Fall 2007 Advance Course Information

This information effective for fall 2007. 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.

Please note that the dates in the following description apply to 2006.

Instructor: Susanne Jonas
Office: Merrill 110
Office Hours: Wednesday, 1-3, Thursday, 2-3, or by appointment
Phone: 9-3232 (office), message, 9-2855 (message)
E-mail: sjonas@ucsc.edu
T.A: Xochitl Chávez (xchavez@ucsc.edu)

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 and post-9/11, 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 2006: greatly increased attacks on immigrant rights since 9/11/01, USA Patriot Act, Minuteman border vigilantes, Arizona Prop 200, H.R. 4437 — and responses by Latino and other immigrant communities and organizations, especially in Spring 2006; immigration as an issue in the November 2006 elections, after the Spring uprising and Summer backlash.

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 (3rd edition, 2006)
• Leo Chavez, Shadowed Lives: Undocumented Immigrants in American Society
• Additional resources will include films/videos, audio tapes, recommended books and novels, 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 presentations (optional, 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:

Course Introduction for 2006 (Sept. 21)

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

Overview History of 19th and 20th Immigration Trends and Policies (Sept. 26 and 28)
                Readings: Reader: Section I
                                Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 1
                                Chavez, "Introduction"

Economic Causes of Migration (Oct. 3)

                Readings: Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 2
                               Reader: Section II (a)

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

Border Crossings, Border Violence (Oct. 5)

                           VIDEO: El Norte

                           Readings: Chavez, Ch. 1-3

Political Causes of Migration: Central American Refugees from Civil Wars (Oct. 10)

                           Readings: Reader: Section II (b)

The Revolving Door: Mexican Migration (Oct. 12)

                           Readings: Reader: Section II (c)
                                          Begin Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 3

                          In-class discussion, Oct. 12

Varieties of Immigrant Experiences and Non-Border Arrival (Puerto Ricans, Haitians,
Dominicans, Cubans, Andeans, South Americans, Asians) (beginning Oct. 17)

                          Readings: Reader: Section II (d)
                                         Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 3

Student Presentations on different immigrant experiences, beginning Oct. 17

** ASSIGNMENT: RECEIVE TAKE-HOME MIDTERM: Oct. 17

** MIDTERM DUE: Oct. 24, at beginning of class

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

Immigrant Struggles: Crossing Borders, Surviving in Communities & Workplaces (Oct. 19)

                          VIDEOS: La Ciudad, Border Stories

Immigrant Women and Gay Border-Crossers (Oct. 24)

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

Identity, Incorporation, and Binational Lives (Oct. 26 and 31)

                         Readings: Chavez, Ch. 7 and 10
                                        Reader: Section III (b)
                                        Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 8

                        VIDEO: Mayan Voices, American Lives, Oct. 26

                        Continue “Varieties” presentations, In-class discussion, Oct. 31

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

Immigrant Labor in the Context of Economic Restructuring in the U.S. (Nov. 2)

                          Readings: Reader: Section III (c)
                                         Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 4
                                         Chavez, Ch. 8, 9, Epilogue
                                       
                         VIDEO: selections from The Downsizing of America

Immigrant Labor Organizing (Nov. 7 and 9)

                         Readings: Reader: Section III (d) (choose at least 4 articles)

                         VIDEO: Bread and Roses (Nov. 7)

                         GUEST SPEAKER: David Bacon (Nov. 9)

IV.   Immigration Laws, Policies, Nativism, Immigrant & Latino Political Participation, and
        Immigrant Rights Organizing

From 1994 to 2006 Election: Policy Debates on Prop. 187 and Beyond: Anti-Immigrant Laws of 1996, the Latino Vote and Political Participation, Latinos and African Americans, Anti-Immigrant Environmentalism, Debates over Economic Impact (Nov. 14)

                         Readings: Reader: Section IV (a) and begin Section IV (b)
                                        Begin Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 10

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

9/11/01, Wars against Terrorism: “PATRIOT Acts” and New Attacks against Immigrants/Non-Citizens (Nov. 16)

                        Readings: Reader: Finish Section IV (b) and Section IV (c)
                                       Finish Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 10

                        VIDEO: Farmingville (Nov. 16)

2006 Debates (Nov. 21)

                        In-class student debates, Nov. 21

Nov. 23: no class (Thanksgiving)

Bush’s “Bracero” Proposal, Immigrant Legalization Struggles, Political Participation, Rethinking Citizenship, Immigration as an Issue of Democracy in the U.S. (Nov. 28)

                        Readings: Reader: Section IV (d)
                                       Portes/Rumbaut, Ch. 5

Advocacy, from Local to Regional and Global, and the Future of Immigrant Struggles (Nov. 30)

                        Readings: Reader: Section IV (e)

RECEIVE TAKE-HOME FINAL: November 30

FINAL DUE: December 6

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