This course introduce students to the complexities and challenges of US immigration policies with a particular focus on the changes that occurred since the last major reforms of 1996 under President Clinton, the tragic events of 9/11, and the present debates for a new overhaul of the immigration system. The United States was created by successive waves of immigrants, including forced migration in the form of slavery. From its territorial expansion in the mid-nineteenth century, followed by its industrialization and further economic expansion overseas that was consolidated after WW II, the US has always depended on large waves of immigrants, legal or undocumented. Ironically, after every massive wave of immigrants, the descendants of those who preceded them always saw those who followed with suspicion. Today the US is still in need of immigrants, yet it is going through one of its most polarized collective debate on who should be granted the opportunity to become a citizen, and enjoy the freedoms and liberties that come with such status, and who should be excluded while maintaining their labor. Such debate needs to be studied by any future policy expert dealing with migration and development as well as human security.