Immigration and migrants' rights in the Americas. Betond. Beyond Law no. 28 de 2005

Migration is by no means a new phenomenon. In the Americas, it has been an essential factor that has shaped societies and culture in important ways. As emigration increased, more complex and diverse flows of persons ensued. People sought to leave their countries in search of better economic opportunities, protection from different forms of persecution, higher status, and education. The arrival of these people enriched the lifestyles of receiving societies, while globalization has deeply impacted migration patterns rendering migration as a viable option for qualified workers. Simultaneously, emigration continues to be a last resort for thousands of people. Information and awareness of the possibilities and ways of life in other countries have contributed to spark the dream of leaving one’s suffering and encountering one’s dream.

Editor’s Introduction

Market Membership without Absentee Suffrage: Transnational Civic Participation of Mexican Hometown Associations / XÓCHITL BADA 

The Urgent Need to Reform a Dysfunctional Immigration System: The U.S. Migration System and its Impact on Mexican Immigrants / ROBERTA CLARIOND RANGEL 

IMMIGRATION POLICY IN THE SOUTHERN CONE: The Mercosur Accords and Argentina’s New Immigration Law / PABLO ASA Y PABLO CERIANI CERNADAS 

New Formulas, Old Sins: Human Rights Abuses Against Migrant Workers, Asylum Seekers, and Refugees in the Americas / ANDREAS E. FELDMANN AND HELENA OLEA