Closing the Golden Door

As the immigrant tide rises, so does the search for ways to stem it

In Chicago, school officials are scrambling to find teachers fluent in Hmong to deal with the children of some 2,500 Hmong tribesmen who settled there after fleeing the mountains of northern Laos. In Los Angeles an estimated two-thirds of the city's roofers are illegal aliens. In New York City, the population of refugees from El Salvador has swollen from 2,000 to 20,000 in less than three months, and the numbers are still growing.

Invited and uninvited, rich and poor —but mostly...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!