The Effects of U.S. Legislation on Undocumented Mexican Immigration from 1875-2011: Thomas Edison State University LIB-495 Liberal Arts Capstone Thesis (2016)

This thesis was completed at Thomas Edison State University under Dr. Bruce Makoto Arnold in December, 2014.This unbiased study seeks to identify the effectiveness of U.S. immigration legislation and enforcement in controlling undocumented Mexican immigration between 1875 and 2011. The study examines U.S. immigration legislation and enforcement history against historical population estimates to identify shifts in the undocumented Mexican immigrant population relative to U.S. immigration legislation, reform, and enforcement initiatives. The study aims to draw key points from available U.S. immigration and population information to put into context the immigration history (with emphasis on undocumented Mexican immigration estimates between the year 2000 and 2011) leading up to landmark U.S. immigration legislation, and such legislation’s impact on undocumented Mexican immigration in the United States. Results of the study consolidate a broad spectrum of existing qualitative and quantitative U.S. immigration history, immigration law and enforcement, border-control, and population data to contribute a singular and comprehensive overview for reference on the topic of historical variations in the unodcumented Mexican population in the U.S. relative to U.S. legislative initiatives and enforcement.