A Broken System: What Would a Fair Immigration System Look Like? invites students to step into the year 1965 and grapple with a pivotal national debate: how the United States should reform an immigration system shaped by Cold War fears, racial inequality, and uneven quotas. Through guided deliberation, participants examine competing values—fairness, opportunity, unity, and security—and weigh the trade-offs of three distinct approaches.

The guide presents three options for discussion:

• Be a Beacon of Freedom by greatly expanding immigration and prioritizing refugees and those in greatest need.

• Treat Every Country Equally by eliminating national-origin biases and applying uniform limits across all countries.

• Promote National Unity and Security by tightening restrictions to preserve social cohesion, jobs, and national safety.

Designed to foster informed, respectful dialogue, this issue guide helps students practice democratic decision-making while confronting enduring questions about who we are—and who we welcome—as a nation.