Woodrow-Lafield, Karen A. 2003. “A 21st Century Agenda on Border and Inter-American Affairs,” Presentations, Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame, April 24 and July 8. Manuscript in progress.


Research for policymaking about border affairs within the Americas, U.S. migration and immigration, and international migration and human rights requires two sets of lenses: one on populations interacting across borders and another on population contours within borders. The elements of migration flows and populations are complex over time, as to geographic boundaries of place or country, permanent or temporary, lawful status or unauthorized status, and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Political debates about controlling migration are grounded in nation-state sovereignty and tempered by global contexts, plus states and localities are engaging in the immigration debate. In the context of U.S. immigration policies, the first and second generation populations are the subject of increasing research and discussion of migrant histories, lawful status and transitions, citizenship, and political incorporation, and the current debate on immigration reform hinges on residence and pathways of citizenship. Official statistics on “unofficial” immigrants are more accepted and more visible than ever before.