geog323 lecture8 Latino presence in the USA partII

Linkages between US and Latin America: 

Linkages between US and Latin America Lecture 8, Part III Geog 313

Migration Network: 

Migration Network Kinship Friendship Paisanaje Voluntary Organization

Characteristics of Migration Networks: 

Characteristics of Migration Networks Memory Acquired new meaning Develop over time Materialized and defined migration network

Kinship: 

Kinship Important bases for migration social organization and family connections. Provides a safe environment for new and future immigrants. Family relationships relations- provide assistance, information, and services. Father-son, brothers, uncle-nephews, cousins, etc. Kinship connection are reinforced through frequent interaction on important occasions. Ex. Wedding, baptism, quinceaneras, death, and births.

Friendship: 

Friendship Are networks created between individuals that grew up together, roughly the same age, and shared a formative experience (church or sports). In this network the assistances include: finding housing, jobs, pooling resources, and borrowing or loaning money. This type of network grows as new friends from different communities are formed through work, housing, and leisure activities. Regional alliances within Mexico also favor the formation of friendships such from Jalisco or Zacatecas.

Paisanaje: 

Paisanaje Origin from the same place is not a meaningful basis of social organization for people while they are in their home country. It becomes meaningful when they encounter each other outside their home country. The strength of the paisanaje tie depends on the strangeness of the environment and the nature of the prior relationship. An example of this network is manifested through fiestas that celebrate a patron saint form their home country. Ex. Dia de los muertos.

Voluntary Organizations: 

Voluntary Organizations This network provides mechanisms that facilitate the formation and maintenance of social ties. Voluntary associations created by migrants in the United States promote: regular interpersonal contact greatly facilitating the process of adaptation and mutual assistance. Soccer is an example of this type of voluntary organization. Create a space. Focal point for social activities. Establish new friendships with people from other places in Mexico. Help immigrants to establish or sometimes reintegrate into a community. Social interaction

Development of Networks: 

Development of Networks Migration networks are valuable adaptive resources in a strange environment. The interaction of people, goods, and information circulation helps create linkages between the Mexico and the U.S. Connectivity increases as the quantity and quality of networks increases. “Social Capital” is created by migrant experiences and knowledge. Ex. where to cross and how to obtain jobs. As networks grow and mature, people’s participation in voluntary organizations increases.

Formation of Daughter Communities: 

Formation of Daughter Communities “Channelization” of immigrants occur as social networks focus increasingly on specific communities. Migrants move to a particular place because that is where networks lead them and provide the greatest opportunity to success. “Daughter Communities” are permanent settlement communities in the United States with specific linkages to communities in Mexico. Allow circular migration Provide a permanent settlement. Provide extensive links between the parent and daughter communities. Changes the Paisanaje networks as immigrants began marrying American or second generations immigrants.

Remittances: 

Remittances Recent studies have focused on the three measures of integration of labor markets in the global economy. The proportion of foreigners in the domestic workforce. The ratio of the domestic force in export-dependent industries and employed by domestic affiliates of foreign multi-national enterprises. Remittances that contribute to a home country’s GNP and provide it with valuable foreign exchange. In this case, they propose using the ratio of remittances to gross domestic product (GDP) as an indicator of integration.

Remittances: 

Remittances Studies of three remittances have often focused on three issues: The wealth- generating capacity of remittances through saving and investments. The factors influencing their flow. The effects of remittances in the recipient economies at the household level. What studies have concluded about remittances is that they have important effects on economic growth trade the distribution of wealth in the home recipient country different patterns of economic behavior

Remittances: 

Remittances Latin America’s economy has become more integrated through trade and investments. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Southern Cone countries, (MERCOSUR). Latin American Free Trade Area (FTAA) Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) However, Remittances have emerged as the leading economic indicator with the most potential.

Family Remittances: 

Family Remittances Latin American migration to the U.S. in the 1970s and 1980s have created new linkages between Individual-individuals (family) Towns-towns (Hometown associations) Cities-cities Countries-countries (trade agreements) Regions-regions (CAFTA) Family remittances are currently one of the most important forms of linkage among emigrant Latinos and Latin America.

