Some Federal-State Developments in Immigration Law

Abstract

I plan to make four general points, all very briefly. First, I shall provide an overview of what I take to be the global trends with respect to devolution. Second, I shall discuss the structure of nonAmerican federal systems bearing on immigration policy, on the distribution of power over immigration policy, and on immigration enforcement. Third, I shall review some trends in the United States concerning devolution generally, not only in immigration policy. Finally, I shall address the topic discussed in this conference-the distribution of power over immigration between the federal government and the states.