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BOOK REVIEW: IMMIGRATION
Ngai, Mae M. Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America. Princeton, N.J. [u.a.: Princeton Univ. Press, 2004. Print.
America is a nation consisting of many immigrants: it has its gates opened to the world. These immigrants transition smoothly and slowly from settlement, to assimilation then citizenship. These immigrants are first admitted lawfully as permanent residents before they naturalize to become full citizens. In her book “Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America”, the historian Mae Ngai draws our attention to the history of immigration and citizenship in America. Her book examines an understudied period of immigration regulation between 1924 and 1965.
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mainly concentrates on the immigrants categorized as illegal aliens or alien citizens and not those immigrants whose route to American citizenship is untroubled. The social experience of these immigrants does not center in the American national narrative. Ngai talks of laws and policies such as Japanese American renunciation, Filipino voluntary repatriation and the policies governing Chinese confession programme which have greatly missed the legal scholarship. Impossible subjects therefore fills gaps and increases knowledge and understanding of the reader on the history of immigration laws. Mae Ngai argues that it the immigration restriction that produced the illegal aliens as new legal and political subjects included into the nation (Mae Ngai 4).
This book serves as the best source of answers to those interested in questions about the origin of ethnicity and race in America. Impossible subjects is divided into seven chapters, and the first two talk about the action and practices that led to restriction, exclusion and deportation. It majorly traces back experiences of four immigrant groups which included the Filipino, Japanese, Chinese and Mexican. Ngai talks of the exclusion practices which prevented Asian entry into America and full expression of their citizenship in America. Although the American sought means of educating the Asians, they still faced the exclusion policies (Mae Ngai 18). All Asians were viewed as aliens and even those who were citizens of the USA by birth were seen as foreign due to the dominant American culture (Mae Ngai 8). Unlike the Asians, Mexicans were racially eligible to citizenship in the USA because of their language and religion. However, she argues that Mexicans still faced discrimination in the fact that entry requirements such as visa fee, tax and hygiene inspection were made so difficult for them, which prompted many Mexicans to enter into the USA illegally. Tens and thousands of Mexicans later entered into America legally and illegally to seek for employment but were seen as seasonal labor and were never encouraged to pursue American
citizenship. As much as Ngai’s book is regarded as one of the best books that give understanding to the history of aliens in America, I have few critics to the book. I find the topic of this book a bit misleading because it emphasizes more on the immigration policies and how they impacted on the Asians. It gives little and unsatisfactory information on the history of illegal aliens because it focusses only on four groups from the west and not other parts of the world. Regardless of the critics, I will agree that Ngai’s book gives knowledge and understanding of the history of the aliens in the US. It successfully explores and shows how immigration from Mexico was produced and how their entry was and serves as an important tool for explaining the American immigration policies. With no doubt, this book appeals to most social scholars and policy makers. Mae Ngai’s main argument is that illegal aliens were created due to the restriction policies of America, which forced many to enter illegally and later sought to find means of making their presence in the US legal. Some of her arguments resemble some arguments by some authors of history books concerning the indigenous people in the US. These two books are: W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1880 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007) Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples′ History of the United States (Beacon Press, Boston, MA, 2015). The author of the “black reconstruction in America” book puts his focus on racism and the role of black Americans in American economic history and social development during the reconstruction period (Du Bois 3).He argues that racism was approved by the whites who believed that the black people were inferior to them. This argument agrees with Ngai’s arguments about how the illegal aliens were seen in the US. Ngai argues that Asians were so much discriminated in the US including those who were citizens by birth due to the dominant American culture (Mae Ngai 8). The black were not given any political power, petition or right to own property (Du Bois 10). Du Bois shows that slavery and racism increased due to the political urge and economic motives of selfish whites. Similarly, Mae Ngai puts it that the selfish agriculturalists in the US for cheap labor increased the numbers of illegal aliens from Mexico, who entered illegally to look for employment. On the other hand, the author of the book “An Indigenous Peoples′ History of the United States” poses almost similar arguments with Du Bois and Mae Ngai. He emphasizes most of his arguments on the genocidal policies and colonization of settlements. The author talks of the genocidal policy whose main purpose was to act against the indigenous people, which acted to remove people from their original territories through torture, sexual abuse and making black women concubines of white men (Dunbar-Ortiz 35). This lands were then converted to private owned property and sold to selfish native individuals. He argues that the whites praised this policy regardless and this was through writings by various writers including government officials and the military. It was meant to eliminate and displace inhabitants from their original territories and this formed the founding of the US. Mae Ngai also seems to have the same arguments because she talks of displacement and deportation of the said illegal aliens form America. The restriction laws were meant to only allow those who were eligible to enter while displacing and deporting those thought to be illegal. Looking at the writings of the three authors, one can conclude that if put together in a conversation, their arguments concerning the indigenous people in America would be similar. For example, Du Bois argues that the white people approved slavery and looked upon the black people as being inferior to them. Roxanne will agree with him because in his argument, he says that the genocidal policy was praised by the natives including the government. This policy was meant to diminish the indigenous people, and profit people with selfish motives to acquire the lands and territories of the indigenous people. Mae Ngai will also agree with the two authors because she believes