Beyond Borders: A History of Mexican Migration to the United States

by Timothy J. Henderson

Beyond Borders: A History of Mexican Migration to the United States details the origins and evolution of the movement of people from Mexico into the United States from the first significant flow across the border at the turn of the twentieth century up to the present day. Considers the issues from the perspectives of both the United States and Mexico Offers a reasoned assessment of the factors that drive Mexican immigration, explains why so many of the policies enacted in Washington have only worsened the problem, and suggests what policy options might prove more effective Argues that the problem of Mexican immigration can only be solved if Mexico and the United States work together to reduce the disequilibrium that propels Mexican immigrants to the United States

Genres: Nonfiction, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published December 22, 2010

About the author

Tim Henderson has been studying, teaching, and writing about Mexican history for about twenty years. He has just completed a book on the Mexican wars of independence, which will be published in early 2009 by Hill & Wang, and he is currently doing research for a history of Mexican immigration to the United States.

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a difficult job! In order to write this fine history, the author had to know Mexican history, the history of American immigration policy v. actual practices (which have always differed), as well as the history of the 2,000 mile border itself. Amazingly, Timothy Henderson does it. Bravo!

And what a gift to readers like me who need to gain some gain perspective on our current situation. Among my take-homes: How WWI and WWII fueled the need for Mexican labor in the US, and how once that need abated, how ill-treated those previously needed workers were by us Americans. While the US generally did little for immigrant labor that we can be proud of, it was the turmoil of violence in Mexico and poor economic prospects that fueled the migrations through history and continue to fuel them today. While "getting tough on immigration" has been a proven tactic for American politicians for two centuries, the money on walls and enforcement would be better spent on cooperating with Mexico to help raise standards of living in Mexico. NAFTA, while promising to do that, has done little, benefitting American business interests more than the Mexican workers. Fundamentally, Mexico's low tax collection hinders its ability to build infrastructure and education and the historic gulf between los ricos y los pobres continues. There is hope, of course, but it's a slow process that starts with an understanding of the history and true nature of the challenges. Building border walls, or the threat to, will continue to get unscrupulous American politicians elected, but will fail to address the real issues. The walls we need to help build are the walls of new schools, new hospitals and new Mexican-owned enterprises that pay their taxes to a transparent and just Mexican government.

[Gregory]

From http://weeksnotice.blogspot.com/2011/...

For a well-written and judicious history of Mexican immigration to the US, then go read Timothy J. Henderson's Beyond Borders: A History of Mexican Migration to the United States (2011). It would be great for a history course on immigration--I would consider using it in a political science course, but it does not get to IRCA until about two-thirds through.

There are two things I like in particular. First, he is very careful to describe specific causes and effects--both intended and unintended--of immigration policy choices. What policy makers believe will happen very often doesn't. Policies intended to stem immigration, for example, often increase illegal immigration instead. In a short paragraph, for example, he does a great job of taking the logic of NAFTA apart. Mexican President Carlos Salinas wanted immigration on the table, but U.S. officials said that was unnecessary because NAFTA would generate so many jobs in Mexico that the immigration problem would take care of itself. Yet we know NAFTA's very uneven effects prompted more illegal immigration.

Second, and related, the historical emphasis demonstrates how much continuity there is in immigration policy, and how little we learn. Domestic political pressures, economic pull factors, xenophobia, racism, security concerns, you name it: we've seen it before, and lurch along pretending that we are truly getting a grip on the issue. Sheriff Joe Arpaio sounds exactly the same as Los Angeles police chief Roy Steckel, who blamed Mexican immigrants for the crime rate and so in 1931 got federal help to launch raids. Ultimately these had no effect on either crime or unemployment. And too few seem to learn this.