Impossible Subjects summary

Understanding the Formation of 'Illegal Aliens'

In Impossible Subjects, Mae M. Ngai explores the historical development of immigration laws in the United States. She begins by examining the early 20th century, a time when the federal government began to assert its authority over immigration. Ngai demonstrates how the Immigration Act of 1924 established the national origins quota system, which restricted the number of immigrants allowed from certain countries, effectively favoring Northern and Western Europeans while limiting the immigration of Southern and Eastern Europeans.

Ngai further explains how this racialized immigration policy created the concept of the 'illegal alien' by defining certain groups of people as 'undesirable' and 'illegal'. This categorization led to the criminalization of immigration violations and the establishment of the Border Patrol to enforce these laws, marking the beginning of the modern era of immigration control and the stigmatization of certain immigrant groups.

Impact of World War II on Immigration Policies

Moving forward, Ngai discusses the impact of World War II on immigration policies. She highlights how the war disrupted the existing immigration system, leading to the Bracero Program, which allowed Mexican laborers to work in the United States. Ngai emphasizes the paradoxical nature of this program, which brought temporary Mexican workers to the U.S. to fill labor shortages while simultaneously reinforcing the racialized hierarchy of immigration, where European immigrants were seen as more desirable than non-European immigrants.

After the war, the U.S. began to enforce stricter immigration policies, including the deportation of Mexican immigrants, which Ngai argues was a result of the government's attempt to reassert its control over immigration and maintain the racial status quo. This period also saw the emergence of the concept of 'illegal alien' as a racialized category, primarily associated with Mexican immigrants, further reinforcing the idea that certain groups of people were inherently 'illegal'.

1965 Immigration and Nationality Act

The book then delves into the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, a significant turning point in U.S. immigration policy. Ngai explains how this act abolished the national origins quota system, marking the end of formal racial restrictions on immigration. However, she argues that the act did not eliminate racial discrimination in immigration policy. Instead, it shifted the focus to family reunification and employment-based immigration, which still favored certain groups over others.

According to Ngai, the 1965 Act also led to unintended consequences, such as the increase in unauthorized immigration. The act's emphasis on family reunification, combined with the lack of legal channels for low-skilled workers, contributed to the rise of 'illegal immigration' from Latin America, particularly Mexico. This further reinforced the racialized perception of 'illegal aliens' as non-white, non-European individuals.

Contemporary Immigration Policies and 'Illegal Aliens'

In the final sections of Impossible Subjects, Ngai discusses contemporary immigration policies and their impact on 'illegal aliens'. She examines the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which granted amnesty to certain undocumented immigrants while also intensifying border enforcement. Ngai argues that this approach of combining amnesty with increased enforcement has been a recurring feature of U.S. immigration policy, reflecting the contradictory nature of the American attitude towards immigration.

In conclusion, Ngai emphasizes that the concept of the 'illegal alien' is not just a legal category but a social and political construct deeply rooted in America's racialized immigration history. She asserts that understanding the historical development of this concept is crucial for addressing the complex issues surrounding immigration in the United States.