Does U.S. immigration policy harm domestic workers?  Some analysts maintain that the overall benefits from immigration are small, so it is doubtful these benefits play an important role in the policy debate. Others maintain that immigration has significant effects on the economy. They note that highly skilled immigrants help create jobs for domestic workers while less skilled workers fill jobs most Americans do not desire, such as cooking in restaurants, picking apples and cherries, and cleaning offices, adding to the economic vitality of the nation.
Most U.S. residents today are the descendants of immigrants who arrived in the United States during the past 150 years. Concerns about the effect of immigration on domestic workers, however, have resulted in the passage of several laws designed to restrict immigration. Unions in particular have argued for a more restrictive immigration policy on the grounds that immigration lowers the wage and employment levels for domestic residents.
No substantial restrictions were placed on immigration into the United States until the passage of the Quota Law of 1921. This law set quotas on the number of immigrants based on the country of origin. The Quota Law primarily restricted immigration from eastern and southern Europe. The Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965 eliminated the country-specific quota system and instead established a limit on the maximum number of immigrants allowed into the United States. Under this act, preferential treatment is given to those who immigrate for the purpose of family reunification. Those possessing exceptional skills are also given priority. No limit is placed on the number of political refugees allowed to immigrate into the United States. Not all immigrants enter the country through legal channels. Individuals often enter on student or tourist visas and begin working in violation of their visa status. Other individuals enter the country illegally without a valid U.S. visa. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 addresses the issue of illegal immigration by imposing substantial fines on employers that hire illegal immigrants.
The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 provided several new restrictions to immigration. Host families can only accept immigrants if the host family receives an income that is at least 125 percent of the poverty level. This act also requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service to maintain stricter records of entry and exit by nonresident aliens.

What do you think? What would you do to revise the U.S. system of immigration?