Top 5 Things You Should Read on Immigration
A Curated Reading List on Immigration by a Professor of Mexican History
Reports are in that President Trump has signed an executive order halting family separations at the border. That’s a victory. But our current immigration system is far from fixed. I decided to put together a reading/watching list for those who want to know about the history of immigration in the United States, mainly focused on the southern border. I teach Mexican history at a large southern state university. I certainly don’t know everything — and please look for the links to experts I respect — but here’s some readings that have helped me understand more about the issue. Immigration is an issue with deep historical roots in the United States. After all, we’re a nation of immigrants.
(Note: The list contains books, articles, and visual media)
5. Line in the Sand: A History of the Western U.S.-Mexico Border by Rachel St. John.
St. John is an associate professor of history at UC Davis. Her book provides a powerful portrait of the ways the border went from a line on the map, to a major symbol of state power. The book charts the history of the evolving border from the Mexican-American War in 1848 to the 1930s, with a conclusion that takes the story up to the present. The border, St. John argues, has forever been changing based on the interests of capitalists, native tribes, migrants, and politicians. There was never a time when the US had complete control over the border. This helps put our current situation in context. Pundits and politicians who want to hark back to a golden age of law and order on the border don’t know their history. (You can read/listen to an interview with St. John on NPR).
4. Enrique’s Journey: The Story of a Boy’s Dangerous Odyssey to Reunite with His Mother by Sonia Nazario
Ever wonder about the back stories of the unaccompanied minors who get picked up at the U.S.-Mexico border? This book is for you. It tells the heart-wrenching tale of Enrique, a Honduran boy who sets out on a journey — by himself — from Central America, through Mexico, and then to the United States to find his mother. The book puts a human face on the limited choices facing many migrant women, and the even fewer choices for migrant children. There is a great website where you can learn about the book and the story.
3. “Trump’s Anti-Immigration Playbook was Written 100 Years Ago. In Boston.” by Neil Swidey.
A journalist, Swidey provides a deep dive into some of the earliest organized efforts to curb foreign immigration in the late 19th century. He describes the rise and development of the Immigration Restriction League. It’s policies were among the first to “Keep America Great.”
2. Frontline: World. “A Death in the Desert.” by Claudine LoMonaco.
I often show this 20 minute documentary in my Mexican history course. It details the way in which immigration policy — especially a policy of fortifying the border — pushed migrants into perilous desert crossings. The documentary excavates the very personal loses of families and communities represented by the scores of John and Jane Does found dead in the desert every year. This is a must watch.
1.Would the Trump Administration Separate Jesus from Mary and Joseph? by David B. Gowler.
Gowler is a Religious Studies professor at Emory. He weaves in a theological analysis to the current immigration debate. Very well done.
Stephen Andes, Ph.D., is a professor of Mexican History. His current project is Zorro. Stay tuned for more…