that the indigenous people faced discrimination and not allowed to own property nor express full citizenship; for those born in the US. Both authors however fail to answer some questions in their books. For example, Mae Ngai fails to in “An Indigenous Peoples′ History of the United States” book, Roxanne explains the assault posed on the indigenous people, from torture to sexual abuse but fails to explain clearly why this formation was marked by such assaults especially the attacks on the Indian people. Likewise, Du Bois in his book, “black reconstruction in America” fails to answer some critical questions. He fails to explain clearly why the reconstruction failed. Bois also focusses mostly on the reconstruction therefore failing to explain whether it is possible to have a revolution in the present day America. He also does not give a clear answer on whether the reconstruction was able to transform both the North and South. Both books give an understanding into the history of America. However, some few things are to be critiqued. In an indigenous peoples’ history, the author talks more of America being a settler colonial nation instead of the history of the indigenous people: it explains more of how America oppressed the indigenous people and fails to put focus on their history and colonial expectations. The author also doesn’t shy from using delicate topics for her explanations; she uses terms like genocide to describe the social experiences of the indigenous groups in the US, terms most historians will always try to avoid. Roxanne is also general and shallow in her explanations, raising many questions in the introduction which she fails to answer clearly. Just like Roxanne, Mae Ngai focuses more on the immigration policies and their impacts on the Asians and fails to give more information on the history of these illegal aliens. She also focuses only on four groups of people from the west to represent illegal aliens in the US yet there are many other groups. On the other hand, “Black reconstruction in America” book also has some unfilled gaps. The author bases his arguments of black reconstruction on assumptions of race equality that is shot through the Marxian economists. He points out authors he believes are evil for not writing appropriately about the reconstruction period. It is not necessarily that one has to be a Marxian to treat the black experience as part of the labor movement. Some of his arguments are based on fantasy and emotions. For example, he argues that the fight for equality among the whites and blacks cannot be compromised, something that is not possible. Regardless of the critiques raised on the three books, I agree with some of their arguments. It is true when Mae Ngai says that it is the immigration policies that produced illegal migrants. She explores how illegal aliens from Mexico were created and therefore gives an understanding about the history of immigrants in the US. I will also agree with Roxanne that the primitive way of accumulation of capital in America led to the capitalist development. This was achieved through the seizure of land and the violence that had occurred at that time. I agree that these land seizures were made possible as a result of interests of colonial power. The transformation of land into private property was in large scale and therefore gave higher interests in return. Similarly, I agree with the author of the black reconstruction in America in most arguments. It is true that the former slaves and poor whites were responsible for salvaging the other slaves in America because they supported their suffrage. This is because they helped them with the hope that at one time a new society will be created, where both the blacks and white will have full control of their lives. It is also correct to say that the reconstruction act led to freeing of both black and white slaves who were disempowered and had no right to protection and contributed to the unity between black and white people. The three books are helpful and important in some aspects. They tell more facts and issues normally left out in most history books. These books to some extent explains and describes the history, social life experiences of indigenous groups in the United States of America. They both bring out the picture of the torments and sufferings imposed on the indigenous groups by the white people. These books therefore are worth reading by thousands of people, including scholars, historians and any other person especially those with questions about the history of indigenous people in America. Works cited Ngai, Mae M. Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America. Princeton, N.J. [u.a.: Princeton Univ. Press, 2004. Print. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples′ History of the United States (Beacon Press, Boston, MA, 2015). W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America, 1860-1880 (New York: Oxford University Press, 2007)
...y Burnett, “The Noncitizen National and the Law of American Empire” , “in Major Problems in American Immigration History, ed. Mae M Ngai and Jon Gjerde (Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013),278
As the hostility toward immigrants had begun to relax, the residency period was reduced to two years by 1824. More reforms were made over several decades, and by 1870 new legislation gave persons of African descent, Asians and other non-white groups access to citizenship. As the country matured and became more multiracial, additional legislation would be passed to prevent “protected groups” from discrimination and exclusion. Present day, the United States is still a country of immigrants and continues to expand its laws to be inclusive of all its citizens and residents. All participants who contributed to the diversity of this county helped to create the vibrant economy and democracy that we know
-Despite the already severe legal and social restrictions on Asian immigration, some European Americans felt that immigration should be forbidden altogether with a specific Asian Exclusion Act. In arguments which seem familiar to modern followers of the immigration debate, Asians were accused of taking white jobs and causing social
The “paper son” phenomenon is not unusual in the history of the Chinese in America; it was a common way to get around the discriminatory immigration laws that prevented many Chinese from coming to the United States. Thus, the stories of “paper sons” should be told as we examine the racist attitudes and policies toward the people who built, shaped, and changed America alongside European immigrants. As former U.S. Congressman Norm Mineta so eloquently puts it, “When one hears Americans tell of the immigrants who built this nation, one is led to believe that all our forebears come from Europe. When one hears stories about the pioneers going West to shape the land, the Asian immigrant is rarely mentioned” (Takaki 6). We need to acknowledge the contributions of extraordinary individuals—“paper sons” such as my uncle, Stanley Hom Lau, who left their families and homeland behind to establish new roots and who made America the unique salad bowl it is today.
