From the Bookshelves: Jorge Castañeda, Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants

The New Press has announced the paperback publication of Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants, an examination of the complex issues surrounding Mexican immigration to the United States from former Mexican foreign minister Jorge G. Castañeda. From the massive nationwide rally in support of immigrant rights in May 2006 to protests against the increasingly frequent immigration raids across the country, the public debate on immigration reform has largely centered on Mexican immigrants. Yet, in the United States, we rarely hear the Mexican perspective on the issue. In portraits that defy American stereotypes of who is a Mexican immigrant, Castañeda describes just who makes up the newest generation of immigrants from Mexico, why they have chosen to live in the United States, where they work, and what they ultimately hope to achieve. Drawing on his wide-ranging experience, Casteñeda examines the century-long historical background behind the labor exchange between Mexico and the United States, while offering an insider’s account of the official conversations and secret negotiations between the two countries in recent years. As the public debate on immigration reform continues, Ex Mex is essential reading for all who want to make sense of the complex issue from the Mexican perspective.

Jorge G. Castañeda is the author of several books, including Perpetuating Power, The Mexican Shock  and Utopia Unarmed. Having served as Mexico’s foreign minister from 2000 to 2003, he is currently Global Distinguished Professor of Politics and Latin American Studies at New York University. He divides his time between Mexico City and New York City.

KJ