RUNNING HEAD: HISTORICAL AND GLOBAL COMPARISON

HistoricalandGlobalComparisonofImmigrationrights:U.S.vs.Mexico
JeliannCarrillo
SW3710
WayneStateUniversity

RUNNING HEAD: HISTORICAL AND GLOBAL COMPARISON

Abstract
ThispaperisahistoricalandglobalcomparisonbetweenimmigrationlawsinUnited
StatesandMexico.Itexaminesthehistoryofimmigrationpoliciesandthechangeswe
havemadeovertimeincomparisontoadevelopingcountry.Immigrationreformisa
policythatislongoverdueandhasgonemanyyearssimplysweptundertherug.This
paperisintendedtoclarifysomeofthemisconceptionsoftheimmigrantpopulations
effectonoureconomyandallofthefactorsthatinfluencetheaverageAmericanmind
intobelievingthatimmigrationreformisanegativepolicyforthenation.Itwillalso
examinehowimmigrationlawsareincomparisontoMexicoandtheirhypocriticalviews
ontheirimmigrants.

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Historically,wehavekickedthiscantoolongsaidPresidentObamaonthe
immigrationreformspeech(Obama,2013).DuringhissecondtermPresidentObama
madeitclearhewantedtopursueimmigrationreform,butmostwouldarguethathis
actionsspeaklouderthanhiswords.Ashocking2milliondeportationsunderPresident
Obamastermhavebeenreported(Gutierrez,2013).PresidentObama,astrongbeliever
inimmigrationreformhasbeenthepresidentwhohasdeportedthemostimmigrants.
Obamaisnowbeingchallengedtosigncomprehensiveimmigrationreform,whichwill
leadusto11millionpeoplereachingfreedominthiscountry(Gutierrez,2013).
Politiciansarealsoconsideringthepossibilityofadoptingimmigrationlawsliketheones
inMexico.
TheMexicanconstitutionstrictlydefinestherightsofcitizensandviceversathe
denialofmanyfundamentalrightstononcitizensandillegals.UndertheMexican
constitution,theLeyGeneraldePoblacin,orGeneralLawonPopulation,spellsout
specificallythecountrysimmigrationpolicy(Waller,2006).Thisleadsustoquestion,
whyisitbeingpushedforU.S.towaterdownimmigrationlawsandpolicies,whenits
ownimmigrationrestrictionsarethetoughestonthecontinent.
HistoryofImmigrationintheU.S.
ItiseasysometimesforthediscussiontotakeonafeelingofUSversusTHEM.And
whenthathappens,alotoffolksforgetthatmostofUSusedtobeTHEM.(Obama,
2013)Lookingbackatthehistoryofimmigrationandwhereweallcamefrom,unless
youareNativeAmericanyouareanimmigrant.AccordingtotheFederationfor

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AmericanImmigrationReform(2013),beginningwiththeearliestpolicyin1790,anact
wasadoptedthatestablishedauniformrulefornaturalizationsettingtherequirementto
twoyearsofresidence.In1819,Congressenactedthefirstsignificantfederallegislation
relatingspecificallytoimmigration.AccordingtotheFederationforAmerican
ImmigrationReform(2013),thispolicyestablishedthereportingofimmigrationtothe
UnitedStates;andsetspecificnourishmentrulesforpassengersofships.
Whatisknownasnewimmigrationoccurredinthe1850s1870s(Hughes,2010).
ImmigrantscamefromItaly,Spain,GermanyandGreece(Hughes,2010).These
peoplesmotivesformigrationwereprimarilyeconomicreasons.Immigrationatthis
timeaidedintheindustrializationoftheUnitedStates.Themotivesforimmigrantsto
migratetoourcountryremainthesametodayandbigbusinessfavoringimmigrationhas
nevermindedthecheaplabor.AccordingtotheFederationforAmericanImmigration
Reform(2013),in1864,theimportationofcontractlaborerswaslegalizedinthis
legislationandlaterbannedin1885.
Currently,morethanonethirdofrecentimmigrantscometoUnitedStatesfrom
AsiaandEurope,whilelessthan57percentcomefromMexicoandLatinAmerica
(Shapiro, R.2010).Asubstantiallylargershareofimmigrantsthannativeborn
Americanslackahighschooldiploma;butroughlyequalsharesofbothgroups
between28percentand30percentholdcollegeorgraduatedegrees,andmorethanhalf
ofimmigrantsfromAsiaarecollegeeducatedorbetter(Shapiro,2010).Immigrantsto
theUnitedStatesrepresentasizableandrapidlygrowinggroupthattotaled
approximatelythirtysixmillionpeople,or12percentoftheU.S.population,in2005.

