The limits of rights: claims-making on behalf of immigrants

Voss, Kim; Silva, Fabiana; Bloemraad, Irene

doi:10.1080/1369183x.2018.1556463

Cited by 15 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…On the contrary, previous research about pro-immigrant sentiment shows that supporters of undocumented migrants advocate for them by using discourse that ultimately excludes immigrants who are seen as undeserving (Patler 2018;Pelaez Lopez 2018;Sati 2020;Voss, Silva, and Bloemraad 2020). These discourses often create an image of deserving undocumented immigrants as economic actors and/or as vulnerable victims (Viladrich 2019).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“Of Course We Need to Help the Undocumented Immigrants!”: Twitter Discourse on the (Un)deservingness of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Morales

Farago

2021

Sociological Perspectives

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Undocumented individuals in U.S. society have been barred from access to federal economic relief during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Increased visibility of the vulnerability of undocumented individuals may provide a window of opportunity for inclusive policies. On the contrary, previous research about pro-immigrant sentiment shows that supporters of undocumented migrants advocate for them by using discourse that ultimately reifies their exclusion. The current study uses Twitter data collected from March to July 2020 to examine public discourse on undocumented immigrants during the pandemic. Our research question is: “How do Twitter users frame deservingness of undocumented immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic?” We find that: (1) relief for undocumented immigrants continues to be contingent even in times of crisis, (2) economic productivity is a prerequisite of deservingness, and (3) anti-immigrant frames that scapegoat immigrants are flexible to the political and public health conditions of a historical period. Implications for policy are discussed.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

“Of Course We Need to Help the Undocumented Immigrants!”: Twitter Discourse on the (Un)deservingness of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Morales

Farago

2021

Sociological Perspectives

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“…Alternative appeals to Americanness might sway hearts and minds in more inclusive ways. Voss, Silva, and Bloemraad (2020) use a survey experiment to investigate whether the language of human rights, civil rights or American values is efficacious for building public support to address undocumented migrants' basic human needs. Rights language has been central to claims-making for American social movements since the protest waves of the 1960s.…”

Section: Framing and Collective Identitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conversely, a unique touchstone for collective action in the United States is the legacy of the civil rights movement. The tactics, language, aspirations and even, sometimes, leadership of the civil rights movement influence the U.S. pro-immigrant movement, even if framing immigration issues as 'civil rights' is not a resonant appeal Voss, Silva, and Bloemraad 2020). Such legacy effects are not directly available in other Anglo-settler countries or continental Europe.…”

Section: Understanding Variation In Mobilisation Across Contextsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement or moment? Lessons from the pro-immigrant movement in the United States and contemporary challenges

Bloemraad

Voss

2019

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

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This introduction to the special issue takes stock of the current state of the pro-immigrant movement in the United States. It begins by reflecting back on the massive demonstrations for immigrant rights that swept the U.S. in 2006 and considers whether they should be seen as one episode in a broad, long-term immigrant movement, or just a remarkable but ephemeral moment of spontaneous political action. We contend that a true social movement on behalf of immigrants exists in the United States, with an arc of successes and failures over time. Using both an empirical and theoretical lens, we draw on the interdisciplinary articles in this volume to examine the movement in the years since the 2006 protests. We note that existing scholarship on social movements has not yet fully grappled with the way citizenship and migration status challenge core concepts in the field, and we advance that project. We end by speculating on what might be unique to the United States, and what more general lessons we can draw to better understand the successes and failures, as well as future prospects, of mobilisation and advocacy by and on behalf of immigrants, in the United States and elsewhere.

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“…Advocacy organisations that develop strong relations with federal officials can stand a better chance to influence policy while also gaining valuable information about the inner workings of government. Lastly, discursive resources allow actors to produce politically resonant discourses and ensure their dissemination to a broad public (Voss, Silva and Bloemraad 2020). These resources include intimate understandings of the national culture, skills to craft persuasive and resonant messages, and connections to the press (journalists, editors, producers) that permit wide diffusion.…”

Section: Nationalising and Professionalising Social Movement Organisationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Going national: how the fight for immigrant rights became a national social movement

Nicholls

Uitermark

Haperen

2019

Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies

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The immigrant rights movement in the United States evolved from largely localised and grassroots struggles in the 1990s into a coherent and coordinated national social movement in the late 2000s and 2010s. Scaling up in this way is challenging because grassroots organisations tend to lack the resources needed to operate at the national level over an extended period. This paper examines how this movement overcame the obstacle by focusing on role of national organisations in concentrating key resources (money, political capital, discursive power) and developing a national social movement infrastructure. The consequences of this process are shown to be paradoxical: While it enabled potent advocacy in the national political arena, the concentration of resources generated constraints on strategies and tactics, inequalities, and conflicts between different factions of the movement. This article describes the process by drawing on interviews with key stakeholders, tax files, newspapers, foundation documents, and White House visitor records.

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The limits of rights: claims-making on behalf of immigrants

Cited by 15 publications

References 28 publications

“Of Course We Need to Help the Undocumented Immigrants!”: Twitter Discourse on the (Un)deservingness of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“Of Course We Need to Help the Undocumented Immigrants!”: Twitter Discourse on the (Un)deservingness of Undocumented Immigrants in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Movement or moment? Lessons from the pro-immigrant movement in the United States and contemporary challenges

Going national: how the fight for immigrant rights became a national social movement

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