READINGS ON IMMIGRATION
This page is intended to be a resources for any student wishing to become better informed about the issue of undocumented immigration from Latin America to the United States. The articles meet the standards of academic publishing, and the documentaries and reports meet the standards of professional journalism. All have helped me come to a better understanding of the issue. I invite you to send me materials that you have read on this issue that you feel are informative and worth sharing.
Articles
1. Unwanted: Immigration and Nativism in America, by Peter Schrag
This article is relatively short and gives a comprehensive overview of anti-immigration sentiment and nativism in the United States. It is an abbreviated version of a book that the author published in 2010.
2. Immigration Law and the Principle of Plenary Congressional Power, by S. Legomsky
This article discusses and critiques the Plenary Power Doctrine, which refers to the
position taken by the Supreme Court that laws passed by Congress pertaining to
immigration are not subject to constitutional review. What this means is that Congress
can pass laws that are xenophobic and discriminatory. Proponents of the position that
“immigration laws need to be better enforced” ignore or are unaware of the Plenary
Power Doctrine and the possibility that our immigration laws may possibly violate the
Constitution. It is a long article and my suggestion is to read the first couple of pages
and then skip down to page 286 and read the section titled “Contemporary Social and
Political Forces,” which gives a nuanced history of the Supreme Court’s stance. The
conclusion is also instructive.
3. We Are Americans: Undocumented Students Pursuing the American Dream
This document is the introduction to the book of the same title and gives an overview of, and perspective on, contemporary issues related to undocumented immigration. Its purpose is to address and contextualize common misconceptions about undocumented immigration.
Documentaries
Latino Americans (PBS, 2011)
The documentary consists of six one-hour episodes. Episode 2 in particular discusses the mass deportation of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans during the 1930s.
Radio Broadcasts (NPR)
Tougher Times for Latino Students? History Says They’ve Never Had it Easy (November 15, 2016)
Mass Deportation May Sound Unlikely, but it’s Happened Before (September 8, 2015)