2008 Reports

Political Mobilization of Latino Immigrants in American Cities and the U.S. Immigration Debate

Cano, Gustavo

This paper analyses the mobilization actions among Latino populations in the United States, especially Mexican and Central American immigrants, triggered by the passage of H.R. 4437 by the U.S. House of Representatives on December 16, 2005. I expose the actors, their rationale, and mechanisms of mobilization that have raised to a historical proportion the current U.S. immigration debate. From a theoretical standpoint, I develop an analytical framework that addresses these events within the field of political transnationalism. The empirical analysis includes three levels: from a macro-meso perspective, this work suggests that mobilization actions can be explained mainly through the involvement of the Catholic Church and immigrant-supportive organizations in 32 cities across the nation. From a micro perspective, this research suggests that faith, work and family are the triggering factors for Latinos and Latino immigrants to participate in political mobilizations of this type.