This thesis should demonstrate in what dimension the mexican migration set in in the beginning of the 20th century. To show this it is necessary have a look on the immigration policies in the late 19th century. This chapter will be very short to pass into the mexican migration from 1900 to the beginning of the Second World War which marked the end of the so-called “temporary” mexican guestworker movement. Then we are going to have a look on the migration between 1942 and 1964 characterized by the bracero program and second the period after 1964 characterized by opening and liberalizing the United States immigration policy until 1986. In 1986 because a neo-restrictive tendency in immigration policy set in but this will not b part of this analysis.
Table of Contents
Introducing
United States Immigration Traditions
Temporary Labor Force Migration from Mexico to the United States
Labor-Force Importation and Deportation Policy (1942-1964)
The Liberalisation of the Immigration Policy between 1964 and the beginning of the so-called neo-restrictive policy marked by IRCA 1986
Research Objectives and Topics
This thesis examines the historical development and dimensions of Mexican migration to the United States from the early 20th century to 1986, focusing on how shifting immigration policies and labor market demands influenced migration flows.
- Evolution of U.S. immigration policies toward Mexican labor throughout the 20th century.
- The impact of the Bracero program and its role in systematic labor recruitment and deportation.
- Analysis of economic factors driving Mexican migration and U.S. reliance on cheap agricultural labor.
- The shift from temporary labor agreements to liberalized policies and subsequent neo-restrictive trends.
- Statistical evaluation of legal and undocumented migration patterns between Mexico and the U.S.
Excerpt from the Book
Temporary Labor Force Migration from Mexico to the United States
The starting mexican migration of workers in a greater dimension set in during the First World War. Those people mostly worked on american farms in the southwestern and western states of the United States, primarily in the states of Texas, California, New Mexico and Arizona. Those states are bordering the mexican boundary.
So for that case those states were preferred by mexican agricultural workers because of the short distance to their homeland in Mexico.
The main focus of the United States regulation policy in relation to immigration at the beginning of the 20th century have been immigrants from Europe and Asia.
An annual report of the Immigration Bureau of 1903 pointed out that the United States border to Mexico and the border to Canada have been completely unmonitored. Until this time the present procedure of monitoring the land border of the United States was restricted to have a look on illegal european and asian immigrants coming to the USA from Mexico and Canada.
Mexican migration have not been considered as a real problem of immigration to the United States in the beginning of the 20th century. Policy-makers saw the only problem of an unmonitored landborder to Mexico that Asians and Europeans could get in the US from Mexico.
Summary of Chapters
Introducing: Defines the scope of the thesis, outlining the historical periods from the early 20th century to the 1986 IRCA policy shift.
United States Immigration Traditions: Discusses the historical context of U.S. immigration policy, noting the government's initial lack of intervention in regulating labor recruitment.
Temporary Labor Force Migration from Mexico to the United States: Details the onset of large-scale Mexican labor migration during the First World War and the early border policies.
Labor-Force Importation and Deportation Policy (1942-1964): Analyzes the Bracero program, highlighting the paradox of official restriction versus economic dependency on Mexican agricultural labor.
The Liberalisation of the Immigration Policy between 1964 and the beginning of the so-called neo-restrictive policy marked by IRCA 1986: Examines the policy shift after 1964, the impact of the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, and the subsequent increase in migration pressure leading up to 1986.
Keywords
Mexican migration, United States immigration policy, Bracero program, labor force, agricultural labor, deportation, IRCA 1986, border control, undocumented entry, 20th century, labor market, immigration legislation, migration trends, labor recruitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The work provides a historical analysis of Mexican labor migration to the United States between 1900 and 1986, focusing on how U.S. immigration policies responded to economic needs.
What are the central themes of the research?
Key themes include the exploitation of Mexican migrant labor, the evolution of border control methods, the role of government programs like the Bracero program, and the socio-economic drivers behind migration.
What is the primary goal or research question?
The study aims to demonstrate the scale of Mexican migration throughout the 20th century and evaluate the effectiveness and contradictions of U.S. government immigration policies.
Which scientific method is used?
The author uses historical analysis, drawing on policy documents, government reports, and academic research to trace the legislative and demographic history of migration.
What is covered in the main section?
The main section covers three major eras: pre-World War II migration, the Bracero program period (1942–1964), and the liberalized policy era leading up to 1986.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Core keywords include Mexican migration, Bracero program, U.S. immigration policy, labor market, and border control.
What role did the Bracero program play in U.S. labor policy?
The Bracero program served as a bilateral agreement that enabled the legal recruitment of millions of Mexican workers to address agricultural labor shortages, though it also facilitated systematic deportation when labor needs ceased.
How did U.S. policies toward Mexican migrants change after 1964?
After 1964, policy shifted from a systematic bilateral recruitment system toward an individual-based immigration system, though economic dependence on Mexican labor persisted, often through undocumented channels.
- Citation du texte
- Harald Löberbauer (Auteur), 2005, Migration from Mexico to the United States between 1900 and 1986, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/35823