Family Remittances: 

Family Remittances Researchers have focused on two aspects of the globalization of remittances: Scope (Stretching)- are the agents in the circular migration such as market intermediaries, governments, hometown associations, international groups, and individuals. Intensity (Strengthen)- relates to the level of involvement of the previous agents in affecting the impact of remittances in the receiving country. In other words, the boundaries of spaces are stretched, and already existing networks are strengthened.

Family Remittances: 

Family Remittances How important are remittances in Latin America? The volume of remittances began increasing in the 1980s. Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua remittances have increased from nearly $1 billion in 1980 to $3.7 billion in 1990 and over $10 billion dollars in 2000!!!! Just in Mexico alone, remittances increased from $800 million in 1980, to $2.4 billion in 1990, and to $6.5 billion in 2000. In Mexico, remittances represents 10% of the total value of exports, nearly as much as tourism.

Family Remittances: 

Family Remittances How important are remittances in Latin America? Remittances in Latin America during 2002 increased by 17.6% reaching over $32 billion. Latin America is now the number one destination for remittances worldwide. Remittances to every L.A. country except Bolivia increased by 10% in 2002 Colombia (28%), Jamaica (27%), Peru (24%), Guatemala (23%), Honduras (22%), Cuba (22%) Dominican Republic (16.9%) EL Salvador (15.4%) Nicaragua (15%) Haiti (15%) Ecuador (10%) Brazil (10%)

Family Remittances: 

Family Remittances How important are remittances in Latin America? In Nicaragua remittances represent ¼ of the national income. In El Salvador remittances have exceeded the total value of exports. In Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, they represent half of the values of exports, and about 80 percent of the value of foreign direct investment.

Hometown Associations: 

Hometown Associations What is the function of HTA? Hometown Associations (HTA) or transnational migrant organizations (TMOS) are formed among remittance senders to coordinate their support not only of relatives but also of their towns. In addition, to retain a sense of community as they adjust to life in the United States. Immigrants have formed community groups to maintain relationships with the home country or with local communities.

Hometown Associations: 

Hometown Associations HTA’s international activities can be described in five groups: Charity: Orientations range from charitable aid to investment. Include the donation of clothes Construction materials for various projects such as churches Small cash amounts to purchase goods for local activities. Infrastructure: raise money for improvements for hometown Streets Parks Build sewage treatment Water filtration plants Buy or maintain cemetery plots Health care facilities

Hometown Associations: 

Hometown Associations HTA’s international activities can be described in five groups: 3. Human development: these activities are orientated toward “human development.” Scholarships Library books Health supplies Medicine Sports facilities Nursery homes Daycares Schools Communal soup kitchens Investment: capital investment for income-generation projects managed by local community members and often supervised by immigrants. Co-ops Credit Unions Other: General fundraising Soccer Games

Hometown Associations: 

Hometown Associations HTA’s international characteristics can be described in five features: Activities: Orientations range from charitable aid to investment. Charity Infrastructure Human development Investment Other Structure and links: Lack of strong organizational structure Lack of institutional counterpart in their home country. Membership is small Connection is through a local leader such as priest. Relationships: Hierarchical: hometown associations communicate their counterparts what to do. Joint Cooperation: both parties in the home and host country organization communicate to define the agenda. Ex. Hurricane Mitch support in 1998

Hometown Associations: 

Hometown Associations HTA’s international characteristics can be described in five features: 4. Decision Making: Financial resources Relationship with home organizations Members preferences Organizational structure Goal and project might change over time Membership available time Needs of the town in the home country 5. Financing: Small economic base Most raise less than ten thousand dollars on overage each year Money raised is sent in cash or materials.