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Thispercentagehasdoubledsince1970andshowsnosignsofdecreasing.(Derose,
2007)

HistoryofImmigrationtoMexico
SinceMexicogainedindependencefromSpainin1821,migrationtoMexicowas
relativelylow.However,thepolicybehindimmigrationinMexicohasbeenaconstant
topicintheirlegislativehistory,especiallyintheLeyGeneraldePoblacion.Onone
side,thedreamofmodernizingMexicohasbeenanongoingbattlewherethegovernment
wantedtoencouragethedemographicgrowth.MexicohopedthatliketheUnitedStates,
immigrationwouldaidinindustrializationofthecountry.Infact,thefirstimmigration
lawsfocusedintheimportationofforeignpeopleforpopulationgrowthanddiversity.On
theotherhand,Mexicanimmigrationlawsalsocontainaseriesofrestrictiveprovisions
thatreflectintheintentiontoprotectthenaturalbornMexicansandtheirterritory.
Untilthe20thcentury,immigrationlawsinMexicoweresomewhatliberal.They
graduallybegantoclosedownafterthe70swhenMexicoexperienceademographic
explosionwithrefugeesfromGuatemalaandElSalvador.Itbecameaproblemwhenthe
growingnumbersoftheserefugeesweremakingitacrosstheborderintoUnitedStates.
Fortheoneswhodidnt,theMexicangovernmentbegantorealizethatthenations
demographicdynamicswherechangingandthepopulationwasbecomingdependentof
thecountriesabilitytoprovideemploymentandeducationfortherapidgrowth.In1974,
politicalperspectiveschangedandwereclearlyexpressedinthereformstothegeneral

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lawofthepopulation,whichmadeitclearthatMexicowascompletelyshuttingtheir
doorstoimmigrants(Mexicovs.TheUnitedStates,2010).
CurrentProblem
AmericaisfacedwiththeoptionofdoingwhatMexicodidlongago,grant
amnesty.Grantingimmigrantsamnestycouldbringinmanyproblems,somewould
argue.First,immigrantsfloodthealreadycompetitivejobmarket(Investor's Business
Daily, 2013).TheywouldalsoqualifyforaffirmativeactionatthecostoftheAmerican
people(Investor's Business Daily, 2013).Thereareothercosts,too.Obama'simmigration
reformwouldentitlemillionstowelfarebenefits.ArecentstudybytheHeritage
FoundationfoundthatprovidingamnestyforillegalswouldcosttheU.S.roughly$108
billionayearasthewelfarespigotisopened.(Investor's Business Daily, 2013)Many
peoplealsobelievethatgrantingamnestyisathreattothenationbecauseofMexicos
notoriouscartelsandlackofborderpatrol(Investor's Business Daily, 2013).Many
believethatthepresidentfocusedonthereformtogaintheLatinovote.Andwhatwould
politicsbewithouttheopposingside.TherearealwaystwosidestoadebateandObamas
followershaveconductedextensiveresearchtocounteractthesemisconceptions.
InMexico,theUNHCRrecognized46thousandGuatemalanrefugees.Thevast
majorityoftheserefugeesinitiallystayedinChiapasandeventuallyresettledinMexico
City,whereanexistinglargecommunityofGuatemalanwelcomedthem(Daniel,2010).
Peoplefromthreecountriesoforigin,Guatemala,HondurasandSalvador,today
composethelargestmigrationtoMexico.JustlikeMexicansinAmerica,thisgroupisthe
mostvulnerableinMexico.Thetypeofdiscriminationinthetwocountrieshasits