Erika, Lee. "U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Laws and Issues." Journal of American Ethnic History. Vol. 20. Issue 2 (2001): n. page. Web. 18 Apr. 2013.
Ngai, Mae M. 2004 “Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America” Publisher: Princeton University Press.
This discrimination initially began with the Naturalization Act of 1790, allowing free white-men of “good character” naturalization while excluding Native Americans, indentured servants, free Blacks, and Asians. In addition to extreme acts, the Chinese Exclusion Act, signed in 1882, had prohibited the Chinese from entering our country. Another example of the racism Asian-Americans faced occurred during World War II due to the war’s propaganda and the slurs that came about as a result of the war. The historical background of Asian-Americans and racism not only left scarring tendencies, but managed to transcend into modern society within a lower degree.
In his book “American Passage: The History of Ellis Island”, Vincent J. Cannato expressed the course that the late 1800s to 1900s immigrants went through. The main focus of Cannato’s book was the many changes in the immigration policy, and how it shaped the United States. Before Ellis Island opened, the restriction of immigrants was weak. Many Americans had their own beliefs on how immigration should be managed, however, restrictions towards immigration was not enforced until the early 1900s. When the immigration policy was finally imposed, the treatment of immigrants became harsh and unsympathetic. Vincent J. Cannato’s book “American Passage: The History of Ellis Island” explains the changes of procedures and laws, the attitudes of Americans,
The English immigrants are given a brief introduction as the first ethnic group to settle in America. The group has defined the culture and society throughout centuries of American history. The African Americans are viewed as a minority group that were introduced into the country as slaves. The author depicts the struggle endured by African Americans with special emphasis on the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement. The entry of Asian Americans evoked suspicion from other ethnic groups that started with the settlement of the Chinese. The Asian community faced several challenges such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and the mistreatment of Americans of Japanese origin during World War II. The Chicanos were the largest group of Hispanic peoples to settle in the United States. They were perceived as a minority group. Initially they were inhabitants of Mexico, but after the Westward expansion found themselves being foreigners in their native land (...
Millions of immigrants over the previous centuries have shaped the United States of America into what it is today. America is known as a “melting pot”, a multicultural country that welcomes and is home to an array of every ethnic and cultural background imaginable. We are a place of opportunity, offering homes and jobs and new economic gains to anyone who should want it. However, America was not always such a “come one, come all” kind of country. The large numbers of immigrants that came during the nineteenth century angered many of the American natives and lead to them to blame the lack of jobs and low wages on the immigrants, especially the Asian communities. This resentment lead to the discrimination and legal exclusion of immigrants, with the first and most important law passed being the Chinese Exclusion Act. However, the discrimination the Chinese immigrants so harshly received was not rightly justified or deserved. With all of their contributions and accomplishments in opening up the West, they were not so much harming our country but rather helping it.
During the second half of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century, one million Asian people came to California and Hawaii in consecutive order. They came to America with the expectation of a much better life in parts of religious freedom, higher wages or better environment than their home countries.These push and pull factors of immigration were made during this period in Asia by Western colonial effects. Namely, European Imperialism and Colonialism made the chaotic situation in Asia, which aroused Asian people’s desire to seek new life and hope in America. However, the impact of Imperialism and Colonialism also made problematic issues brought by the idea of Orientalism.Thus, I will talk about
Since the 1800s, immigration has been considered a problem that is out of control in the United States. Government officials have claimed that the issue of birthright citizenship is the core of the dispute over immigration. To try and remedy this situation, holders of public office have held hearings and debates in an attempt to “redefine” what it means to be an American citizen.
The article written by Calavita, The Paradoxes of Race, Class, Identity, and ‘Passing’, discusses the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which was the first national effort to control immigration and barred the entry of Chinese laborers in America. Immigration inspectors were tasked with deciding which Chinese immigrants got to enter the country, based on class, but were given vague descriptions of what type of person was allowed entry. As a result of the discrepancies in the act, immigration inspectors suffered from a lack of routine. Inspectors struggled with defining what a merchant was from what a laborer was, as well as how to go about proving that these persons were who they said they were. Due to the ambiguousness, inspectors were urged
Will and in this essay the author challenges the citizenship status of children born to illegal immigrants. Will argues that the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to any person born in the United States, is being misinterpreted. He explains how this misinterpretation leads to the actual act of illegal immigration. For example, by essentially rewarding the children of illegal immigrants with an American citizenship Will demonstrates how this provides an incentive for illegal immigration. The author makes clear the idea that when the 14th Amendment was written in 1866 it could not have included illegal immigrants since that concept did not exist at that time. He continues by using Indians as an example of people not included in the 14th Amendment since Indians and their children owed allegiance to their tribes. Finally, the author uses a decision by the Supreme Court in 1884 that declared both person and country must consent to the citizenship; therefore, if the source is illegal then the child should not be considered a
Haines, David W and Rosenblum, Karen E.: Illegal Immigration in America: A Reference Handbook. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. 1999. EBook. , Database: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost).