Suchergebnisse

Central to contemporary debates in the United States on migration and migrant policy is the idea of citizenship, and—as apparent in the continued debate over Arizona's immigration law SB 1070—this issue remains a focal point of contention, with a key concern being whether there should be a path to citizenship for "undocumented" migrants. In Disenchanting Citizenship, Luis F. B. Plascencia examines two interrelated issues: U.S. citizenship and the Mexican migrants' position in the United States. The book explores the meaning of U.S. citizenship through the experience of a unique group of Mexican migrants who were granted Temporary Status under the "legalization" provisions of the 1986 IRCA, attained Lawful Permanent Residency, and later became U.S. citizens. Plascencia integrates an extensive and multifaceted collection of interviews, ethnographic fieldwork, ethno-historical research, and public policy analysis in examining efforts that promote the acquisition of citizenship, the teaching of citizenship classes, and naturalization ceremonies. Ultimately, he unearths citizenship's root as a Janus-faced construct that encompasses a simultaneous process of inclusion and exclusion. This notion of citizenship is mapped on to the migrant experience, arguing that the acquisition of citizenship can lead to disenchantment with the very status desired. In the end, Plascencia expands our understanding of the dynamics of U.S. citizenship as a form of membership and belonging

State governments exercise significant powers to regulate the economic and social activities of resident aliens. We review the laws of the six leading states of immigrant settlement regulating access of noncitizens to 23 occupations, updating existing studies from 1946–77. Citizenship requirements for these occupations have plummeted, a change we attribute to federal court decisions, advisory opinions of state attorneys general, and state legislative and administrative action. There are numerous additional citizenship requirements in the statutes of the six states, although these appear to be poorly enforced. The authority of states to regulate their political communities is the most important remaining constitutionally valid basis of citizenship requirements. States define their political community broadly, leading to questionable exclusions of noncitizens from important activities.

Objective. We explore the increase in citizenship applications in the mid–1990s in order to test popular explanations for them, such as the consequences of IRCA legalization, fear of loss of public benefits, and effects of citizenship outreach programs. Methods. We rely on a nonrandom sample of 526 lawful permanent residents in four Texas cities. About half had applied for citizenship and all were taking affirmative steps via participation in citizenship or English–language classes. Results. Having received amnesty under IRCA predicts rapid application for citizenship upon eligibility but is not associated with greater mastery of the naturalization process or better English skills. Fear of losing eligibility for public benefits and campaigns promoting naturalization motivated about one–quarter of citizenship applicants. Much larger proportions cite their desire to participate fully in American life, to sponsor the immigration of relatives, and to ensure opportunities for their children. The main obstacle they identify is limited English proficiency. Conclusions. Although factors peculiar to the political environment of the 1990s affected many permanent residents, most cited traditional incentives having to do with investment in opportunities for themselves and their families. Our data suggest that the most effective way to facilitate naturalization is to devote more resources to English–language training.

Objective. We explore the increase in citizenship applications in the mid-1990s to test popular explanations for them, eg, the consequences of IRCA legalization, fear of loss of public benefits, & effects of citizenship outreach programs. Methods. We rely on a nonrandom sample of 526 lawful permanent residents in four TX cities. About 50% had applied for citizenship & all were taking affirmative steps via participation in citizenship or English-language classes. Results. Having received amnesty under IRCA predicts rapid application for citizenship on eligibility but is not associated with greater mastery of the naturalization process or better English skills. Fear of losing eligibility for public benefits & campaigns promoting naturalization motivated about 25% of citizenship applicants. Much larger proportions cite their desire to participate fully in American life, to sponsor the immigration of relatives, & to ensure opportunities for their children. The main obstacle they identify is limited English proficiency. Conclusions. Although factors peculiar to the political environment of the 1990s affected many permanent residents, most cited traditional incentives having to do with investment in opportunities for themselves & their families. Our data suggest that the most effective way to facilitate naturalization is to devote more resources to English-language training. 5 Tables, 40 References. Adapted from the source document.

Central to this work is the premise that, as in archaeology, which seeks to resurrect material culture from anonymity into light to become analytically signified as a historical creation, so too should the work of José Agapito Olivas be revealed, discussed, and presented from the forgotten consciousness of the human record, out from the dusty bins of New Mexican archives. We treat the written achievements of Olivas as part of the broadly conceived anthropological, sociological, literary and historical record. They offer insights into the quotidian realities of populations caught in the midst of enormous cultural, economic, and political changes, raising issues of language, representation, and material well-being. Olivas takes us to the dynamics of changing identities as induced by migrations, conquest, wars, confl ict, cooperation, trade, exchange, and cultural "bumping" of similar and dissimilar populations. We emphasize the futility of perceiving identities as references of cultural purity and sameness. For us, "Lo Mexicano" is a heuristic that represents multidimensional identity and genetic exchanges over time and place, made up of fl uid and stable linguistic, cultural, social, and economic processes that emerged in the North American Southwest.