Politics of Immigration: Questions and Answers
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United States Immigration
by: Jane Guskin, David L. Wilson
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In spring 2006, millions of immigrants and supporters organized in cities and small towns across the United States to defend their rights following the passage of HR4437, a bill designed to punish unauthorized immigrants. In an unprecedented show of force, tens of thousands of workers marched out of meatpacking plants, factories, restaurants, landscape businesses and stores, while students--many of them the US-born children of immigrants--staged school walkouts. Thousands also observed a one-day national consumer boycott to demonstrate the economic power of immigrant communities.
The spring 2006 mobilizations--and the ensuing backlash from anti-immigrant sectors--pushed the topic of immigration to the front and center of U.S. politics. Polls show the public increasingly divided, with the debate framed as a choice between “deport them all” and “give everyone amnesty.” But dialogue is possible when we dig deeper. Why are people leaving their homes? Why are they coming here? What is the impact of our current enforcement policies? What kinds of alternatives exist?
Backed with a wide range of cited sources, The Politics of Immigration tackles questions and concerns about immigration with compelling arguments and hard facts, laid out in straightforward language and an accessible question-and-answer format.
For immigrants and supporters, the book is an effective tool to confront common myths and misinformation. For teachers, it provides a useful framework on the current debate, and ample opportunities for students to reach out and explore the intersecting issues.
Those who believe immigrants steal jobs from citizens, drive down wages, strain public services, and threaten our culture will find such assumptions challenged here, while people who are undecided about immigration will find the solid data and clear reasoning they need to develop an informed opinion.
Reviews:
We desperately need to put aside false information about immigrants, to see them as we see ourselves with honesty and compassion. This book gives powerful meaning to the slogan ‘No Human Being is Illegal.’ I hope it will be widely read.
In 2006, foreign nationals led the largest protests in the nation’s history. As the immigrant rights movement grows in size and energy, we need quick facts and deep history. This encyclopedic book gives us both. Readers move in rapid fire from sanctuary and legalization to guestworker programs, raids and deportations. The argument is easy to follow, for families struggling to stay together and activists of all walks who are struggling to expose the issues.
This is an excellent book about immigration politics, a very complex subject, in an accessible and provocative way. Authors use a question and answer format, which allows them to directly address some of the most heated issues in this national debate. They’ve done a great job of identifying these hot-button points, and go about undoing the stereotypes, misinformation and prejudice that paralyze rational thought about immigration policy. In the process, they break down complex sets of ideas into their component pieces, giving each one its own question. This book is a great reality check, a good teaching tool, and a powerful weapon against racism.
Authors go right to the point with chapters such as "Do immigrants hurt our economy?" while the last chapt does the big one, "Can we open our borders?" (There are 12 chapts.) My big fear was that the writers' answers to the questions would be airy lefty platitudes. I was surprised to see that the writers actually have concrete evidence from serious studies and research, statistical when needed, that prove what we've wished to be true but often were afraid to ask. They give the citations and references. It's solid. I had no idea there was so much bulletproof info. behind us. Thankfully, the authors keep each answer short. It's really practical.
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