[KR: We’re back, after a bit of a break in the month of May. Below is a discussion that occurred on a Latino Politics listserv, provoked by a question by David Ayon at Loyola Marymount (LA). The Obama candidacy has opened up many questions about race, and it also has the potential to open up important discussions about what it means to be an “immigrant.”]

Based on a Politico story from June 10:
“… Becerra, who represents heavily Hispanic East Los Angeles, … said he’s hopeful that Obama’s personal story — as the son of an immigrant who struggled to fit in — will transcend racial boundaries and that the candidate’s positions on health care, education and immigration will lead to an instant connection with Hispanic voters.”

DAVID AYON (LMU) wrote:
“Is it relevant or nitpicking to point out that Obama is not really the “son of an immigrant”? His father was a foreign student who returned to his country after finishing his studies. Obama has a great personal story and wide-ranging experience, but I would not consider it part of the immigrant experience in a meaningful way.”

KARTHICK RAMAKRISHNAN (UCR):
Interesting question, David, and your concern seems to touch on
different conceptions on what constitutes an “immigrant”–either a
narrow legal definition (where temporary visas don’t count), or a more
subjective definition based on behavior.

On the latter, one can look at number of years in a country, but one may
also include home country ties, language skills, transnational political
interest, etc. If transnational engagement is a benchmark, that would
make Obama’s transnational interest in politics stronger than that of
your typical immigrant today, let alone a second-gen immigrant.

I wouldn’t go so far as to call Obama our first “immigrant” major-party
candidate, but he comes as close as anyone in recent memory to have a
foreign-born parent. Does anyone know if there is any POTUS from the
19th or 20th century with a foreign-born parent?

Obama could also be the first one with a significant emigre experience,
although perhaps there are those from military families who have spent
more years abroad.

RODOLFO ESPINO (ASU):
Perhaps, it is nitpicking on my part to point out the “immigrant experience” is very much shaped by place and time. I have not read the N biographies written about Obama to know enough about his upbringing. Was he raised as the son of an immigrant or not? But to essentialize the immigrant experience in the way that defines it by Obama’s father is something that can be very problematic.

What defines the immigrant experience? Is it defined as not having a foreign-born parent enrolled in college and/or not having a foreign-born parent who returns to their home country?

Many people migrate to the United States with the intention of eventually returning. Some return within several years. Some return within several decades. Some never return. Is it only the children of that latter category the ones we would consider to be the sons and daughters of immigrants?

Many people migrate to the United States for differing reasons. Some come to receive an education. Some come to program software. Some come to be with family members. Some come to harvest our fruits and vegetables. Is it only the children of that latter category the ones we would consider to be the sons and daughters of immigrants?

That said, I think you would have reason to nitpick if McCain starts being referred to as a 1st generation Panamanian immigrant.

OTHERS WEIGHED IN WITH OTHER CONTEMPORARY AND HISTORICAL EXAMPLES:
Jeronimo Cortina (UH): Two recent examples of a 2nd generation politician and of an “immigrant” politician: Romney’s father was born in Chihuahua and McCain in Panama. I know that at that time the Canal was under US jurisdiction, however if you apply a pure legalistic interpretation of the law you could make an argument that McCain was not born in US soil.

Louis DeSipio (UCI):
No guarantee that this is a complete list — Woodrow Wilson’s and Thomas Jefferson’s mothers were born in England and Andrew Jackson’s mother was born in Ireland.

Chris Garcia (UNM):
Herbert Hoover’s mother Hulda Hoover, was born in Ontario, Canada. Both of Andrew Jackson’s parents were born in Ireland. The mothers of Thomas Jefferson and Woodrow Wilson were English-born. James Buchanan and Chester A. Arthur had Irish-born parents.