Benchmark Assignment

BENCHMARK ASSISGNMENT

Benchmark Assignment: Immigration of Undocumented Mexicans to the U.S.A

Kritzia Rosas-Feliciano
Access ID Code: dt9859
SW 3710

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Abstract
This paper analyses the social issue of the immigration of undocumented Mexicans to the
United States and the policies related to the problem from its historical through current practice.
A description of the social issue and evidence of the impact and the demographics of the
population it effects is provided. The author will discuss how the topic has been treated
historically, when it was first identified and if it was identified the same as it is today. The author
will compare the historical and current definition of the social issue. The services and or policies
that were in place to alleviate the problem will be listed. The social issue will be examined to
see how it has changed over time. Those who receive services due to the social issue will be
mentioned in this paper. The impact of the policy on those most affected by the problem will be
analyzed. The author will describe in detail how the social stigma, discrimination, and or
societal prejudices affect the definition of the social issue and policy solutions. The author will
disclose her personal belief of the problem and what she thinks the causes of the problem are.
Lastly, the author will construe how the treatment of this issue relates to the Social Work values
and the NASW Code of Ethics.

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Benchmark Assignment: Immigration of Undocumented Mexicans to the U.S.A

The immigration of undocumented Mexicans to the United States is a very controversial
social issue that needs to be examined in more depth. Some American citizens believe that
undocumented Mexicans are taking their employment opportunities. Mexicans argue that some
of the southern states of the Unites States were part of Mexico; therefore they deserve to stay in
the United States. California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas were part of Mexico until 1848
(Zuniga & Hernandez-Leon, 2005). Undocumented Mexicans are unevenly spread throughout
the United States, but the majority resides in those states that border Mexico and also in Illinois,
due to economic factors (Zuniga & Hernandez-Leon, 2005). According to Lacy (1998),
Changes in the volume and character of Mexican immigration in the last two decades, along
with the preoccupation of U.S. policymakers and the public in general over undocumented
Mexican immigration, have heightened interest in a phenomenon that affects millions of people
in both countries. The demographics of the Mexican-born population in the U.S. last year
legal and illegal fell to 12 million, marking an end to an immigration boom dating back to the
1970s, when foreign-born residents from Mexico stood at 760,000. The 2007 peak was 12.6
million (Sherman, 2012). Most impacted are lower middle class and lower class American
citizens that are in competition for job opportunities with undocumented Mexicans, who are
willing to work harder for less. Also, taxpayers are being affected, because some undocumented
Mexicans find ways to get government assistance. Roughly 6.1 million unauthorized Mexican
immigrants were living in the U.S. last year (Sherman, 2012).
Historically, there are four key periods on how Mexican immigration has been treated:
the classic era of open immigration before the restrictive policies of the 1920s; the Bracero era
of 1942-1964, where United States sponsored a large temporary worker program; the

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undocumented era, between the end of the Bracero Program and the passage of the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA); and the Post-IRCA era, from 1987 to the present.
(Zuniga & Hernandez-Leon, 2005, p. 1). The issue of undocumented Mexicans was first
identified during the late 1980s, towards the end of the cold war and the beginning of the
recession that followed, due to high rates of unemployment of both citizens and illegal
immigrants (Zuniga & Hernandez-Leon, 2005). Borders were selectively militarized to prevent
any further illegal immigration (Zuniga & Hernandez-Leon, 2005). Historically, some
Mexicans were granted citizenship by treaty after their lands were annexed to the U.S., and, until
the 1970s, they were considered legally white (Rose, 2013). In present day, Mexicans are no
longer considered legally white, now they are Mexicans or Hispanics. The social issue of
undocumented Mexicans in the United States was identified the same as it is today, but now
there is a higher rate of law re-enforcement. Borders continue to be militarized to prevent the
illegal immigration of Mexicans into the United States. According to Alvarez (1996), except for
Canadian immigrants, the Mexicans were the only major immigrant group having relatively easy
access to the home country by overland route. (p. 471). People continue to have the notion that
illegal Mexicans are taking their job opportunities and that they should not be in the United
States. Most Mexicans are believed to be illegal citizens, but some Mexicans were born in the
United States and are American citizens.
In order to alleviate the immigration of undocumented Mexicans the Immigration Reform
and Control Act of 1986 was passed. IRCA increased the budget for Border Patrol to prevent the
immigration of undocumented Mexicans (Zuniga & Hernandez-Leon, 2005). During the Great
Depression in late 1929, migration was very limited and deportation was at an all time high.
According to Portes (1979), Overwhelming representation of Mexico in apprehension statistics

