Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social Workers
The October 2006 Secure Fence Act permitted the construction of over 700 miles of double reinforced fence along the United States-Mexico border. While perhaps not the one intended, the fence is having an impact: the death of migrants attempting to cross the border has increased and the construct of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Columbia University Libraries
2012-10-01
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| Series: | Columbia Social Work Review |
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| Online Access: | https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-x604-cf65/download |
| _version_ | 1819044976731881472 |
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| author | Jen Scott |
| author_facet | Jen Scott |
| author_sort | Jen Scott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The October 2006 Secure Fence Act permitted the construction of over 700 miles of double reinforced fence along the United States-Mexico border. While perhaps not the one intended, the fence is having an impact: the death of migrants attempting to cross the border has increased and the construct of “illegality” is being reified, heightening the insecurity of individuals who live in the U.S. with illegal or undocumented status. In addition, the fence can be understood as a statement of exclusion that leads to the further erosion of societal unity among the people who live within the U.S. borders. This paper contextualizes the political discourse that presumes that the construction of a wall is a viable solution to national concerns about migration and security in the history of cross-border migration and legislation. In so doing it analyzes the fence by delineating its effects on undocumented migrants and the power imbalances already evident within the larger U.S. society. Finally, it concludes by asking social workers to act in accordance with their obligation to promote social justice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:21:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63958241754141459ed7acf30f4a263e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2372-255X 2164-1250 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:21:14Z |
| publishDate | 2012-10-01 |
| publisher | Columbia University Libraries |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Columbia Social Work Review |
| spelling | doaj.art-63958241754141459ed7acf30f4a263e2022-12-21T19:07:26ZengColumbia University LibrariesColumbia Social Work Review2372-255X2164-12502012-10-01344310.7916/d8-svq7-t187Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social WorkersJen ScottThe October 2006 Secure Fence Act permitted the construction of over 700 miles of double reinforced fence along the United States-Mexico border. While perhaps not the one intended, the fence is having an impact: the death of migrants attempting to cross the border has increased and the construct of “illegality” is being reified, heightening the insecurity of individuals who live in the U.S. with illegal or undocumented status. In addition, the fence can be understood as a statement of exclusion that leads to the further erosion of societal unity among the people who live within the U.S. borders. This paper contextualizes the political discourse that presumes that the construction of a wall is a viable solution to national concerns about migration and security in the history of cross-border migration and legislation. In so doing it analyzes the fence by delineating its effects on undocumented migrants and the power imbalances already evident within the larger U.S. society. Finally, it concludes by asking social workers to act in accordance with their obligation to promote social justice.https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-x604-cf65/downloadUnited States-Mexico borderSocial serviceImmigrantsSocial justiceBorder fenceBorder wallPolitical discourseUndocumented immigrants |
| spellingShingle | Jen Scott Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social Workers Columbia Social Work Review United States-Mexico border Social service Immigrants Social justice Border fence Border wall Political discourse Undocumented immigrants |
| title | Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social Workers |
| title_full | Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social Workers |
| title_fullStr | Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social Workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social Workers |
| title_short | Fencing Fears: The United States Border Fence and the Responsibility of Social Workers |
| title_sort | fencing fears the united states border fence and the responsibility of social workers |
| topic | United States-Mexico border Social service Immigrants Social justice Border fence Border wall Political discourse Undocumented immigrants |
| url | https://academiccommons.columbia.edu/doi/10.7916/d8-x604-cf65/download |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jenscott fencingfearstheunitedstatesborderfenceandtheresponsibilityofsocialworkers |