Remittances-Agents: 

Remittances-Agents Who are the players in the Industry? Banks- In El Salvador, charge less than $10 for almost any amount to be sent; but they do not have the same outreach capacity like Western Union. Courier agencies- Western Union or MoneyGram. In 1995, moreover 44 percent of money transactions through MoneyGram took place from the United States to Mexico. In El Salvador, Western Union carries out to a minimum of 70,000 transactions a month worth an average of $300. In the Dominican Republic, the minimum, thus likely controlling at least 20 percent of the flow of remittances. These companies charge significant fees, ranging from 8 to 14% of the value of the remittance. U.S. Postal Services- created its own delivery system offering a lower rate than Western Union or MoneyGram. Hand deliver Third party- encomenderos

Remittances-Agents: 

Remittances-Agents

Remittances Agents-Host Country: 

Remittances Agents-Host Country A money transfer business (one that can wire money to other countries) such as Seven-eleven. The transfer institution collects a fee. Transfer institutions make a profit on the fee commission foreign exchange differential.

Remittances-Host Country: 

Remittances-Host Country

Remittances Agents- Home Country: 

Remittances Agents- Home Country Money transfer agencies establish agreements with agent-distributions in Latin America in order to ensure coverage and efficiency on the receiving end. Commercial banks are one, if not the only, key player in a given market because their financial operations cover large areas and meet regulatory requirements. In the case of Mexico, the largest distributing agents are large banks, such as Banamex, BBVA-Bancomer, HSBC, and BanNorte. In Central America, Airpak, works exclusively for Western Union. Grace Kennedy is Western Union’s exclusive English Caribbean distribution

Remittances Agents- Home Country: 

Remittances Agents- Home Country Recipient country distributors: also play a key role in the remittances. Distributors have made agreements with more than one company. Agents must compete to attract companies to utilize their networks, in so they influence the price. If they increase the fees it would affect the sender.

Remittances Agents- Home Country: 

Remittances Agents- Home Country Banks: play a direct and indirect role in money transfers. Function as agents Serve as intermediaries Operate as depositories for the money transfer companies and distributors agents Banks also charge fees to keep money by the company or distributors agents. Can control prices, fees, and exchange rates.

Remittances-Government: 

Remittances-Government What is the role of government as a player in the remittances? As remittances become a more stable source of income for Latin America, its governments are finding ways to attract more of these funds. Governments are making policies to address the cost reduction in remittance transfers Create an attractive economic environment for various kinds of migrant funds. Central Banks in Guatemala and El Salvador have regulations that are liberal on import duties. Salvadorans are allowed to bring up to $1500 worth of merchandise. Guatemalans are permitted to bring up to $2000 into the country without duty.

Remittances-Government: 

Remittances-Government What is the role of government as a player in the remittances? Other countries have attempted to require that a certain percentage of the earnings of their workers abroad can be deposited into a national fund. Former U.S. Ambassador William Stixrud has suggested that Guatemalan emigrants put up the equivalent of 10 percent of the value of remittances for private investment. The Ambassador argues for the implementation of such a fund with the assistance of emigrants, the government, and international development organizations.

Remittances-Government: 

Remittances-Government What is the role of government as a player in the remittances? Sending-country governments can also stimulate remittances by helping emigrant groups to develop migrant associations. The Mexican gov’t has had formal outreach programs since 1990. The federal programs include the Paisano program and the Mexican Communities Living Abroad (PCMLA) program. The PCMLA operates through the network of 42 consulates and 23 institutes or Mexican cultural centers in the U.S. President Fox in 2000, created a new executive-branch office to interact more vigorously with Mexicans in the U.S. and attract their resources. By late 1998, four hundred clubs were operating throughout the U.S., although most were in Los Angeles and Dallas.

Remittances-Government: 

Remittances-Government What are other programs established to trap the remittances? Remittance bonds: Joint Ventures: Matching funds: Economic development funds: What do you think the countries should do with the remittances?

Latino Presence in The United States: 

Latino Presence in The United States Geog 313 Lecture 7

Paradigms: 

Paradigms Barrioization (external processes): seeks to explain the formation of barrios as an experience of a less-advantaged Latino population staking out a territory which is then overwhelmed by urban diseconomies-poverty, crime, negative lands uses, etc. Barriology (internal processes): describes the process by which Latinos began to reassert control over their neighborhoods through acquisition of political power, mastery of the process of urban planning, and the use of art and muralism to create identity. Globalization: Anthony Gidden defines it as “the intensification (networks) of worldwide social relations which link distant localities (spaces) in such way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa (circular migration)” (1990:64).

