Advanced Immigration 2025

By Lucy Guilbert-Neal

Over time, policies surrounding immigration, but more importantly, the perception of immigration in the United States, have been shaped by each generation’s experiences, knowledge, and education. This in itself has created distinct gaps in understanding that influence personal opinions and the current political climate. The removal from direct experiences of the immigration process, along with varying levels of education, media exposure, and personal connection, contributes to the generational differences seen today. Through interviews with three individuals – a Baby Boomer immigrant from Canada, a GenX history teacher and son of an immigrant, and a GenZ international student– it becomes increasingly clear that generational knowledge shapes perspectives on immigration policy and political discourse. In addition to one’s education level and access to information, one’s own experience regarding immigration influences how different generations interpret and engage with immigration issues today, impacting the political climate of the United States. 

One’s knowledge regarding topics such as immigration is shaped by personal experiences, education, and exposure to immigration and policy throughout a person’s lifetime. Janet Neal, a Baby Boomer immigrant born on January 12, 1942, on the small island of Grand Manan in New Brunswick, Canada, directly experienced the evolving U.S. immigration system after marrying and settling down with Warren Neal in Maine. While she didn’t receive much education regarding immigration in Canada during her schooling and eventually her studies at Charlotte County Hospital’s nursing program, her knowledge is rooted in first-hand experience. She was faced with fluctuating costs of green card renewals and the complexity of maintaining a green card in the United States. She shared, “At that time, the green card was supposedly good for a lifetime. They changed that a few years later and said that you had to renew every 10 years; the first time we renewed, it was $75, and all we had to do was go in and pick up the papers 10 Years later. When we renewed, the price had gone to $200. Last year, I had to renew it, and the cost is now over $500. In 2004, we moved to Canada and had to get a permanent residence card. It took around 6 months and cost over $2000.” In contrast, her youngest son, Shane Guilbert-Neal, a Gen X history teacher and Upper School Director, learned about immigration through his mother’s firsthand experiences and his time on Grand Manan Island as a kid and his academic pursuits and career pathway. His knowledge is more historical and analytical, framed by formal education and exposure to immigration experiences and events through teaching. Finally, Alison Wang, a Gen Z student, has a more globalized perspective, informed by both personal family history and the accessibility of readily available digital and social media. She acknowledges the role of immigration in a broader integrated world. Her unique experiences and troubles while going through airport security and customs speak to the complexities of the current border restrictions and policies while alerting her of the system’s hostility. While each individual’s knowledge is influenced by their generation and the resources available to them during that time period, it is important to note that each interviewee has unique experiences and varied access to reliable information and education that have altered their own political standings and connection to the immigration process, creating noticeable gaps in understanding and knowledge when it comes to immigration as an extensive concept.       

The factors influencing their views on immigration and the administrations prompting certain policies also differ by generation. Janet’s perspective is shaped by her experiences with the process, having gone through it herself. From the rising costs of green card renewals to the bureaucracy of the immigration system over the decades, her frustrations reflect a lived reality of increasing governmental complexity as the United States continued to grow more and more political. Shane’s perspective seems to be a reflection of both personal and educational pursuits. He reflects on his summers working on his uncle’s fishing boat in Canada as a kid, stating, “I learned that much of our catch would be delivered to Russian processing ships in international waters…Russians kept washing up on the beaches, trying to escape their terrible work conditions on the very same factory ship…That summer made me realize that everyone deserves a chance to live a better life, and if someone wants to come to this country to work and earn a living, they should be able to do so.” Alison, however, is influenced by both her family’s distant immigration from China and her exposure to immigration issues and policies in school, as she has taken courses such as Advanced United States History and Advanced Immigration Experiences. Despite her education, she acknowledges that her understanding of certain types of immigration, such as investment immigration, is still limited due to its lack of public attention. She said, “There is a huge level of greed behind the current system where they are trying to maintain policies for the country’s economic benefit.” She notes the unfair advantage this type of immigration gives to those who can afford it, making this immigration process seem more rooted in business practices and economic benefits rather than solely a waiting period and interview procedure to enter the country. 

Beyond first-hand experiences, studies indicate a widening ideological divide between more and less educated individuals in the United States. A 2016 study completed by the Pew Research Center, entitled “A Wider Ideological Gap Between More and Less Educated Adults,” shows that 54% of adults with postgraduate experience are significantly more likely to hold consistently liberal-leaning political values compared to 44% of college graduates, 36% of those with some college experience, and 26% of individuals with a high school education or less. Conversely, more conservative values are held by 24% of post-graduates, 29% of college graduates, 28% of those with some college experience, and 26% of those with a high school education or less. A mixed ideological perspective was more prevalent amongst groups receiving less education–48% of individuals with a high school education or less expressing a balance of conservative and liberal views compared to just 22% of those with postgraduate experience. While this study is focused on ideological gaps depending on access to education rather than generational knowledge gaps, there is a clear connection between the two, showing that access and achievement in higher education are increasingly associated with liberal viewpoints, while those with less education are prone to hold a combination of political and ideological opinions in this example.

While it is essential to note the interviews conducted did not cover all viewpoints regarding immigration or circumstances that showcase why people hold the values they do. They did show that greater access to media and perspective enhances the possibility of providing greater awareness of immigration. However, whether or not a person chooses to engage with this material is a separate issue entirely and is up to one’s dedication and commitment to fact-checking and the utilization of unbiased news sources. Gaps in knowledge and differing political stances, along with the growing political atmosphere of America, have gotten us to this point in time, a time of political outrage, distrust, and growing media biases. If Americans hope to change this, it will require joint commitment and effort from all generations and people of all backgrounds to bridge this knowledge gap. However, this is only something that can be done if people truly want to see a change.