Event Details

"Why Immigration Reform is So Difficult," a talk by Anthropologist Leo Chavez of University of California - Irvine, marks the fourth annual David W. McCurdy Lecture. The David W. McCurdy Distinguished Anthropology Lecture series brings to campus leading scholars in all areas of anthropology. Reception following in Weyerhaeuser Board Room.

Immigration has been a hot-button political issue for decades. The campaign for 2016 presidential election witnessed high levels of anti-immigrant rhetoric, especially anti Mexican. While there is a clear need to develop immigration reform, particularly for the undocumented youth known as “Dreamers,” there has been little movement in Congress toward this end. This talk examines factors that complicate the ability to agree on immigration reform. These factors include understanding the reasons why people migrate, the demand for immigrant labor, the effect of population growth and birth rates, fear of demographic change (“the browning of America”), and the pervasiveness of the Latino threat narrative, which characterizes Latinos as criminals, unable to assimilate, an economic drag on the economy, and “anchor babies.” Professor Chavez received his Ph.D. from Stanford University and is currently a professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Irvine.

Reply requested for reception to help plan food, but you are welcome to come even if you did not reply.