Barrioization: 

Barrioization Barrioization (1900-1945): In Southern California and parts of the Southwest. What forces were at work? Increased migration Expansion of cities Increased segregation by Chicanos into less desirable parts of the city. Land values increased Enclaves of cheap rental housing formed around undesirable land in the city. Ex. Railroads, etc. Immigrants settling near ethnic neighborhoods or enclaves. Urban development (1950-1960)- land was seized to build factories, freeways, and bridges.

Barriology: 

Barriology Barriology began with the creation of symbolic activities– parades, holiday festivities, and cultural events as a response to mass deportations and the great depression of the 1930s. Barriology represents a kind of collective decision to find ways to Mexicanize the bland spaces that had become home to the Chicano population. 1) In Los Angeles, activists fought to protect the Oregon and Elysian Parks. 2) In other cities in the Southwest “Chicano Parks” were created in Mexican-American communities. 3) Mexican American cultural centers were created in Balboa Park, San Diego. 4) Murals were painted that transformed ugly space into powerful expressions of Mexican-American identity. 5) Demonstrations were organized to protect a space near an under bridge that was going to be transformed into a police sub-station and a parking lot. Today, Mexican murals cover the pillars and each Spring, a special Chicano Day celebration takes place to honor the community’s struggle to create this importance place.

Globalization: 

Globalization The borderlands, especially in the Southwest U.S. border region is a globalized region. The proximity to Mexico accelerates the socio-economic integration between the two countries. NAFTA created an institutional affirmation of the process of globalization. How? Maquiladoras with ties to U.S. capital and to Mexican labor. San Diego, California is an important example of a globalizing region. Some 3 million people reside in the San Diego region, and about 500,000 are Latino. Combined with 2 Mexicanos in Tijuana-Rosario-Ensenada. The result is a geographical area with 2.5 Latinos/Mexicans out a population of 5 million.

Globalization: 

Globalization Joint-venture capital is now moving free back and forth across the border. Assembly plants exist on both sides of the border. Cultural events are a weekly occurrence as part of the cross-border tourism industry. Identity has been affected by the increased interaction. Traditionally Mexicans immigrants to the United States were looked upon by Mexican citizens as pochos. Pochos, are people who abandoned the homeland and lost their cultural identity with Mexico while falling into a stage of marginality in the host nation. Pochos, in Mexico were forgotten citizens and in the United States were not even citizens. However, by 1980 Mexico discovered the political and economic value of maintaining relations with its more than ten million brothers in the U.S.

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio Barriers Recaptured Space Global Tourism Consumerism Post-NAFTA Housing Invented Connections

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 1. Globalization imposes new hierarchies on the cities such as barriers: The city will grow in function of corporate machines like skyscrapers, freeways, and mega-shopping malls. Exogenous actors will have big impacts in the Barrio; global investors national government corporations large-scale commercial developers

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio What are the barriers in San Diego? In the case of San Diego the barriers that have been constructed have been freeways. They are fundamental to the mobile lifestyle of the region but hamper the barrios. For example, I-5 and I-805 freeways and on/off ramps cut across the heart of the Barrio Logan. Mega-shopping malls- help destroy the sense of place in a “neighborhood” or “community.” Facilities super-imposed by the federal government on the Ysidro community such as fences and walls along the international community. The San Diego-Tijuana wall is 47 miles long and built from metal recycled in the Persian Gulf war. A second wall has been constructed which contains 18 foot concrete pilling topped with metal mesh screens and an experimental cantilevered wire mesh-style fence. The fence/walls runs into the Pacific Ocean. The zone is buttressed by six miles of stadium lights, twelve hundred seismic sensors and numerous infrared sensors used to detect movement Detention center: immigration detention facility sited in the heart of San Ysidro.

Slide43: 

The overall effect of the landscape is to render the San Ysidro border space into a “war zone.” www.latinamericanstudies.org/tijuana-border-1.htm Journey to the USA http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/deadlycrossing/2013872 Conflict http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-06-21-voa62.cfm Gangs vs. Minuteman http://washtimes.com/national/20050328-125306-7868r.htm

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 2. Recaptured Space: Both Barrio Logan and San Ysidro began to fight back as early as the 1970s. In the late 1970s when a police station was going to be build under the bridge in the barrio. Residents erupted in mass protest and occupied the land under the bridge. Began spontaneously building a community park. The city of San Diego agreed to give the land to the community, thus Chicano Park was born.

