Customer Reviews

The Politics of Immigration: Questions and Answers

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If you have always wanted to find out the real scoop behind issues like the integration of undocumented immigrants into the US work force & their effect on the US economy (do they really "steal jobs"? are they "taking jobs Americans don't want"?), what actual legal rights immigrants do and don't have, whether out-of-status ("illegal") immigrants pay taxes (hint: they do), what effects "closed border" policies have on immigrants and the national economy, what immigrants really face as they attempt to "legalize" their status--then this is a book that will rock your world. Guskin & Wilson have gathered together a formidable array of evidence and arguments concerning immigration in the US in a very readable and accessible format based on "questions" that you hear people ask every day.

The book starts by defining terms ("Who are the immigrants? How do we define immigrants? How many immigrants are here? Is there a `new wave' of immigration?, etc."). It then addresses, in easy-to-read but very complete and documented sections, the "root causes" of migration and immigration, the history of the US with respect to refugees and political asylum, facts about how one gets a visa, a "green card," and "legalization" procedures for immigrants, economics, environmental and health issues, crime, deportation issues, "guest worker" and amnesty programs, and the big question behind it all: "Can We Open Our Borders?"

At every turn, Guskin & Wilson answer with logic and clarity the tough questions they have chosen to focus their discussion--questions that emerge from people's "real fears" about immigrants and immigration, "fears about jobs, wages, and changing communities." Their forthright answers will surprise you sometimes. Reading parts of the book aloud to a friend, I got to the section entitled: "Do immigrants bring down wages?" My friend began to argue before I'd even started reading, that of course they would claim that they did not, but that in fact it was the lowest-stratum workers on the scale who were displaced by low-paid immigrant workers. But not only do Guskin & Wilson acknowledge that wages are depressed by the use of undocumented workers, they add that: "Although these numbers [competition from immigrant workers may have lowered the wages of the 10 percent of US workers who had dropped out of high school by about 5 percent between 1980 and 1994] are fairly small in terms of the US workforce, they are a serious matter for working people who are trying to survive on a low income. ... Many of the people affected are African Americans or U.S.-born Latinos." (p. 69)

My friend was surprised at this straightforward answer. But what I found valuable about the book's discussion was that it did not stop at that point. Guskin & Wilson continued to place the phenomenon into a larger economic perspective, pointing out that the major reasons for the lower pay rates for undocumented workers (immigrants with documents earn about the same rate as US citizens) are driven by their status issues--that is, they are easily threatened and bullied by their bosses, they tend not to claim their legal rights for fear of being deported, and they are thoroughly vulnerable in a way that other workers are not.

In order to stop the "race to the bottom" for low-wage workers, they argue, we need to "try to improve pay for unauthorized workers so their low wages no longer exert downward pressure on wages in general." This would be vastly more effective than the ambivalent "crack-downs" we have seen recently, or stronger enforcement of immigration laws. After the amnesty of 1986, "real wages of the newly legal workers rose an average of 15 percent." If this happened now, wages would likely rise for all workers, especially those in jobs where many workers are undocumented. The answer to unnaturally low wages is to raise the wages, give workers their legal rights, and encourage them to organize with other workers to gain a higher standard, of course. This is common sense, but it has not been a point commonly articulated in discussions about US immigration.

The discussion of the possibility of an Open Borders policy is particularly thought-provoking and useful. The authors, relying on common sense again as well as the data they have collected and analyzed, examine real-life examples of open border policies, and indicate clearly what would need to be done to make them work in the current situation in the US.

Guskin & Wilson support their arguments and explanations with an impressive range of sources, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE, formerly INS) documents and explications of policies, the extensive scholarly literature on immigration policy, texts of laws, legal precedents and court decisions, committee and subcommittee documents from all branches of government and administration, and fact sheets and press releases from every governmental and non-governmental group imaginable, out to articles and coverage of particular events in the international press (Europe, South America, BBC, and more, including internet publications).

The suggested readings and resources are a very useful collection, and the list is expanded and updated at their book's website, [...].