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is in part, a function of the deployment practices of the Border Patrol, which tends to concentrate
its efforts along the southern border. (p. 425). 453,000 Mexicans were deported during the
decade of the Great Depression (Durand, Massey, & Zenteno, 2001). After Pearl Harbor in 1942,
Bracero Accord took place, which was a bi-national treaty of temporary importation of Mexican
contract workers to the United States until 1964 (Durand, Massey, & Zenteno, 2001). It was said
to be for short-term farm labor, which turned out to last 20 years. Mexicans were granted visas
that were renewable every 6 months. More than 4.6 million Mexicans were imported for labor
(Durand, Massey, & Zenteno, 2001). The availability of jobs for immigrants has been related
historically to the need to supplement the domestic force during periods of labor shortage.
(Bach, 1978, p. 536). The United States was forced to end the Bracero Program in 1964, because
of religious and labor organizations (Durand, Massey, & Zenteno, 2001). From 1960-1980
boarder apprehension increased by 14% every year (Durand, Massey, & Zenteno, 2001). By
1985 1.4 million Mexicans were admitted to the United States legally and 1.5 million crossed the
border illegally (Durand, Massey, & Zenteno, 2001). Proposition 187 of 1994 was passed.
Proposition 187 prohibitions undocumented immigrants from receiving public social services. It
also required state and local officials to verify clients immigration status and report suspected
undocumented immigrants to INS officials (Zuniga & Hernandez-Leon, 2005). Arizona's law,
being challenged by the Obama administration in the Supreme Court, seeks to expand the
authority of state police to ask about the immigration status of anybody they stop on the rationale
that federal enforcement has largely failed. Since Arizona's law passed in 2010, five other states
Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah have passed similar measures (Sherman,
2012). All the new laws and policies in place and the low economy in the United States are
making it more challenging for undocumented Mexicans to be able to find employment. The

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majority of undocumented Mexicans are beginning to return to Mexico and a part of them are
getting deported.

Undocumented Mexicans were treated poorly in their jobs. They were used as
strikebreakers (Bach, 1978, p. 550). Illegal Mexicans were scared of getting deported
therefore they would perform any job regardless of pay or the way they were treated. Since they
were considered illegal aliens, they could not join unions or strike, because they will get
deported. National Civic Federation has been the National Council on Employment Policy.
(Bach, 1978, p. 551). The goal was to implement employer liability for their workers, therefore
penalizing employers for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants and for encouraging excessive
hiring practices (Bach, 1978). This policy was defeated nationally, but passed in California,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Kansas (Bach, 1978). This has changed over time, now
employees must have proof of documentation, visa, residency, or citizenship. Any employer
who hires an illegal immigrant is fined per illegal worker. In present day, most undocumented
Mexicans find a way to falsify documents or steal someones identity in order to find
employment.

The services of these policies in place are indirectly for those American citizens who are
in competition for employment with undocumented Mexicans. If undocumented Mexicans
cannot obtain the job then there is higher possibility that an American citizen will get the job.
These policies impact undocumented Mexican workers as well, in a negative and also in a
positive manner. The policies can impact an undocumented Mexican by prohibiting he or she to
work in the United States consequently they will not have a way to advance and better
themselves in the United States. According to Portes (1979), Illegal immigration is not only

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caused by push forces in the original countries, but by the needs and demands of the receiving
countries. (p.425). It benefits undocumented Mexican workers because having these laws in
place will keep their employers from abusing their labor, therefore creating some type of balance
between the employee and employer. The employers hiring illegal immigrants are highly
affected by these policies. Employers want to hire illegal immigrants to earn a higher profit, but
they will get fined. By hiring an illegal immigrant they are taking a high risk of having to pay
fines or even serve some jail time. Illegal immigration helps to maintain the rate of profit for
those agricultural and non-monopoly sectors of capital. (Bach, 1978, p. 537). If the employer
decides to go against the policy, he or she must come to an agreement to protect him or herself
and also for the illegal immigrant to be protected from getting deported, in order for both of them
to be benefited with a profit. According to Bach (1978), Illegal immigration continues, because
the state is involved both in promoting accumulation and exchange across the border and
enforcing the stabilization of the working class. (p.550). It is beneficial for everyone except the
working class competing for the same jobs as the undocumented workers. The employers make
a higher profit from hiring illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are able to earn a higher
amount of money than they used to in their native land. The social cost decreases, but the
uneducated working class is left without employment. As of now, the weak economy in the
United States is affecting jobs that interest undocumented Mexicans, such as construction jobs,
and Mexicans are beginning to return to Mexico. Increased deportations, heightened U.S.
patrols and violence along the border also have played a role, as well as demographic changes,
such as Mexico's declining birth rate (Sherman, 2012).

The social stigma of undocumented Mexicans is that they are here to take American
citizens employment opportunities and to lower the economy. Giving them physically

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extraneous jobs discriminates against undocumented Mexicans. Mexicans are viewed as hard
workers that are underpaid. Undocumented Mexicans are said to take advantage of the
government, when in reality if they are working in the United States they are taxpayers and also
by living in the United States they are paying sales tax every time they buy items from stores.
Just like any other citizen documented and undocumented Mexican are taxpayers, they might be
here illegally but they are still human beings. Society is prejudice against Mexicans regardless if
they are legal citizens or illegal aliens. Society tends to see Mexican as all the same, unaware of
the history and the reality of the reason of them being in the United States. Policy solutions shift
towards prohibiting undocumented Mexicans from working let alone being in this country.
Policies also prohibit undocumented Mexicans from obtaining any type of social services from
the government. Most of the policies have harsh repercussions.