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio Recaptured Space: Also, the resistance was a global phenomenon Chicano artist and architects began to cross the border and participate in the rebuilding of the barrio during the 1970-1980s; with the statewide coalition of Chicano and Mexican artists; Combined the community and redesigned the space under the bridge by painting giant murals on the pillars of the Coronado Bridge. The Chicano Park became a kind of international landmark for the use of murals as a form of community process Cultural identity Murals on the pillars of the bridge made visual reference to the Mexican history, Latin American, and American history.

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio Recaptured Space: Redevelopment plan seeks to erase the negative imagery imposed by the federal government and recapture the space for local residents. International border zones like San Ysidro can no longer be thought of merely as buffer spaces or defensive edges. Nations need to understand the buffer zones can house people, industry, trade infrastructure, and other economic activities. 34 million vehicles and over 7 million pedestrians cross the gate each year. But the port of entry and surrounding zone on both sides of the border are fragmented by a variety of land use and design problems. Traffic congestions Poor circulations routes Disorganized land uses Conflicts between local interests Crime Public safety Unresolved land development plans

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 3. Global Tourism An experiment to create a Mexican Disneyland just across the border in Tijuana failed. Barrio Logan have never been major destinations in the San Diego region. It could never rival the big-ticket tourism destinations like Seaworld, San Diego Zoo, and Old Town. What to promote in Barrio Logan? City of San Diego is promoting Latin Cultural heritages sites as part of the tourism in the San Diego region. Promote the murals, Chicano Parks, and other Latino businesses. San Ysidro has never been a tourism destination, but rather a gateway into Mexico. A local group wants to build a Museum of Immigration.

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 4. Global Consumerism The culture of shopping malls and a fast-food consumerist culture is part of the globalization of the border. Barrio Logan neighborhood historically has been deprived of any significant commercials sites, like.. Latino developers recognize this gap and have located a new commercial space to be named the Mercado Shopping Center. One of the challenges for the project is in Barrio Logan: How to create a neighborhood design and architecture, Respect the Mexican/Latino qualities of the barrio (murals, parks, gardens), Make it pedestrian friendly Securing loans

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 4. Global Consumerism In San Ysidro, the community faces a massive shift toward the construction of retail malls and shopping centers to capture the large market of Mexicans consumers and visitors passing through the region. The first new shopping mall, Las Americas, built literally adjacent to the international boundary line on the edge of San Ysidro. Las Americas is a three-phase, mixed-use, retail-office complex located ¼ mile west of the San Ysidro-Tijuana border crossing. Phase I is 375,000 sq ft. of open-air retail and restaurant space. Phase II will add another 270,000 sq ft. of retail and restaurant space Phase III is expected to add a pedestrian bridge to Tijuana, new-port-of-entry facility A transit center Hotel Conference building Office space More retail space

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 4. Global Consumerism What are some problems with this development? The project is entirely based to automobiles There is no sense of public space. Private security teams patrol the shopping mall. The project is called a “mixed” use. There is no residential space on the site.

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 5. Post-NAFTA housing Because of the escalating housing prices, Latino Barrios have been forced to seek innovative approaches to affordable housing. Various local and state groups designed affordable housing units in a high-density, but well crafted, residential complex called Mercado Apartments. Mercado Apartments were designed with elements that would maintain the identity of Barrio Logan such as: First, Bright colors of the façade of the buildings to conform with the Mexican tradition of bright colors in urban setting. Second, The architectural style of the complex was deliberately chosen to be similar to the simple “pueblo-adobe” style. Third, the building was intentionally not set back from the street, and it incorporates patios and balconies facing the street.

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio: 

Characteristics of a Latino Barrio 6) Invented Connections San Diego-Tijuana Trolley New Ballpark The San Ysidro Trolley Las Americas Mall pedestrian bridge