Illegal, Alien, or Immigrant: The Politics of Immigration Reform

Lina Newton

Published by New York University Press 2008

Illegal, Alien, or Immigrant

The Politics of Immigration Reform

Lina Newton

https://doi.org/10.18574/nyu/9780814759028.001.0001

Overview
Contents

About this book

While the United States cherishes its identity as a nation of immigrants, the country’s immigration policies are historically characterized by cycles of openness and xenophobia. Outbursts of anti-immigrant sentiment among political leaders and in the broader public are fueled by a debate over who is worthy of being considered for full incorporation into the nation, and who is incapable of assimilating and taking on the characteristics and responsibilities associated with being an American.
In Illegal, Alien, or Immigrant, Lina Newton carefully dissects the political debates over contemporary immigration reform. Beginning with a close look at the disputes of the 1980s and 1990s, she reveals how a shift in legislator’s portrayals of illegal immigrantsfrom positive to overwhelmingly negativefacilitated the introduction and passing of controversial reforms. Newton’s analysis reveals how rival descriptions of immigrant groups and the flattering or disparaging myths that surround them define, shape, and can ultimately determine fights over immigration policy. Her pathbreaking findings will shed new light on the current political battles, their likely outcomes, and where to go from here.

Author information

Newton Lina :

Lina Newton is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Hunter College, City University of New York.

Reviews

Joe Soss,author of Unwanted Claims: The Politics of Participation in the U.S. Welfare System:
This superb study of immigration politics marks an important step forward. Illegal, Alien, or Immigrant is an exemplary study of political discourse that shines a much-needed light on the divisive rhetoric that surrounds U.S. immigration policy today.

Peter deLeon,author of Democracy and the Policy Sciences:
Newton neatly overlays policy theories with arguably the most contentious domestic policy issue of our times, namely, how governments equitably and humanely resolve the issues of illegal immigration. As such, she importantly adds to a growing literature that sets out the political, cultural, and economic complexities of these debates.

Daniel J. Tichenor,author of Dividing Lines: The Politics of Immigration Control in America:
An important and fresh contribution to our understanding of the tropes and policies governing race, immigrants, and membership in America. Lina Newton develops a valuable set of theoretical claims and strong evidence to show how official and social constructions of particular groups shape immigration reform and power distributions more generally.

These arguments make significant contributions to the growing literature on the role of symbolic politics in immigration policy. Newton’s book would be a stimulating and appropriate text for either upper-division or graduate courses.

Presents complex ideas in an admirably accessible fashion.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Acknowledgments Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
A Note on Terminology Publicly Available Download PDF	ix
1. Considering Unlikely Outcomes Th e Peculiar Politics of Immigration Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	5
2. Cases, Contexts, and the Puzzle of Policy Change Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	42
3. Contesting Illegalities Th e 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	67
4. Immigrants versus Taxpayers Th e 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	104
5. Problem Mexicans Race, Nationalism, and Th eir Limits in Contemporary Immigration Policy Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	137
Conclusion Power and Image in Immigration Policymaking Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
Epilogue Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	171
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	183
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	221
About the Author Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	227

Language: English
Publisher: New York University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Keywords: Beginning; with; close; look; disputes; 1980s; 1990s; Lina; Newton; reveals; shift; legislators; portrayals; illegal; immigrants; from; positive; overwhelmingly; negativefacilitated; introduction; passing; controversial; reforms

eBook

Published: August 10, 2008
ISBN: 9780814759028