After researching and learning so much about the history of Mexican immigration I
understand the struggle they went through just to able to be a part of the United States. I agree
that all citizens of a country must have the correct type of documentation in order to be able to
reside in the country. My personal belief when it comes to undocumented Mexicans is that if
they are in the country and are no harming anyone or doing anything illegal and have a job they
should be allowed to stay. Border patrol is needed to maintain a regulation of the population and
prevent people from crossing the border illegally. Everything can be done ethically and
preserving the persons dignity out of respect of their ancestors past struggles and help to the
United States. When it was convenient for the United States to have Mexicans it was accepted
for them to be here, but once the economy went down they wanted to send them back to Mexico.
Mexicans helped the united states when they were in need therefore an amount of respect should
be given to them. Illegal immigrants should only be deported when they commit a crime or have

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some type of problematic record. If they are not a threat to society and they are being good
citizens contributing in the good of society they shouldnt be deported and taken away from their
families. The major cause of this social issue is miss information. Society is not aware of the
history behind the immigration of Mexicans to the United States. A population should not be
discriminated against for the simple reason that they might be better workers than other
populations in the country. After conducting this research I found that that undocumented
workers help the economy and in many instances they are not taking the jobs that American
citizens desire. Border Patrol laws should be re-enforced and followed, and Mexicans should
come to the United States with visas and other legal documentation. The undocumented
Mexicans that are in the United States already should be able to remain in the United States
unless they have issues with the law.

The treatment of this issue relates to the Social Work values and ethics in many ways. It
is imperative that as Social Workers we treat people with respect. As social workers we have to
be culturally competent and understand the history of the most oppressed populations in the
United States. As social workers we are not to practice or condone any type of discrimination or
prejudice against any population. And we should advocate for those who are being oppressed
and are vulnerable like undocumented Mexicans that are being treated unfairly for the simple
reason that they are illegal in this country. Being an illegal alien does not take away that they are
still human and should be treated as such.
As social workers we should provide the services for this population to work toward
obtaining their legal documentation if their goal is to be a part of society and contribute
positively to this country. Social justice should be provided for those who have been living in
the United States for long periods of time and are now being deported with the only reason of

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being an illegal alien to this country. We should help those who once helped us as a nation.
When Mexicans are being stopped by border patrol they should be treated with dignity. They
should not be allowed illegally here, but they should be informed on how to go about the process
legally. As social workers it is imperative to keep human relationships, to help one another
succeed and achieve goals.
In conclusion, the relationship between Mexicans and Americans has been an up and
down rollercoaster. Americans used Mexicans for labor when needed and when Mexicans
needed Americans for better opportunity and advancement in life, they put in place policies and
laws to prohibit them from coming freely to the United States. Now Mexicans in general are
stigmatized as illegal and are thought to be taking American citizens job opportunities and are
affecting the economy. When in reality half of the remaining Mexicans in the United States are
undocumented. Many have been going back to Mexico due to the weak economy and lack of
employment and some have been deported. Border Patrol has been performing an excellent job
prohibiting any more undocumented Mexicans from coming in the country. The social issue
seems to be under control and by re-enforcing laws and helping those who are already in the
United Stets obtain their legal documentation; the social issue should be kept under control.

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References
Alvarez, J. H. (1966). A Demographic Profile of the Mexican Immigration to the United States,
1910-1950. Journal of Inter-American Studies , 8 (3), 471-496.
Bach, R. L. (1978). Mexican Immigration and the American State. International Migration
Review , 12 (4), 536-558.
Durand, J., Massey, D. S., & Zenteno, R. M. (2001). Mexican Immigration to the United States:
Continuities and Changes. Latin American Research Review , 36 (1), 107-127.
Lacy, E. C. (1998) Review of et al, Bean, F. D. eds., At the Crossroads: Mexico Migration
and U.S. Immigration Policy. H-LatAm, H-Net Reviews.:
http://www.hnet.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=1697
Portes, A. (1979). Illegal Immigration and the International System, Lessons fom Recent Legal
Mexican Immigrants to the United States. Social Problems , 26 (4), 425-438.
Rose, C. (2013, September 04). Episode 25: Mexican Migration to the United States. Retrieved
November 26, 2013, from 15 Minute History:
http://blogs.utexas.edu/15minutehistory/2013/09/04/mexican-migration-to-the-us/
Sherman, C. (2012, April 23). Number od US illegal immigrants from Mexico drops. Retrieved
November 26, 2013, from foxnews: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/23/number-usillegal-immigrants-from-mexico-drops/
Zuniga, V. & Hernandez-Leon, R. (Ed.). (2005). New Destinations: Mexican Immigration in the
United States. New York, New York: Russell Sage Foundation.