This assignment is based on your reading of “Biden’s Dilemma at the Border.” You will choose one political theme from the list below that you find interesting and compelling. You will then do research on this theme, developing an argument and providing evidence for that argument.
List of themes (students choose one):
Use of brokers, or coyotes, to cross the border;
Increasing diversity of migrants at the US-Mexico border;
Role of humanitarian organizations in aid/assistance/settlement of migrants;
Role of (gang, cartel) violence in Mexico and/or Central America as a push factor for migration;
Role of poverty and/or climate change as a push factor in Central American migration;
Use of immigration as a wedge-issue in U.S. politics;
Tension between U.S. sub-national states and federal government migration policy;
Policy paper on reform of U.S. asylum system.
Recommended Journals (selected list):
Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies;
Journal on Migration and Human Security;
International Migration Review;
Population and Development Review;
Latin American Research Review;
IZA Journal of Development and Migration;
IZA Journal of Migration;
Comparative Migration Studies;
Mexican Studies/Estudios Mexicanos
(Journals must be peer-reviewed to count as scholarly sources). Tip: to see if a journal is peer-reviewed, do a Journal Title Search at our Library web site. https://allegheny.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/jsearch?vid=01ACO_INST:Services&lang=EN
Each essay should include the following:
A theme that is attached to an argument. For example, if your theme concerns migrants’ use of brokers, or coyotes, in crossing the border, you need to make an argument around that theme. For example: While historically coyotes were often connected to migrants through community networks and personal relationships, in recent years the profile of coyotes has shifted; many migrants no longer have personal or community connections to coyotes, which diminishes coyote loyalty to migrants, making the journey more dangerous.
the theme/argument must be backed up with evidence from outside sources.
The theme/argument should connect back to “Biden’s Dilemma at the Border.” The connection need not be elaborate, but you need to make a connection.
Note: You may want to spend some time summarizing the article “Biden’s Dilemma at the Border” in light of your theme. However, be brief with the summary description. I am more interested in the analysis of your theme and how that theme/argument is important to events/ideas developed in the article.
Five outside scholarly sources should be used to analyze and develop the theme you have chosen. Class texts do not count as outside sources, but students should feel free to use class texts and to cite them appropriately. If you have doubts about what I mean about “scholarly sources,” please ask me! I will evaluate your efforts on the clarity of your presentation (writing), the strength and logic of your argument, and the breadth and quality of sources used. Each essay should be about 1500 words, double-spaced, typewritten, and proofread.
