Immigration, Policy and the People of Latin America

Bryce W. Ashby is an attorney with Donati Law, PLLC, where he represents workers in their employment law claims. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and Rhodes College and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras from 2000 to 2002. Michael J. LaRosa is an associate professor of history at Rhodes College. He focuses on contemporary Colombian history and has published work in collaboration with Germán R. Mejía, Frank O. Mora, and others.

"Immigration, Policy and the People of Latin America: Seven Sending Nations" is a testament to Bryce W. Ashby and Michael J. LaRosa's unwavering dedication to scholarship and advocacy. With heartfelt insights and meticulous research, they illuminate the complexities of immigration from Latin America to the United States. As the former Executive Director of Latino Memphis, Inc., I commend their efforts in amplifying marginalized voices and challenging conventional narratives. This book is not just timely—it's essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of immigration issues.José Velázquez, Former Executive Director, Latino Memphis, Inc."This book expertly captures the complex 'push' factors that drive immigration in much of the Americas, and brilliantly places them in their unique historical and political context by using a comparative, country-by-country approach. To contextualize these forces further, Ashby and LaRosa have focused—refreshingly—on the lives and journeys of individual immigrants. Lifting up this human dimension is essential for a full comprehension of the phenomena of migration and opens our hearts to the impacts these forces have on individuals, families, and communities."David Lubell, Founder and Director Emeritus - Welcoming America; Atlanta, Georgia"Through a blend of historical analysis, policy critiques and deeply personal migrant profiles, Ashby, an employment law attorney, and LaRosa, a professor and writer, illuminate the tangled web of forces — systemic corruption, failed government institutions, economic exploitation, racism and the long shadow of U.S. foreign policy — that push people to leave everything familiar behind...Their book is essential reading for anyone who wants to move beyond the noise and understand the real stories behind the headlines and the deep-rooted forces that continue to shape the movement of people across the Americas."Marcela García, in ReVista: Harvard Review of Latin America

• Introduction 1. Colombia: In Search of the American Dream 2. Cuba: Economic Embargo, 63 Years On 3. Guatemala: Looking to “El Norte” 4. Haiti: From First Independent Black Republicto Failed State 5. Honduras: A Quarter Century Post-Mitch 6. Mexico: Beyond the Wall 7. Venezuela: The Dutch Disease and Decline. Conclusion: One Hundred Years Since Johnson-Reed Appendix A: Legal. Appendix B: F ilms and Documentaries. Appendix C: Seven Other Sources to Help Think. About Immigration. Bibliography. Index