and engage in cultural assimilation at the same pace as immigrants during the Ellis Island generation. What's more, the children of immigrants experience rapid social mobility, even if their parents hailed from poor countries. So, why are prospects for immigration reform so dim? This stalemate is more surprising in light of new evidence from the Congressional Record showing that political attitudes toward immigration have never been more positive in US history, albeit more divided by political party. Textual analysis reveals that the partisan …

Immigrants to the US today move up the economic ladder and engage in cultural assimilation at the same pace as immigrants during the Ellis Island generation. What's more, the children of immigrants experience rapid social mobility, even if their parents hailed from poor countries. So, why are prospects for immigration reform so dim? This stalemate is more surprising in light of new evidence from the Congressional Record showing that political attitudes toward immigration have never been more positive in US history, albeit more divided by political party. Textual analysis reveals that the partisan divide on immigration is not driven by economic considerations. Rather, the most polarized topics are crime on one side, and positive views of refugees on the other. The lecture will conclude with new insights on immigration and crime, and on refugees, throughout US history.