
Anahit H. 2025 | BASIS Independent McLean
- Project Title: Comparing US & South African Immigration Policies
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Erin Vander Wall
- Internship Location: Singh Law Firm
- Onsite Mentor: Maria Fegosenkova
This research project aims to examine the influence of different factors on immigration laws in the United States and South Africa, specifically focusing on how political and social factors shape these policies and the impact that they have. Immigration is one of the most relevant topics in modern political discussions, especially as the social climate evolves rapidly due to new policies and government officials are in place. Economies and cultures have been affected by the movement of people across borders throughout all of history, so immigration has always been a constant debate and concern in every political discussion. Broader issues like labor shortages, refugee crises, and international relations are directly tied to immigration and can be remedied by the right implementation of policies. This research will compare immigration laws in the U.S. to South Africa, focusing on the similarities and differences between the two countries and will analyze how societies attempt to balance economic growth with challenges caused by immigration. As of 2023, the U.S. has approximately 45 million immigrants (13.6% of its population), while South Africa is home to around 4 million immigrants (7% of its population). By analyzing the immigration policies of both countries, this study will give a better understanding of the impact that historical, economic, and political factors have on shaping a country, providing significant information for future policy decisions of the global immigration landscape.