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similaritiesanddifferences.InMexicotherearemoreatriskofdetention,kidnappingand
traffickingfrommafiasandcriminalgroups(Wilkingson,2010).Therearealsovery
strictpoliciesinMexicoagainstimmigrantsthatputmanyrestrictionsonthegroup.
SocietalPrejudice
Inmorerecentyears,historyseemstorepeatitselfbutthistimethemaintargetin
AmericaisHispanicsandArabcommunities.With9/11andtheeconomicrecession,an
antiimmigrantclimatespreadacrossthecountryandisespeciallyseentodayinthestate
ofArizona(Derose, 2007))ThestateofArizonahasputintoeffectmanypoliciesthat
affecttheHispaniccommunity;policiessuchasremovingbilingualeducationfrom
schools,prohibitingundocumentedimmigrantsfromreceivingstatepublicbenefits,
makingundocumentedstudentspayoutofstatetuition,andtheseareonlyafewofthe
policiesbeingimplementedinArizonatoday(Derose, 2007).
So,theyarestealingyourjobsyousay?Thisisprobablythemostpopular
misconceptionofimmigrantsinthenation.Inrealitywehaveproofthatthathighlevels
ofimmigrationhavenotslowedoverallwagegainsbyaverage,nativebornAmerican
workers(Shapiro,2010).Moststudiessuggestthatrecentwavesofnewimmigrantsare
associatedwithincreasesintheaveragewageofnativebornAmericansintheshortrun
andwithevenlargerincreasesinthelongtermascapitalinvestmentrisestotakeaccount
ofthelargernumberofworkers(Shapiro, 2010).Animportantdetailthatmost
Americansrefusetoacknowledgeisthatmanyimmigrantsfilljobsthatyouraverage
naturalAmericanwouldnotdo,whichinreturnincreasenationalincome(Shapiro,
2010).

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Meanwhile,thetreatmentofimmigrantshasbecomeatroublesomeandan
embarrassingissueforMexico.TensofthousandsofCentralAmericansenterMexico
illegallyeveryyear,mostwiththehopeofcontinuingontotheUnitedStates
(Wilkingson,2010).ManystayinMexico,wheretheymaybebeaten,killed,raped,
kidnappedbycriminalgangs,putinjailorshakendownbycorruptMexicanofficials.
SeemshypocriticalofMexicanpeople,acountrythathashistoricallysentmillionsofits
ownpeopletotheU.S.andelsewhereinsearchofwork,andtheyareprovingtobeless
thanhospitabletoCentralAmericansfollowingthesamecalling.
AlleviatingtheProblemorAffectingthePopulation?
Thesepoliciesarebeingputinplacetotargetthemostvulnerablecommunityin
thenation.Anumberofpolicieshavepassedinthelastfewyears,increasingthefearand
raisingissuesofsafetyamongLatinoimmigrants,particularlyundocumentedimmigrants
(Goldman,2005).Afactorthatmakestheimmigrantcommunityvulnerableisthe
Socioeconomicbackground,thingslikeeducationandoccupation (Derose, 2007).
Anotherfactorthatmakesthemvulnerableistheirimmigrationstatus.Beinglegalversus
beingillegalisahugedifferenceinthebenefitsyoucanreceiveinthiscountry.Recent
policieshavemanyclearstipulationswhenitcomestoimmigrantbenefits.Aresidential
locationisanotherfactor.TherearemanyareasintheUnitedStatesthatarenotculturally
competentanddonotacceptdifferentcultures,makingitdifficultforimmigrantsto
smoothlytransitionintothedrasticculturalchange.Thebiggestfactorofvulnerability
wouldhavetobethelanguagebarrier (Derose, 2007).

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Currently,Mexicohaslawsinplacetorectifyimmigrationissuesintheircountry.
SomeAmericansbelieveweshouldadoptsomeoftheselawsintoourownsystem.
MexicowelcomesonlyforeignerswhowillbeusefultoMexicansociety.Mexican
authoritiesmustkeeptrackofeverysinglepersoninthecountry.TheMexican
constitutionexpresslyforbidsnoncitizenstoparticipateinthecountryspoliticallife.
TheMexicanconstitutiondeniesfundamentalpropertyrightstoforeigners.
Foreignerswithfakepapers,orwhoenterthecountryunderfalsepretenses,maybe
imprisoned.Foreignerswhofailtoobeytheruleswillbefined,deported,and/or
imprisonedasfelons.TheMexicanconstitutionstatesthatforeignersmaybeexpelledfor
anyreasonandwithoutdueprocess.
ThelawsinMexicoaretargetednotonlytoillegalimmigrantsbutalsolegal
immigrantsandevennaturalizedcitizens.Therearelawsinplacethatexcludethese
populationsfromcertainrights.Forexample,TheMexicanconstitutiondeniesequal
employmentrightstoimmigrants,evenlegalones,inthepublicsector(Waller,2006).
TheMexicanconstitutionguaranteesthatimmigrantswillneverbetreatedasreal
Mexicancitizens,eveniftheyarelegallynaturalized(Waller,2006).Accordingtothe
LeyGeneraldePoblacion,foreignborn,naturalizedMexicancitizensmaynotbecome
federallawmakers(Article55),cabinetsecretaries(Article91)orSupremeCourtjustices
(Article95)(Mexicovs.TheUnitedStates.2013).TheMexicanconstitutionsinglesout
undesirablealiens.TheMexicanconstitutionalsostatesthatforeignersmaybe
expelledforanyreasonandwithoutdueprocess.Insum,thiswouldmeanthattheonly
wayyouareuntouchableinMexicoisifyouareanaturalbornMexican.

