Immigrants Facing Immigration Policy: State Laws Regulating Eligibility For In-State Tuition And Belonging Among Immigrant Youth In The United States

This dissertation focuses on new paths of immigrant incorporation and on the political mobilization of undocumented youths in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area. The goal of this investigation is to assess whether contrasting state laws that either open or restrict eligibility for in-state tuition are associated with different levels of belonging and different styles of organizing among immigrant youths. This research draws from theories on political incorporation and a resource mobilization model of collective action. It also builds on theories of policy design highlighting the role of policy images in immigration reform. This dissertation aims to develop a broader understanding of the subjective sense of belonging, which includes civic and political engagement along with various measures of assimilation. The contrasting cases of state-level policy in New York and New Jersey provide for an investigation into an important level of government that has largely been missing from the debate on comprehensive immigration reform. Both states have considered legislation in 2012 and 2013 which would grant larger access to public universities for undocumented youths. To fully address this issue, the dissertation relies on an innovative mixed-methods approach, collecting both quantitative data from a survey of college-age Latino immigrants, and qualitative data from sixty in-depth interviews with undocumented youths. Results indicate that undocumented youths tend to become mobilized in states which provide more restrictive contexts of reception, and where the coalition of support is still being recruited. However, state laws affecting access to college do shape the availability of political and civic resources for immigrant youths. This is evident both when the law opens and restricts eligibility for in-state tuition. This dissertation highlights the importance of place in immigrants\u27 paths of political incorporation into the United States, as well as the role of policy narratives in fostering or deterring political engagement. The results will help policymakers better understand the contexts of reception which public policies create for young immigrants

Broken Promises? NAFTA, Immigration, and ‘Shadow’ Regionalism

The reduction of immigration was never an official objective of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Yet, it was generally supposed to be one of its long-term consequences. Fifteen years later, Mexican immigration to the United States has in fact increased. The agreement has failed to reduce the attractiveness of the U.S. labor market for Mexican workers and to provide sustainable alternatives to immigration. Over the same period of time, American politicians and the American media have consistently embraced a narrative in which immigration control has become a matter of national security. A paradox has emerged from these two conflicting trends. While the measures taken by the federal government have failed to prevent unauthorized migrants from entering the country, they have also encouraged them to stay longer in the U.S. by making border-crossings too risky. The 1990s therefore witnessed a significant growth of the undocumented population of the United States. This paper analyzes the emergence of a “shadow” regional system between Mexico and the U.S., driven by immigrants themselves, as well as those who profit from undocumented immigration, rather than by institutional actors. This shadow integration is the product of two types of flows: people moving north of the border and, increasingly, remittances moving south. Remittances in turn reinforce immigration trends since they perpetuate the expectations of immigrants. This article examines the development of this parallel form of integration that has taken place at the same time as the implementation of the trade agreement, beyond the control of the Mexican and American governments

State Budget Crises and Access to College for Undocumented Students in the United States

The financial crisis has intensified the concerns over the availability of financial aid for all students in the public higher education system of the United States. Even in better economic times, financial aid and access to in-state tuition often determine whether or not a student is going to attend college. This is all the more relevant for minority and low-income students, among whom are some undocumented immigrants. This paper examines the relationship between the 2007-2008 financial crisis and state laws related to undocumented students’ access to in-state tuition and financial aid. Along with the rest of the unauthorized population living in the United States, these youths now have to face a serious backlash from state legislatures claiming to cut costs for their own government. Despite a recent ruling by the California Supreme Court favorable to in-state tuition for undocumented students, several state legislatures have enacted policies which will marginalize them even further. The crisis has in fact toughened the relationship existing between state government and public institutions of higher education. The article shows that the economic downturn has accelerated the change in the role of public universities, and especially their exploitation by state legislatures in their opposition to undocumented immigration

Les immigrés face aux politiques américaines d'immigration : l'accès à l'université publique et le sentiment d'appartenance chez les jeunes immigrés latinos

