Fall 2006 Advance Course Information

This information effective for Fall 2006. Check with instructor the first day of class for any changes.

Latin American and Latino Studies

[LALS-173]

173. Crossing Borders: Latin American Immigration to the U.S.

Instructor: Susanne Jonas Fall 2006
Office: Merrill 110
Phone: 831- 459-3232, message, 831-459-2855
E-mail: sjonas@ucsc.edu
UCSC Office Hours: Wednesday, 1-3:30, Thursday, 10-11, or by appointment
Course Assistant: Melanie Wilkinson, cellardoor12@yahoo.com

Description

This interdisciplinary course (Gen Ed code E) addresses Latin American immigration to the U.S. from a variety of perspectives. Areas to be covered include:

• Background and history of immigration to the United States
• The U.S. as an immigrant nation;
• Major social–economic and political conditions in Latin America causing immigration to the U.S. especially since the 1980s — and ongoing U.S. business needs for immigrant labor;
• Varieties of immigrant experiences, contrasting arrival/survival experiences (border and non-border, Latin American, Asian, etc.);
• Diverse experiences of Latino immigrants and their communities in the U.S. – the view “from below,” with special focus on women’s stories;
• Cross-border binational/transnational identities, ties to home communities;
• Immigrant labor in the context of U.S. economic restructuring, and immigrant labor organizing;
• Immigration laws and current debates about U.S. immigration/refugee policy—among these, Proposition 187 in California (1994), anti-immigrant Congressional laws of 1996, the Latino vote, U.S./Mexico negotiations on guest-workers and legalization, black/Latino relations, anti-immigrant environmentalism, debates about economic impact, immigrant contributions to the U.S. economy and society;
• Legalization struggles, citizenship, and immigration as an issue of democracy in the U.S.;
• Special concerns for 2004: greatly increased attacks on immigrant rights since 9/11/01 and the war against Iraq – and responses by Latino and other immigrant communities and organizations; immigration as an issue in the 2004 election.

Course Readings and Materials

Required readings are a Course Reader (to be sold in class), and two texts (available at Bay Tree Bookstore):

• Alejandro Portes and Ruben Rumbaut, Immigrant America
• Leo Chavez, Shadowed Lives: Undocumented Immigrants in American Society

Additional resources will include audio tapes, videos, recommended books and novels (on Reserve), and guest speakers.

Requirements and basis for evaluation of students

A midterm exam and a final exam (both take-home); attendance at all course sessions; keeping up with readings; active participation in class discussions, including occasional presentations for extra credit; smaller written assignments (e.g., immigration-related items in the news, identity statement, interview with immigrant(s) in the community, or report on an immigrant-experience novel).

NOTE: Class attendance is mandatory; all absences must be excused.

TOPICS/SESSIONS:

I.     Background and History: U.S. as an Immigrant Nation

Overview History of 19th and 20th Immigration Trends and Policies
(Sept. 28 and 30)

Readings:

• Reader: Section I
• Chavez, Introduction

II. Latin American Migration to the U.S.: Causes and Experiences

Economic Causes of Migration (Oct. 5)

Readings:

• Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 1
• Reader: Section II (a)

Assignment: News Summary/ Critique (due Oct. 12)

Border Crossings, Border Violence (Oct. 7)

VIDEO: El Norte

Readings:

• Chavez, Ch. 1-3

The Revolving Door: Mexican Migration (Oct. 12)

Readings:

• Reader: Section II (b)
• Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 2

In-class discussion, Oct. 12

Political Causes: Central American Refugees from Civil Wars (Oct. 14)

Readings:

• Reader: Section II (c)

Varieties of Immigrant Experiences and Non-Border Arrival (Puerto Ricans, Haitians, Dominicans, Cubans, Andeans, Asians) (Oct. 19 and 21)

Readings:

• Reader: Section II (d) (readings will be divided up for student presentations)

Student Presentations, Oct. 19 and 21

** ASSIGNMENT: RECEIVE TAKE-HOME MIDTERM: Oct. 21

** MIDTERM DUE: Oct. 28, at beginning of class

III. The “View from Below:” Immigrants and their Communities

Immigrant Struggles: Crossing Borders, Surviving in Communities & Workplaces (Oct. 26)

VIDEOS: La Ciudad, Border Stories

Immigrant Women and Gay Border-Crossers (Oct. 28 and Nov. 2)

Readings:

• Reader: Section III (a)
• Chavez, Ch. 4-6

Identity, Incorporation, and Binational Lives (Nov. 2 and 4)

Readings:

• Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 7 (and Ch. 4, optional)
• Chavez, Ch. 7 and 10
• Reader: Section III (b)

VIDEO: Mayan Voices, American Lives, Nov. 2

In-class discussion, Nov. 4

Assignment: Identity Statement, Interview, or Novel (due Nov. 16)

Immigrant Labor in the Context of Economic Restructuring (including NAFTA) and New Guest-worker Programs (Nov. 9)

Readings:

• Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 3
• Chavez, Ch. 8, 9, Epilogue
• Reader: Section III (c)

VIDEO: selections from The Downsizing of America and Bill Moyers

Nov. 11: No class (Veterans Day)

Immigrant Labor Organizing (Nov. 16)

Reading:

• Reader: Section III (d) (choose 3-4 articles)

GUEST SPEAKER: David Bacon (Nov. 16)

VIDEO: Bread and Roses will be on reserve

IV.  Immigration Laws, Policies, and Debates and Immigrant Rights Organizing

Policy Debates on Prop. 187 and Beyond: Anti-Immigrant Laws of 1996, Politics and the Latino Vote, Latinos and African Americans, Anti-Immigrant Environmentalism, Debates over Economic Impact, Immigrant Contributions (Nov. 18)

Readings:

• Reader: Section IV (a) and start Section IV (b)
• Portes/Rumbaut, Chapter 8

“GUEST-SPEAKER” TAPE: David Binetti and Kathy Nelson Turner: The Case for Prop. 187

9/11/01, Wars against Terrorism and Iraq: “PATRIOT Acts” and New Attacks against Immigrants/Non-Citizens (Nov. 23)

Readings:

• Reader: Finish Section IV (b) and Section IV (c)

In-class debates, Nov. 23

Nov. 25: no class (Thanksgiving)

Bush’s “Bracero” Proposal (2004), Legalization Struggles, Rethinking Citizenship, Immigration as an Issue of Democracy in the U.S. (Nov. 30)

Readings:

• Reader: Section IV (d)

Advocacy, from Local to Global, and The Future of Immigrant Struggles (Dec. 2)

Readings:

• Reader: Section IV (e)

RECEIVE TAKE-HOME FINAL: December 2

FINAL DUE: December 9

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