I cannot say enough good things about this timely, clear, and informative book. It fights and breaks myths and stereotypes, cuts through the often foggy rhetoric of immigration policy, and encourages readers to learn more, to break the discussion barriers and openly address the issues in public, and to act on behalf of (im)migrants everywhere--which is, in the end, the same as acting to improve our own lives, communities, and the world.

This book is easy to use, one theme per chapter, with about a dozen questions answered in each, so you can quickly go to your weak spots or find needed info. What I most appreciated was how it confronts questions many of us are afraid to ask. One chapter goes right to the point with "Do immigrants hurt our economy?" while the last chapt does the big one, "Can we open our borders?" (There are 12 chapts.) My big fear was that the writers' answers to the questions would be airy lefty platitudes. I was surprised to see that the writers actually have concrete evidence from serious studies and research, statistical when needed, that prove what we've wished to be true but often were afraid to ask. They give the citations and references. It's solid. I had no idea there was so much bulletproof info. behind us. Thankfully, the authors keep each answer short. It's really practical.

The Table of Contents gives a good sense of the issues covered. I finally found it on-line. Type in thepoliticsofimmigration then a dot and the letters o-r-g without the dashes.

Though I didn't buy it new, it came in pretty good shape! :D Thankyou to whoever I bought it from, by the way it's an awesome book!

Great, accessible resource for anyone wishing to learn more about US immigration policy. Please note that, at the time I post this, the only non-five-star rating is from someone who gives this book a glowing review, but appears to have rated it two stars by mistake.

Very well written and documented, stands out by the clarity and precision of its discourse, providing reliable information on the evolution of the conditions of immigration in the U.S. The last section on immigration reform is naturally less solid, as it cannot rely on proven results of the proposed changes, which remain somewhat speculative. Also it is less strong regarding data on immigration, and immigration solutions, in other parts of the world.

The authors, advocates of universal freedom of movement across borders, have addressed the political issues that accompanied American immigration policy over the past few years. The authors have responded to the various questions that surround legal and illegal immigration to the United States, giving special attention to Mexico, the major source of immigrants. They have dealt with the issues of employment opportunities, wages, crime, environment, health, community civil rights and human rights in general. The authors have expressed particular interest in unionization and protection of labor rights. They have expressed vehement opposition to the social and economic impact of NAFTA.

The book can hardly be called objective, and it barely touches the difficulties of immigration for professional and technical workers. It does, however, provide much documented information in bringing out contradictions and inequities in current immigration policy. Some of the authors' most ideologically structured views may not secure widespread agreement, but they do contribute to an understanding of the immigration debate.

Obama had promised to give immediate attention to current immigration policies and to present his own as quickly as possible. The economic problems that confronted the administration undoubtedly slowed the effort. The need to focus attention on economic problems without causing conflicts that could sidetrack both support and interest militate against immediate overall reform of immigration policies now. It does seem evident, however, that Obama will suggest certain reforms that allow many illegal immigrants to remain in this country after paying a penalty. Humanitarian and economic grounds should push such a policy through despite opposition on various grounds. Certainly, the administration will never go as far as the authors in proposing policies, and universal freedom of movement is not possible in the foreseeable future.

Nevertheless, anyone wishing to comprehend and discuss immigration as it receives attention from the White House and Congress should become acquainted with this book.

Easy to read and informative, this is an excellent book that truthfully answers many of the questions people have on immigration; a subject on which opinion, hype, hysteria, and disinformation substitute for rational discourse, and false 'facts' are believed by many. I strongly recommend this book for use by groups or for personal study. It is a valuable addition to any immigration policy library and is suitable for a wide range of age groups.

I bought this book on referal from our friend and mentor in the area of justice issues, Rev. George Johnson, ELCA, Our church in Oak Harbor, WA is doing an informational unit for the congregation on Immigaration. This book covers the subject well and covers several aspects clearly. It helped me in my understanding a great deal. and will be shared with others.