Boise State Journal Looks at Immigration Issues, History

The Fall 2005 edition of Idaho Issues Online, available now at www.idahoissues.com, looks at the history of immigration to Idaho and the policies surrounding integration, employment, social services and other issues affecting Idaho’s newcomers. In-depth feature articles look at the contribution of Mexican agricultural workers, the difficulty faced by Somali-Bantus fleeing a life of terror, the challenges faced by the influx of Vietnamese refugees in the ’70s and ’80s and the tensions between Idaho ranchers and early Basque sheepmen.

Idaho Issues Online features informed scholarly research and short profiles of significant people working on or embroiled in the issue of immigration. In addition, a “gallery” page offers visual and audio exhibits on Idaho’s Chinese, Finnish, Vietnamese and Czech immigrants, and the ethnic landmarks that define Boise’s culture and heritage. For those interested in learning more about the subject, Web links are provided to news articles, legislation, related issues and more.

The online public policy journal is produced by Boise State University’s Center for Idaho History and Politics. Published twice a year by the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs at Boise State, its goal is to foster critical thinking about political and historical problems of vital importance to voters and policymakers.

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Contact: Todd Shallat, Director, Idaho Center for History and Politics, (208) 426-3701, tshalla@boisesetate.edu 

Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Relations, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu