State and local immigration issues and policies for all 50 states are thoroughly examined in this unique, up-to-date, and accessibly written encyclopedia. Immigration continues to be a timely and often-controversial subject, particularly regarding legislation at the state level. While many books cover U.S. immigration, both historical and contemporary, few if any reference works examine the role of contemporary immigration in individual states. This two-volume encyclopedia fills that gap. Chapters address legal, social, political, and cultural issues of immigrant groups on a state-by-state basis and explore immigration trends and issues faced by individual ethnic populations. The encyclopedia will enable students to research the impact, contributions, and issues of immigration for each state to make comparisons between states and regions of the United States and to understand state versus national policies.

By combining the history of immigration policy with current information, the work shows readers that many of the issues making news today are the same as those the nation dealt with in past decades. Studying state and local dynamics provide a unique perspective on this history. * Offers topical essays on all 50 U.S. states, covering the history of immigration, state and local policies, and the contributions of various ethnic groups * Provides readers with a big-picture understanding of immigration activity for each state over the past 50 years * Includes chronologies, historical overviews, and topical essays that provide important background and place major events and legislation in context * Offers a "notable figures/groups" section with biographical and group profiles highlighting the contributions made by particular individuals and organizations in relation to immigration.