How many immigrants have come to the United States?

Step 1: Go to the ArcGIS Online map, Your Huddled Masses, and explore the map.

Step 2: At the bottom of the map, click the Play button.

Step 3: With the Details button underlined, click the button Show Map Legend.

  • What spatial patterns do you notice about the number of immigrants coming into the United States since 1820?

How many green-card holders are in the United States?

Step 4: Click the button, Content.

Step 5: Uncheck the box to the left of the layer name, History of Immigration.

Step 6: Turn on the layer, # of Green-Cards 2016.

  • Which region had the highest number of immigrants coming to the United States in 2016?

Step 7: Turn on the layer, Green Cards by State.

Step 8: Click West Virginia, which had the lowest percentage of immigrants.

  • What was the predominant country of origin for West Virginia’s immigrant population?

Step 9: Click on New York, which had the highest percentage of immigrants.

  • What was the predominant country of origin for New York’s immigrant population?

Where are there favorable conditions for undocumented immigrants?

A sanctuary city is a state or county that has legislation in place that established a statewide “sanctuary” for undocumented immigrants.

Step 10: Turn off the layer, # of Green Cards.

Step 11: Turn on the layer, Sanctuary Cities.

California has the highest percentage of immigrants as part of their population.

  • Describe the distribution of sanctuary cities.

West Virginia and Montana have the lowest percentage of immigrants as part of their population.

  • Does either of these states have sanctuary cities?
  • States that have high immigrants are more likely to have policies that help illegial immigrants. (T/F)

How do refugees affect the United States?

Step 12: Turn off the layer, Sanctuary Cities.

Refugees are individuals who are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin or nationality because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution.

Step 13: Turn on the layer, Refugee Groups by State.

  • Do all states accept refugees?
  • What refugee group predominates in your state?
  • What regional patterns are visible in refugee camps?

Who comes to the United States?

Step 14: Turn off all layers.

Step 15: Turn on the layer, Immigration Stories, and read each story.

  • How has each type of immigrant affected the United States?

License

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World Regional Geography Lab Manual Copyright © 2019 by R. Adam Dastrup, MA, GISP is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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