This book is a welcome analysis of how and why Congress has acted on immigration policy since 1965. It provides a comprehensive history of how these laws came to be. It includes charts of Congressional voting and descriptions of the most influential immigration lawmakers. The book also has a chapter on public opinion, and the various special interest groups and what they have accomplished. It is basic information for those trying to fathom why we have the laws we do.
The authors remind us that there are vast numbers in our country who are ambivalent about immigration, and there is no national outcry forcing representatives to vote for reductions. The authors also describe the disconnects between leadership of groups and their members. For example, labor union leaders encourage increased immigration because it means more union members, while the rank and file oppose it for fear of losing their jobs or seeing their wages decline. In the many graphs the authors show about 83 percent of Republicans and 24 percent of the Democrats, mostly southern ones, voting to restrict immigration when the legislation concerns costs of benefits, etc. Edwards and Gimpel conclude the current situation is one where interest groups favoring restriction are outgunned by their opponents now and for the foreseeable future.
Both authors have worked in Congress. James Gimpel was an aide in the Senate and House and is currently an associate professor of government. James R. Edwards, Jr. served on the House Immigration Conference Committee, and served on the Majority Leader's Immigration Reform Working Group. Additionally, he handled the Judiciary Committee assignment of Rep. Ed Bryant of Tennessee.
— by Carol Joyal
