In this first installment of the “Border Views” video series, Anthropology Professor Cecilia Balli discusses how the U.S. and Mexican governments are united — but also divided — over immigration and border enforcement.
Balli studies the sexual murder of women in Ciudad Juárez, the construction of a border fence and the Mexican anti-drug campaign. She is an award-winning journalist with Texas Monthly magazine and is working on a book about the border fence in the Rio Grande Valley.
Watch two more videos with Professor Balli from the first installment of “Border Views”:
- Video 1: Balli discusses the forces that have brought immigration, violence and enforcement issues to a head this year.
- Video 3: Balli discusses the new models of Mexican manhood and how they contribute to violence.
About the video series
As Americans continue to debate immigration reform, border enforcement and Arizona’s recent legislation, experts from The University of Texas at Austin are offering their viewpoints on these issues through a series of online videos.
Each week, “Border Views” will showcase a different faculty member discussing such topics as the history of illegal immigration, the pros and cons of the Arizona law, the unusual political alliances that have developed around this debate and the media’s role in covering it.
Visit the “Border Views” main page for a complete lineup of our experts’ videos.
Resources for People
Dr. Balli, it is rather contradictory for Mexico to view the migration of Mexicans to the United States as a human right issue rather than what the United States sees it in terms of protecting its border from undocumented entrants. Will someone within your cadre delineates what the official Mexican policy is on undocumented immigration either from Central and South America and even the United States by undocumented individuals in search of employment or residence in Mexico? How are these individuals treated and how are they received? Is there any evidence of human rights violations in the treatment of these undocumented entrants when are apprehended by Mexican law enforcement agencies? I continue to be enlighten by your work Dr. Balli and wish you continued success in your endeavors. BAA
You spoke too carefully on these issues, Dr. Balli. I've been on buses from Oaxaca to Matamoros and have seen how the federales treat the poor salvadorenos. You know as well as I the double-standard that exists here. The truth is that Mexico has little regard for the progress of its poor -- the elite will not share, that's what I've seen. They're mired in their colonialist, Catholic, prejudices.
I agree with both of you entirely. Mexico certainly has a terrible record when it comes to its treatment of Central American migrants. I only meant to dissect in a few minutes the rhetorical debate that the U.S. and Mexico are engaged in around Mexico-U.S. migration issues; I did not mean to suggest that either country is politically or morally correct in its position. Thank you for your input.