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Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants
 
 
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Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants [Hardcover]

Jorge G. Castaneda (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 1, 2008
A fascinating and revealing look at the United States' largest, most controversial group of immigrants, by Mexico's former foreign minister.

In the wake of the massive, nationwide rally in support of immigrant rights in May 2006, which drew a record number of participants, one thing has become clear: in the United States today, no domestic issue sparks as much public debate or is as politicized as immigration, with the spotlight focused on Mexican immigrants above all others.

In Ex Mex, former Mexican foreign minister and well-known scholar Jorge G. Castañeda draws on his experience in both capacities to dispel some of the most widely held and mistaken ideas about the United States' largest immigrant population. Through Castañeda, we learn who the newest generation of immigrants from Mexico is, why they've chosen to live in the United States, where they work, and what they ultimately hope to achieve. Castañeda also offers an insider's account of the intricate and secret negotiations that took place between Mexico and the United States in 2001-2—contradicting some of the official versions published here—and the unilateral actions that were taken by his government to improve the conditions of Mexican migrants when talks between the two countries became stalemated.

This timely and authoritative book will be required reading for the debates about immigration that will soon be part of the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

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Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants + Manana Forever?: Mexico and the Mexicans + Manana o pasado: El misterio de los mexicanos (Vintage Espanol) (Spanish Edition)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mexico's foreign minister from 2000 to 2003, now a political science professor at New York University, delivers a timely consideration of the complex contemporary relationship between Mexico and the United States. Going beyond the importance of undocumented workers to the American economy, Castañeda (Compañero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara) tackles the effects of migration on Mexico, as well as root causes such as multiple, destabilizing financial crises and the exacerbating influence of the North American Free Trade Agreement. A member of President Vincente Fox's administration, Castaneda goes inside the bold reformer's attempts to improve the lot of his people, including the ups and downs of negotiations with an enthusiastic, freshly elected Bush administration. Honest about both progress and setbacks-occasionally belying official reports-Castañeda considers the larger issues ignored by the White House's more recent anti-immigration rhetoric and 2006's "hateful Secure Fence Act," which calls for 700 miles of fencing along the border. The structure may make Castañeda's argument difficult to reference (though an index helps, chapters lack titles or headed sections), but his authoritative primer contends convincingly that all the "barriers, checkpoints, and lighting" in the world will solve nothing.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Jorge G. Castañeda is the author of several books, including Perpetuating Power, The Mexican Shock (both published by The New Press), and Utopia Unarmed. Having served as Mexico's foreign minister from 2000 to 2003, he is currently Global Distinguished Professor of Politics and Latin American Studies at New York University. He divides his time between Mexico City and New York City.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 222 pages
  • Publisher: New Press, The (January 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1595581634
  • ISBN-13: 978-1595581631
  • Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.1 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #225,753 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Mexican Perspective on US Immigration Policy, January 13, 2008
By 
Daniel J. Stangle (Park Falls, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants (Hardcover)
Jorge Castenada is the former foreign minister of Mexico and provides a clear view of the Mexican position on US-Mexican relations at the start of the Bush presidency, as well as a long-range perspective on the relationship of the two countries. This is a sensitive and well-written review of negotiations (that never did seem all that serious on the US side) as well as reviewing what the government of Mexico has done to make conditions more humane for its citizens. Unlike many books on the subject, this is not a rant, but rather is a must-read for those who would like more facts and less emotion. There are many and varied approaches that can be taken to cross-border immigration, some harsh and some humane, and this book shows the humanity and reality of what is going on, and that there are ways to work with Mexico--if we but had the political coherence and will--to substantially resolve many of the problems that exist at and on both sides of the border.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars ANALYSIS GOOD, WRITING AWKWARD, February 22, 2008
This review is from: Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants (Hardcover)
As Castaneda had inside access to the intricate negotiations (and sometimes, lack of negotiations) concerning the border issues, he has insights that are valuable and illuminating. He also does a good job with the broader historical sweep of the immigration issue, emphasizing the principle of "circularity" - where traditionally, migrants came across the U.S. border, worked, then returned home. He shows how a number of factors have altered this traditional pattern: Reagan's " Amnesty" legislation, NAFTA, the Immigration Reform Bill of 1996; and more recently, the impact of 9/11. The net result of all these variables being an increase in illegal immigration, and the tendency not to return.
On the above issues, he supplies an overview that is lacking in the usual critiques and more hysterical media reporting. Unfortunately, it is somewhat cumbersome reading while extracting those points. The book lacks judicious breakdowns on the topics, and the writing is awkward, with excessively long paragraphs and other structural difficulties.
Nevertheless, and though I think he underestimates the impact of NAFTA on increased immigration, it is still an informative contribution to the immigration discussion with solid statistical support and evidence to bolster his arguments.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Primo reading!, January 3, 2010
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This review is from: Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants (Hardcover)
A well written piece from a former Mexican cabinet member. Thorough, engaging, and reliable information. Gracias, Senor Castaneda; me gusta su libro!
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