Immigration refers to the movement of groups of people into a country other than homeland. It contrasts with the term emigration, which refers to groups of people moving out of their homeland. Both terms fall under the larger umbrella term, migration. Immigration influences the educational system in particular, as schools must adapt to new immigrant students and help students adapt and succeed in their new home. This entry provides an overview and summary of U.S. immigration policies and issues.

U.S. immigration policies have been dictated by a variety of factors such as political interests, ethnocentric ideology, economic concerns, and international relations. For example, a need for inexpensive labor during the 1860s led to increased numbers of Chinese immigrants to the United States to work on building ...