Cette thèse porte sur les nouveaux réseaux d’incorporation politique et sur la mobilisation politique des jeunes immigrés irréguliers de la région de New York et du New Jersey. Son objectif est d’évaluer si les politiques qui ouvrent ou ferment l’accès de ces jeunes aux frais d’inscription à l'université appliqués aux résidents de l'État sont associés à différents niveaux d’appartenance et à différents styles d’organisations politiques. La recherche s’appuie sur les théories relatives à l’incorporation politique et sur un modèle de mobilisation collective lié aux ressources disponibles. Elle emprunte aussi aux théories sur la formulation des politiques publiques qui mettent en lumière le rôle de l’image publique associée à la réforme de l’immigration. L'étude de terrain menée dans l'État de New York et dans le New Jersey permet d’analyser un niveau important de gouvernance qui fait souvent défaut dans le débat sur la réforme de l’immigration. L'approche méthodologique est mixte, combinant des données quantitatives tirées d’une enquête en ligne et des données qualitatives recueillies au cours de soixante entretiens. Les résultats indiquent que les jeunes irréguliers se mobilisent davantage dans les États où la loi crée un contexte de réception plus contraignant et où la coalition de soutien est encore en formation. Les politiques publiques des États influent également sur les ressources nécessaires à la participation politique et civique des jeunes immigrés. Cette thèse souligne l’importance du lieu de résidence dans l’incorporation politique des immigrés aux États-Unis, ainsi que la manière dont l’image associée aux politiques publiques encourage ou dissuade l’engagement politique. Ses résultats aideront le législateur à mieux comprendre les contextes de réception que les politiques publiques créent pour les jeunes immigrés.This dissertation focuses on new paths of immigrant incorporation and on the political mobilization of undocumented youths in the New York-New Jersey area. The goal of this investigation is to assess whether contrasting state laws that either open or restrict eligibility for in-state tuition are associated with different levels of belonging and different styles of organizing among immigrant youths. This research draws from theories on political incorporation and a resource mobilization model of collective action. It also builds on theories of policy design highlighting the role of policy images in immigration reform. The contrasting cases of state-level policy in New York and New Jersey provide for an investigation into an important level of government that has largely been missing from the debate on comprehensive immigration reform. The dissertation relies on an innovative mixed-methods approach, collecting both quantitative data from a survey and qualitative data from sixty in-depth interviews. Results indicate that undocumented youths tend to become mobilized in states which provide more restrictive contexts of reception, and where the coalition of support is still being recruited. However, state laws affecting access to college do shape the availability of political and civic resources for immigrant youths. This dissertation highlights the importance of place in immigrants’ paths of incorporation into the United States, as well as the role of policy narratives in fostering or deterring political engagement. The results will help policymakers better understand the contexts of reception which public policies create for young immigrants

Introduction

This issue of LISA e-journal delves into the effect(s) of the financial and economic crisis on the domains of higher education and research, as well as their role in promoting or downgrading the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism around the world. By “model” here we mean to imply both a “paradigm,” in the sense of a pattern, a vision of the world, as well as a way of doing things: an “example”, in the sense of something that we “reproduce,” “imitate” or “adapt”. This is more particularly evident..

Introduction

This issue of LISA e-journal delves into the effect(s) of the financial and economic crisis on the domains of higher education and research, as well as their role in promoting or downgrading the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism around the world. By “model” here we mean to imply both a “paradigm,” in the sense of a pattern, a vision of the world, as well as a way of doing things: an “example”, in the sense of something that we “reproduce,” “imitate” or “adapt”. This is more particularly evident..

Capitalisme, recherche et éducation : le modèle anglais revisité

Depuis les débuts de la crise financière et économique de 2008 la primauté du modèle de capitalisme anglo-saxon a été sérieusement remise en question. La crise a mis à mal les plus grandes places économiques, et a eu un impact sur les systèmes d’éducation et de recherche du monde entier. Les articles présentés dans ce numéro de la revue Lisa posent les questions suivantes : En quoi le modèle d’éducation et de recherche anglo-saxon se distingue-t-il des autres ? Quelles ont été les évolutions au sein des universités et des organismes de recherche au cours des XXe et XXIe siècles au Royaume-Uni et aux États-Unis ? Ils permettent également une meilleure compréhension non seulement du rôle joué par le modèle de capitalisme anglo-saxon dans l’élaboration des systèmes d’enseignement supérieur des différents pays de la sphère du monde anglophone, mais aussi des effets de la crise économique de 2008 sur ces systèmes ainsi que des perspectives et des débats actuels. Since the beginning of the financial and economic crisis in 2008 the leadership of the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism has been seriously questioned. The crisis has dragged down the world’s major economic centers, and has impacted education and research systems worldwide.The articles presented in this issue of LISA e-journal raise the following questions: what defines the Anglo-Saxon model of higher education and research compared to others? What has changed in the functioning of universities and research institution over the 20th and 21st century in the United Kingdom and the United States? They provide us with a greater understanding not only of the role of the Anglo-Saxon model of capitalism in shaping the higher education systems of various countries of the Anglo-sphere, but also of the effects of the 2008 economic crisis on these systems as well as of the current perspectives and debates