Rights Immigrants, and Debates



Immigrant Politics and Rights Debates

Group Discussion Issues to consider on Immigrant Politics & Rights:

1. How do Immigrants tend to react to native’s initial hostility toward them (“reactive formation” of ethnicity, & what is Resilient Ethnicity later on for immigrants & their descendents? (P&R Ch. 5)

-- Examples in US history (Irish, Italians, Germans, etc.) (P&R Ch. 5)

-- Contemporary Examples (Mexican Americans, Cuban Americans) (P&R Ch. 5)

Reactions to anti-immigrant measures & sentiments… (Prop. 187, Mariel boatlift, etc.)

How did radical 1960s & 70s Chicano movement accomplish mainstream political progress?

-- Do Massive Immigrant Marches in Spring 2006 fit this reactive formation/resilient ethnicity pattern? (Pressley et al. web rdg)

2. What is a “Transnational Community” for 1st generation immigrants? How do they stay civically and politically active in home country? (Salvadoran and Mexican examples)How does transnational activism affect assimilation? Harm or help promote civic and political activism in US? (P&R Ch. 5)

-- How have Dual Nationality / Citizenship laws played in affecting US activism? (P&R Ch. 5)

3. What is the overview of Naturalization? (how it occurs, who is eligible, general trends, etc.)

What are the 3 key factors influencing likelihood of immigrant Naturalization? (P&R Ch. 5)

4. What is the future of “emergent ethnicities” / broader pan-ethnic categories like Asian American and Hispanic / Latino, as move into 2nd generation & beyond of current immigrant population? (P&R Ch. 5)

5. How have human rights abuses during immigration enforcement in the El Paso, Texas / Southern New Mexico area changed and / or remained similar over time (1960’s 70s, late 1980’s & early 1990s’, mid-90s after Op. Blockade started, and late 90s and early 00’s) – re: who is targeted / affected, where / geographic location, how / types of abuse, impunity or accountability, effects on communities & institutions (schools, neighborhoods, churches, social service providers, businesses, etc.)? Pay special attention to differences and similarities between Citizen and Legal Permanent Residents compared to Unauthorized Immigrants. How is the Citizenship framework vs. Human Rights perspective relevant? (Dunn, Chs. 5 & 6)

6. What might be the effects of such enforcement practices on “reactive ethnicity” and “resilient ethnicity”? (ala P&R)

Lecture (& some Group Disc points)

Immigrant Politics – Immigrants as political actors, focus changes over generations from transnational (home country) to Domestic (US). Key idea is backlash to the backlash (as part of “reactive ethnicity”).

Reactive Ethnicity (or “reactive formation” ethnicity) (P&R, ch 5, esp. 116-120) Definition & examples in earlier immigrant history – Irish, Italians, etc.. Recent history, 2006 protest marches as examples.

Generational Differences in Political Orientation (1st Gen. vs. 2nd gen. & later… -- Focus Country of origin vs. US)

Resilient Ethnicity (P&Rk, ch. 5)

Rights Overview (perspectives on Immigrant Rights)

Nationalistic-Citizenship view Vs. Human Rights Perspective – in general & issue of conditionality of rights, where national sovereignty fits in, immigrants rights as a threat or not, civil rights vs. human rights, among other key points (Dunn web rdg., Fujiwara web rdg.)

Transnationalism / Transnational Communities (defined and afew examples) & link to assimilation (P&R, ch 5)

Transantionalism & Dual Nationality / Dual Citizenship & link to naturalization and Activism & Assimilation in US. (P&R, ch. 5)

Naturalization (define) & 3 (0r 4-5) key factors influencing whether immigrants will naturalize (P&R, ch. 5, plus my additions)

Rights Issues in in El Paso area – types and changes over time(Dunn Chs. 5 & 6)

Rights abuses of immigrants and descendants – legal status key factor. Know who is targeted / affected, where / geographic location, how / types of abuse, impunity or accountability, effects on communities & institutions

1960’s-1992 (bowie lawsuit) – Border Patrol abuse of undocumented immigrants, Hispanic Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) and Hispanic citizens – citizens and LPRs treated as suspects, passivity due to justified fear of retaliation.

1992 Bowie Lawsuit – Sucessfully challenges BP abuses of Hispnaic citizens and LPRs. A sort of ethnic mobilization to protest abuses.

1993 Operation Blockade implemented – early 2000s – Op Blckd lowered abuses but not eliminate, and made them less visible. Enforcement in communities and abuses of rights shift from city to periphery, mainly, with some of same old tactics and abuses, but now less visible and harder to monitor. More so LPR’s and undocumented immigrants now targeted. But again, some new ethnic mobilization to challenge this, rights activists organize.

2 Key examples of Resilient Ethnicity / Reactive Formation of Ethnicity (P&R ch. 5)

[Backlash to the Backlash]

1,. Mexican American civil rights movement 1960s -1970s, & 1990s reaction to Proposition in 187 in California – cut off all social services (except emergency medical) to undocumented immigrants, including education. Force service providers to report to INS suspected undoc. / illegal immigs. Aimed at Hispanic immigs….

2. Cuban American mobilization in Miami, & relationship to anti-immigrant measures there in 1980s

Both (P&R ch. 5)

Other things not covered in class but should know for exam:

Pan-ethnic movements / Emergent Ethnicities (Asian American & Hispanic / Latino) growing out of poltical necessity. Prospects for their mergence in future as 2nd and 3rd generations emerge? (P&R, ch 5)

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