A More Perfect Union

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In my recent post on nativism and immigration, I mentioned that for much of our nation’s history, the image of an “American” was conflated with being a Caucasian of western European ancestry. This prejudice stemmed from the idea that since our nation’s founders were white and Anglo Saxon, our nation’s populous must reflect that image.…
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Another Thick Green Line: Militarization and Our Borders

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The level of security along the nation’s borders often escapes public awareness. The reason? Ordinary Americans seldom take notice and undocumented immigrants are usually too scared or intimidated to raise the issue. Fortunately, however, the media has stumbled upon a shocking new reality. In a recent article in Mother Jones, “The US-Mexico Border: Where the…
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Evolution or Regression? Nativism and Immigration Since WWII

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The issue of immigration occupies an interesting space in American political life. Attitudes of Americans towards foreigners entering the nation often fluctuate in a pendulum like manner, the direction of which is often determined by national circumstances. Nativism–the belief that only Americans of white, Anglo Saxon ancestry were “true” Americans—was pervasive throughout much of the…
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Don’t Tread On Me: A Lesson From the Recent Past

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Recently a report appeared in Bender’s immigration Bulletin (19; 1061—Oct. 1, 2014) which illustrated what is perhaps one of the greatest “Catch-22” situations in American legal history. According to the report, the problem stems from an overzealous use of deportation procedures by ICE and other executive branch agencies against undocumented immigrants. In the scenarios described,…
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Down on the Bayou

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The ongoing legal dispute over President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration reform has arrived at a new milestone, one not typically reached in this type of appeals scenario. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans announced that it will hear oral arguments on April 17 on the government’s motion to stay U.S…
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Reading Between the Lines

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Ever wonder what thoughts and prejudices reside in a person’s heart? Unless they’re excessively honest, the answer is obviously unknowable. Yet interpreting outward signs of how a person speaks and acts can lead to a highly educated guess. In a speech given in 2002, well-known conservative columnist Pat Buchanan said, “In the next 50 years,…
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Here Comes the Judge?

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In America’s criminal justice system, the accused enjoy the assurance of a speedy adjudication of the charges against them. Unfortunately, this constitutional guarantee does not apply to undocumented immigrants seeking to avoid deportation or gain permanent refugee status in the US. Even more so, non-citizens do enjoy speedy trial and due process rights when it…
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