Class Discussion:

Questions:

• Where do undocumented immigrants come from, and where do they settle in the U.S.?
• How many are here?
• By what means do undocumented immigrants arrive in this country?
• We learned that 6 out of 10 arrive in the U.S. legally—as visitors, students, temporary workers, tourists—but overstay their visas. How, then, do the remaining 40% gain entrance to the United States?

After students fill out Worksheet 6.2: Push/Pull Factors of Undocumented Immigrants, ask the class to locate on a world map the six countries from which more than half of undocumented immigrants come.

Questions:

• Once illegal immigrants arrive in the U.S., what is life like here?
• What are some of the difficulties they are likely to encounter in attempting to live and work in the United States?

Refer to Appendix for additional resource materials to use in class or suggest to students.

Media Resources:

1. Watch the film El Norte, which shows one method of gaining entrance to the U.S. through a sewer system. The film also reveals difficulties that illegal immigrants face upon arrival in the U.S. (Note: there is some profanity in one section of the film: The profane words are in Spanish and also subtitled in English.)
2. Watch the documentary The Legacy of Shame (order by calling 1-800-934-NEWS). This documentary explores migrant workers, both legal and illegal, and the conditions under which they survive. The video claims that laws meant to protect the workers in some cases actually work against them. Efforts to stop undocumented workers and/or deport them are directly proportional to the immediate need of businesses and farmers for inexpensive labor. Here are some quotes from the film that could be discussed in class:

“Migrant workers are the only work force not covered by labor law. People feel they can’t stand up for their rights because they won’t have a job. There are always replacements.”

“Farming is the most dangerous occupation in the United States. Foreign workers are willing to take more risks. Forty percent of workers are annually exposed to pesticides. Fifty percent of those exposed have symptoms of pesticide poisoning. There is pressure in Congress to repeal pesticide controls.”

“Today, many farm workers are essentially indentured servants. The migrant system has replaced slavery as a means to cheap crop and food-crop production. They are the most exploited and vulnerable of all workers.” “Farmers assert, “Take away migrant workers, and the cost of food will skyrocket.”

3.  The Minneapolis Star Tribune ran a 4-day “News With a View” special entitled “Mexico: Bordering on Chaos”. The date of the first article is July 30, 1995, with the follow-up articles on July 31, August 2, and August 4. Written by Heron Marquez Estrada, a Mexican citizen and legal resident of the U.S., the articles contain much primary source material from many actors in the U.S.—Mexico relationship. 

Summary writing assignment:

 Based upon what you have read, seen, discussed, and thought about in this section on the undocumented immigrant, please take a few minutes to write some of your thoughts and reactions related to the topic. Note any unanswered questions you have encountered.