By Veronica Kieft The United States-Mexico Border

General Information The only place in the world where a 1 st -world country neighbors a 3 rd -world country The most frequently crossed international border in the world ^San Diego ^Tijuana

History U.S.-Mexican War ( ) U.S. expansion Mexico’s weak frontier Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) The U.S. acquired more than 500,000 square miles of land Approximately 80,000 Mexican residents of the Southwest gained U.S. citizenship Japanese Americans from the Pacific coast placed in internment camps during WWII (1942) Bracero Program (1943) Guest worker program bringing temporary agricultural workers into the U.S. from Mexico Operation Wetback (1954) Forced the return of undocumented workers to Mexico

Before the war

After the war

Present Numbers As of 2011, an estimated 11.5 million undocumented immigrants resided in the U.S. About 8.9 million were born in North America (includes Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada) About 0.8 million were born in South America

Why So Many? Immigrants coming up from south of Mexico Political corruption, oppression, war, genocide Income disparities, huge gap between rich and poor Close proximity of Mexico to U.S. Noticeable difference in the quality of life “American Dream”

The Dangers of Crossing Border Patrol found 368 migrants dead in 2011 Coyotes-both good and bad As more fences are put up in more areas, immigrants have to use more dangerous means More and more migrants attempting the crossing in the Sonoran Desert, fewer border agents there Many travel by train It is very common for female migrants to get raped (:57)

What Should Be Done Now? Better quality of life  less immigrants Esperanza International Whatcom County Democrats say… Streamline and expedite legalization for immigrants fleeing from areas of war, genocide, and political oppression Create a path to citizenship for undocumented people already residing within the United States Reintroduce and pass the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act Allows children of undocumented immigrants temporary residency to allow them to pursue higher education

Any Questions?

References Batalova, J., & Lee, A. (2012, March). Frequently requested statistics on immigrants and immigration in the United States. Retrieved November 7, 2012, from usfocus/display.cfm?ID=886#9a C and C international travel [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from history.html Immigration. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2012, from Whatcom County Democrats website: Landmarks in immigration history. (n.d.). Retrieved November 7, 2012, from mmigration_chron.cfm

References One night on a deadly border crossing. (2012, August 8). ABC News. San Diego - Tijuana Border [Photograph]. (2009, January 10). Retrieved from san-diego-tijuana- border-pic/ U.S.-Mexican War: (2006, March 14). Retrieved November 7, 2012, from kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/ U.S. territorial map 1840 [Image]. (1996, June 17). Retrieved from ~MAP/TERRITORY/1840map.html Van Develder, J. (2012). At the border: Nation, God, and human rights. Vassar, 108(2).