Our Summer Debate Institute students visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to dig into their summer resolution: Resolved: The United States should significantly increase the cap on H-1B visas. The trip gave students a chance to compare the open immigration system of the early 20th century with today’s system of quotas and caps, the exact tension at the heart of their topic.
Each student carried a “passport” with 6 checkpoints guiding them through Ellis Island. Along the way, they followed the step-by-step process new arrivals experienced, explored the push and pull factors behind migration, and traced the growth and trends of immigration to America over time.
It is one thing to research immigration policy and another to stand where millions first arrived and connect that history directly to the arguments they are building for debate season. We are proud of the curiosity and rigor our students brought to every stop.