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10

Comparison
UnitedStatesisfrowneduponwiththewaytheyhandleillegalimmigration,but
MexicohasstricterimmigrationlawsthantheUnitedStatesofAmerica.Researchhas
beenconductedcomparingthecountriesandexposinghowMexicodiscriminatesillegal
andlegalimmigrants.AccordingtoDr.Waller,Mexico,annuallydeportsmoreillegal
aliensthantheUnitedStatesdoes(2006).AccordingtoMalkin,Article32ofMexicos
constitutionunapologeticallybansnonnativebornresidentsfromholdingsensitivejobs
andjoiningthecountrysmilitary(2013).IfprotectingthenativeMexicanpeopleworks
inMexico,whyisitsowrongforUnitedStatestobannonnativebornresidents?What
makesitimmoralinUnitedStatesandacceptableinMexico?Theseareallquestionsthat
raisedebatewithinthetwocountries.
PeoplemigratetoUnitedStatesforhopeandopportunitytoabetterlife.Onthe
otherhandpeoplefromSouthAmericamigratetoMexicoasapassingzonetoultimately
gettoNorthAmerica.Accordingtothecensusof2000,thetotalnumberofmigrantsin
Mexicowasabout500thousand.Thisnumberincludesmigrantsfromdifferentorigins.
Therearethreemaingroupsofmigrants:NorthAmericanmigrants,mainlyUScitizens
thatretireinsmallMexicanvillages;EuropeanmigrantsthatmigratedtoMexicointhe
early20thcentury;andLatinAmericanmigrantsthatincludeeconomicmigrants,asylum
seekersandtransitmigrants(2000).
"There(intheUnitedStates),they'lldeportyou,InMexicothey'llprobablylet
yougo,butthey'llbeatyouupandstealeverythingyou'vegotfirst"saidHectorVasquez

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11

anillegalimmigrantfromHonduras(Hawley,2010).WhenArizonapassedthelawafew
yearsbackthatrequireslocalpolicetocheckthestatusofpersonssuspectedofbeing
illegalimmigrants,therewasaHUGEroaraboutit.Whatpeoplefailtorealizeisthat
MexicohasalawthatisnodifferentfromArizona'sthatempowerslocalpolicetocheck
theimmigrationdocumentsofpeoplesuspectedofnotbeinginthecountrylegally
(Hawley,2010).ThisdoesnotmaketheArizonalawacceptable.However,itis
somethingtotakeinconsiderationthatothercountrieshavelawsthatmaybeworse.
NASW Values and Ethics
Immigrationaffectsthemajorityofthepopulationregardlessofthecountryyou
arein.AsafuturesocialworkerandlookingintotheNationalAssociationofSocial
workerscodeofethicsInoticedanimportantrevision.Thesection1.05Cultural
CompetenceandSocialDiversitystatesthatsocialworkersshouldobtaineducationabout
andseektounderstandthenatureofsocialdiversityandoppressionwithrespecttorace,
ethnicity,nationalorigin,color,sex,sexualorientation,genderidentityorexpression,
age,maritalstatus,politicalbelief,religion,immigrationstatus,andmentalorphysical
disability(CodeofEthics,2008).Thissectionisextremelyimportantwhenthinking
aboutimmigration.Asasocialworkeryouneedtounderstandtheseriousnessoftrauma
yourimmigrantclientsmaybefacing.Youreallyhavenoideahowanimmigrantclient
madeittowheretheyaretoday,theymightbecomingallthewayfromGuatemala,
abusedinMexicoandthendeportedintheUnitedStates.Itisimportanttobesensitive
andtakethisintoconsiderationwhendealingwithclients,transitioningcanbevery
difficult.Socialworkersmustpreparewiththeproperresourcesandeducatethemselves

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12

foraneasiertransitiontotomorrow.

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