Articles

"Amid Arizona immigration protests, a new generation dreams of the Dream Act"—Marjorie Valbrun (published June 6, 2010)


In an opinion article for the Washington Post, Marjorie Valbrun describes the impact Arizona's immigration law, SB 1070, has had on the undocumented students movement. In the wake of public criticism over the law, Valburn reports the fears of undocumented students that the larger immigration debate will overshadow their cause. Accordingly, many Arizona students have stepped up their efforts to encourage reform, increasingly protesting in public and taking chances in an attempt to attract attention. In the case Valbrun discusses, five undocumented students staged a sit-in at an office of John McCain. Four of the students were arrested and could face deportation. 


The desperation displayed by these students also typifies the current movement's re-framing. Contrary to the popular stereotypes of illegal immigrants — uneducated, unskilled laborers — undocumented students seek to promote a new image, one that highlights the potential contributions and moral justification for providing undocumented minors a pathway to citizenship. Recent protests advance that goal by "coming out" to the public and providing stories that, under other circumstances, might belong to any other American student. Publicly displaying one's status is particularly dangerous for these students, who risk being deported. However, they see the current fervor over immigration as an opportunity to advance their goals, particularly passage of the DREAM Act as a stand-alone bill or as part of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform President Obama claims has become a national priority.




"Case deepens immigration debate"— Maria Sacchetti (published June 20, 2010)

In an article that exemplifies the use of movement figureheads, the story of Eric Balderas depicts the morally affective position of the undocumented students movement. Balderas, an undocumented student brought to the United States as a 4-year-old, found himself under arrest after trying to board a plan with his student ID and Mexican consular card. Balders presents an ideal image for the movement — a Harvard biology student who graduated valedictorian of his high school class. He provides the essential moral argument movement members strive to advance, that many undocumented minors have substantial potential to contribute to our society and should be given a chance to stay in the country legally.


"Immigrant students' hunger strike outside Senator Chuck Schumer's office should stir action" — Albor Ruiz (published June 10, 2010)

In this local New York City article, Ruiz describes the efforts of undocumented students in putting on a hunger strike outside a senator's office — to little media attention. The case serves to illustrate the idiosyncrasies of media attention to social movements, particularly marginalization of a social movement's message.

The movement for reform under the DREAM Act has eluded activists since the Act's initial introduction in 2001. Since then, media attention has waned significantly as reporters and editors tire of the issue and the limited opportunities to report on it. From a news perspective, the story is a straightforward one: activists protest for reform but political pressures block it. Reiteration in the media makes for poor audience interest, so editors move on to other issues.

As a result, activists in the undocumented students movement must find new, interesting ways to promote their message. Students have become bold in their effort — making pleas for reform at the risk of detention. Ruiz expresses tempered outrage that, while these students risk hunger and detention — even deportation — the news media gives them only marginal attention.


"Student immigrants use civil rights-era strategies" — Russell Contreras (published June 2, 2010)

In an article published by the Associated Press, reporter Russell Contreras describes the adoption of civil-rights strategies for protesting laws targeting illegal immigrants. Undocumented students practice civil disobedience, hold educational seminars, marches and sit-ins. The movement has adopted these practices all over the nation — students sit in on congressional offices in Arizona, stage marches in Massachusetts, and marches to D.C. In particular, students organized an event called the "Trail of Dreams," a march from Miami to Washington, D.C., reminiscent of the famous march on Washington led by Martin Luther King, Jr.

These tactics illustrate how a movement can adopt familiar forms of protest readily available in their cultural repertoire. By invoking scenes and tactics from the civil rights era, undocumented students no doubt also hope to elevate their message to the importance of past struggles from American history. The choice of these tactics, therefore, not only trades on established structures and successes, but also leverages the powerful moral dimension coupled to the fight against segregation.



"Social media connects immigration activists" — Geoffrey Hing (published June 3, 2010)

Hing reports on the pervasive use of social media in the organization of the undocumented students movement. Their knowledge of technology and social media gives undocumented students an advantage over other social movements by presupposing the ability of potential members to connect over the Internet. These students can then gauge their participation and offer organizational skills and extended connections — expediting the process of organization and recruitment.


In addition, an activist cites the use of text message organization, the process of sending out mass messages to movement members. This allows for real-time reorganization and planning that can make the relation of information easy and quick — an advancement with profound implications for the structure of future social movements. Rapid and decentralized direction could lead to a new kind of participatory structure, allowing members to contribute efficiently across vast distances and bringing local chapters closer to national or international movements.