The Disposable Worker: Historical and Comparative Perspectives on Clandestine Migration

Clandestine immigration is cyclical in nature as a result of the institutionalized absorption and expulsion of workers as determined by labor needs in the host country. The historical relationship between the US and Mexico (which continues to the present day) demonstrates this, and the article argues that Mexican immigrants as are used as a “reservoir” of cheap labor, focusing on economics in the American Southwest. The article discusses the volume and impact of migration flows, the controversy around migration in times of economic recession, and proposed solutions to the issue of clandestine migrants.

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