Migrant Imaginaries

Alicia Schmidt Camacho's book Migrant Imaginaries can speak on anti-immigration sentiments through the unique perspective that she writes from.  She sheds light on the fact that Americans today are not only anti-immigration, but also have a false sense of entitlement.  It reminds me of the discussion we had during the beginning of the semester about West Side Story.  The "Jets" although made up of several different immigrant backgrounds feel they are entitled to the turf because they were there first and are "natives", while the Puerto Rican gang the "Sharks," has just immigrated to the land.  However in Migrant Imaginaries, Camacho portrays the opposite point of view, where these mexican immigrants, who were originally the natives, are being discriminated from land that was originally theirs. American feel entitled to this land because of their dominance in the Mexican-American War.  It is this point of view that coins the phrase "we didn't cross the border, the border crossed us."  In both cases, Camacho reminds us that it is important to remember that (with the exception of American Indians) everyone comes from a background of immigration and that everyone should be entitled to the opportunity to be treated fairly and earn a living in America.

In this scene from West Side Story, the two gangs discuss the terms of a rumble, and argue over the origin of their land dispute.  Members from both gangs throw around racial slurs, and ask each other "who asked you to move here?":

West Side Story