Date of Award
6-2008
Document Type
Union College Only
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Political Science
Second Department
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
First Advisor
Byron Nicholas
Language
English
Keywords
immigration, mexican, migrant, states, united
Abstract
This thesis explores overlooked realities informing the phenomenon of Mexican immigration to the United States and their implications for immigration debate and policy prescriptions. To begin, the extant economic relationship between Mexico and the United States is examined along with the migrant workers’ role in the U.S. economy, their effect on American social service programs, and their decision to migrate. Historical notions of birthright citizenship in the United States are then explored, along with a discussion of comparative civic engagement between the new Mexican migrant and the contemporary American citizen. An account of the systemic exploitation experienced by Mexican participants in the bracero program ensues. Finally, an argument describing the migrant’s lack of citizenship as a means for exploitation during the bracero program and beyond is offered. The danger of temporary worker programs that would codify the exclusion of the migrant from civic protections and the possible connection between this phenomenon and human disposability seen in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico is examined. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of this connection to contemporary debate on immigration policy.
Recommended Citation
Bauer, Benjamin J., "Mexican immigration to the U.S. : dynamics, debates, and the tradgedy of the non-citizen" (2008). Honors Theses. 1442.
https://digitalworks.union.edu/theses/1442