CoursesA Nation of Immigrants Reconsidered (NEW)
HIST 1166/ASAM 1166/LALS 1166, section 401

A Nation of Immigrants Reconsidered (NEW)

Many Americans widely accept the notion that the United States is a nation of immigrants despite the fact that immigration and border control has been a central feature of this nation’s past. This course explores the United States’ development of immigration and border enforcement during the twentieth century through an intersectional lens. It roots the structures of modern immigration and border enforcement in Native dispossession and histories of slavery, and interrogates how Asian, Black, and Latinx immigration has shaped and expanded immigration controls on, within, and beyond US territorial borders. In addition to historicizing the rise and expansion of major institutions of immigration control such as the US Border Patrol and Bureau of Naturalization, we explore how immigration controls were enforced on the ground and impacted the lives of everyday people.

Instructor(s)
  • Hardeep Dhillon
Semester

Spring 2026

Register
MW 10:15am-11:44am

This course examines the historical foundations of immigration and border control to illuminate the policies, debates, and practices that shape the contemporary United States. Through a “history of the present” approach, we analyze how past systems of governance and politics continue to influence modern immigration policies and societal challenges. From the creation of the U.S. Border Patrol to the introduction of immigration quotas, we trace the historical origins of today’s enforcement apparatus and connect them to pressing issues in the present. Along the way, we explore how historical narratives have been deployed to justify current policies and examine their enduring impacts on individuals, communities, and the nation in the 21st century. Students from all areas and disciplines are welcome and encouraged to enroll. No prior knowledge of course content is required.

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