Kitty Calavita investigates the interplay of political, ideological, and economic factors in the implementation of immigration law and the treatment of white-collar crime. Her work reveals what these dynamics tell us about power relations and state processes. She examines the everyday dilemmas of immigration inspectors and contradictory assumptions about race, class, and identity. Her research also explores the implementation of immigration policy in Italy and Spain.
Exploring the conflict between immigrants' legal status and the government's push for integration, this book delves into the complexities faced by immigrants navigating societal expectations and legal frameworks. It highlights the challenges and contradictions inherent in policies that seek to unify diverse populations while simultaneously imposing restrictive legal barriers. Through insightful analysis, the author sheds light on the broader implications for social cohesion and identity within immigrant communities.
Documents the internal decision-making processes of the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service - one of the federal government's most secretive agencies and one with huge discretionary powers. This work aims to analyze the links between abstract theories and real-life political institutions.
Reagan's 1986 immigration reform law presented a mix of contradictory measures: while sanctions limited the employment of undocumented workers, other programs increased labor supply. This theme of contradictions and unmet goals persists in today's immigration law. By examining a century of U.S. immigration legislation—from early industrialization to the quota system—Calavita highlights the hypocrisy, subtext, and racism surrounding the influx of European labor. In the Second Edition, the author provides a materialist theory of the state to explain the inconsistent policies that both encouraged and sought to control immigration. A new 2020 Preface contextualizes the historical record within contemporary discussions, particularly in light of the portrayal of immigrants as violent criminals. Susan Bibler Coutin's Foreword emphasizes the relevance of Calavita's analysis to current immigration debates, noting that throughout much of U.S. history, officials actively recruited immigrants despite public calls for restrictions. The motivations were not rooted in social justice or human rights but aimed at economic expansion, wage suppression, and countering unionization. This work is accessible to both new students and established scholars, with a rich documentary record illuminating how current dynamics were established.
