Immigration and the Border - (Latino Perspectives) by David L Leal & José E Limón (Paperback)

About the Book

Contributors address immigration and border politics and policies, focusing on the fourth wave of immigration and the lives of Mexican and Latino immigrants.

Book Synopsis

The advent of the twenty-first century marks a significant moment in the history of Latinos in the United States. The "fourth wave" of immigration to America is primarily Latino, and the last decades of the twentieth century saw a significant increase in the number of Latino migrants, a diversification of the nations contributing to this migration, and an increase in the size of the native-born Latino population. A backlash against unauthorized immigration, which may indict all Latinos, is also underway. Understanding the growing Latino population, especially its immigrant dimensions, is therefore a key task for researchers in the social sciences and humanities.

The contributors to Immigration and the Border address immigration and border politics and policies, focusing on the U.S. side of the border. The volume editors have arranged the essays into five sections. The two chapters in the first section set the stage and discuss the binational lives of Mexican migrants; chapters in the subsequent sections highlight specific political and policy themes: civic engagement, public policies, political reactions against immigrants, and immigrant leadership. Because the immigration experience encompasses many facets of political life and public policy, the varied perspectives of the contributors offer a mosaic that contextualizes the impact of and contributions by contemporary Latino immigrants. Their research will appeal not only to scholars but to policymakers and the public and will inform contentious debates about migration and migrants.

Review Quotes

"Other than its interdisciplinary approach, the collection's helpfulness results from its inclusion of youth (a sector of the Latino population that is exploding but often not understood or studied), the fact that in several essays the researchers point to policies that are more productive, and an approach that does not ignore those left behind in the sending countries." --Theological Studies

"This volume makes an original contribution by presenting new research in the field of Latino studies. The varied perspectives of the contributors make the book appealing to scholars and students in political science, sociology, anthropology, education, Latino studies, and border studies. Immigration and the Border: Politics and Policy in the New Latino Century will also appeal to Latino organizations and policy advocates." --Raquel Marquez, University of Texas at San Antonio

"Immigration and the Border is an invaluable repository of information, and a welcome contribution to public and college library shelves." --The Midwest Book Review

"With Immigration and the Border: Politics and Policy in the New Latino Century, editors David L. Leal and José E. Limón have gathered an impressive group of contributors from diverse fields to provide an understanding of immigration dynamics in contemporary American political and civic life. Written in an accessible style, this fine volume delivers extensive coverage of political and border issues, making it valuable for students in many Latino studies courses." --Jorge Chapa, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

About the Author

David L. Leal is associate professor of government and Mexican American studies, Director of the Irma Rangel Public Policy Institute, and Director of the Immigration Studies Initiative at the University of Texas at Austin.