Myths and Realities of Latin American Immigration to the United States: History, Economics and Conflicts

Many myths have been perpetrated in the debate
over Latin American immigration to the United
States. The topic is so politicized that diatribes and
strong feelings overwhelm reasonable discussion
and effective policies. This lecture series examines
the historic, demographic, economic and socio-
political evidence in an effort to dispel myths and
identify realities.

January 15: Just the Facts, Ma’am: Historical
Dynamics of Latin American Immigration
to the U.S.
After constructing an initial list of common myths,
this lecture will explore the historic roots and
demographic trends that shape Mexican (and then
Latin American) immigration to the United States.
By focusing on the 4W questions about immigration
—Who, Where (from and to), When and Why— we
develop a rich and nuanced picture of migration
dynamics that helps to demystify the phenomena
and dispel many of the common myths.

January 29: Above and Beyond the Economics:
How Conflicts, Climate Shocks and Customs Shape
Migration and Migrant Outcomes
This lecture examines the key factors that drive
migration and shape the experience of Latin
American people coming to the U.S. The focus
will be first on individual and household economic
motivations and dynamics. Then we delve into the
role of violent conflicts and cartels, climate shocks
and finally border and migration policies. Combined,
these drivers help to explain what happens to Latin
Americans making perilous journeys to seek a better
life in the U.S.

February 12: Keeping Score: Who Wins, Who Loses
and Why Should We Care About Latin American
Immigration
Latin American immigration has intriguing and
complex economic effects on wages, prices,
employment, incomes and business formation,
as well as on public finances and expenditures.
This lecture explores who wins, who loses, by
how much and what can be done to manage the
negative distributional effects on workers and some
communities, while acknowledging the ways our
economy and society benefit from the inflow of
workers and entrepreneurs.

February 26: Options for Better Managing
Latin American Immigration to Help People
and Communities in the Americas
After recapping the realities of Latin American
immigration, this lecture discusses a wide range of
direct and indirect policies related to migration. We
explore how these policies mitigate challenges and
enhance opportunities associated with immigration.
We consider policy options at local, state, federal and
international levels to identify ways to honor the Statue
of Liberty’s promise of welcoming immigrants while
addressing the needs and concerns of current citizens.