Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants

by Jorge G. Castañeda

From the massive nationwide rally in support of immigrant rights in May 2006 to protests against the increasingly frequent immigration raids across the country, the public debate on immigration reform has largely centered on Mexican immigrants. Yet, in the United States, we rarely hear the Mexican perspective on the issue.

In “portraits that defy American stereotypes of who is a Mexican immigrant” (Booklist ), former Mexican foreign minister and eminent scholar Jorge G. Castañeda describes just who makes up the newest generation of immigrants from Mexico, why they have chosen to live in the United States, where they work, and what they ultimately hope to achieve. Drawing on his wide-ranging experience, Casteñeda examines the century-long historical background behind the labor exchange between Mexico and the United States, while offering an insider’s account of the official conversations and secret negotiations between the two countries in recent years.

Both authoritative and timely, Ex Mex is essential reading for all who want to make sense of the complex issue of immigration.

Genres: Nonfiction

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

From Wikipedia:

Jorge Castañeda Gutman (born May 24, 1953) is a Mexican politician and academic who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (2000–2003).
Castañeda was born in Mexico City. He received the French Baccalauréat from the Lycée Franco-Mexicain in Mexico City. Then after receiving his B.A. from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Economic History from the University of Paris (Panthéon-La Sorbonne) he worked as a professor at several universities, including the National Autonomous University of Mexico, the University of California, Berkeley, Princeton University, New York University, and the University of Cambridge. He was a Bernard Schwartz fellow at The New America Foundation. He also authored more than a dozen books, including a biography of Che Guevara, and he regularly contributes to newspapers such as Reforma (Mexico), El País (Spain), Los Angeles Times (USA) and Newsweek magazine.
His father was Jorge Castañeda y Álvarez de la Rosa who served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1979–1982), during the administration of José López Portillo. He was married to Miriam Morales (a Chilean citizen) and he has one son, Jorge Andrés.

Reviews

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Castañeda's goal here is basically to explain a Mexican perspective on the immigration issue to the American public. Therefore it is written to be accessible rather then scholarly, but I'm afraid only a total policy wonk could find it interesting in the end. He was foreign secretary for Mexico in 2000-2003, and describes conversations he had with the likes of Collin Powell and Condaleeza Rice, so there is some unique and potentially important information here, but only if you really care. I also agree with another reviewer here that his writing is a little disorganized.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good look at the perceptions of Mexican immigration both north and south of the border. Definitely not literary non-fiction, but Castaneda has a clear manner of explanation and the qualifying experience to elucidate the complex political motions behind both the Fox and Bush administration as the public struggles with the notion of what immigration does to our society.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at immigration, but is focused on the Bush era, thus seeming a little out-of-date in late 2016. It was novel for me to hear from a Mexican official, but the books was a little meandering in parts and I felt like it would have been better if it had been written in a more chronological order.

[Marcela · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, but not what I was expecting at all. Basically a history/policy of US/Mexico mainly in the period between 2000-2007 by an insider in Mexican administration. So already a bit dated and only giving a very high level view of the people affected by these policies.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to return it to someone, so I ended up not finishing it. I learned some things, but I also found I had to force myself to read it. One complaint I have is that it was not organized very well.

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent analysis of Mexican immigration by academic and former Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

good info about the history of migrants/immigration, but a bit dry reading.
Makes me even more pro migrant/immigrant rights!

[Alfredo]

A little dry.

[Israel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro, me gustó más Mañana Forever y aunque le falta actualización de datos, contiene buenas predicciones del fenómeno migratorio.