Vecinos fronterizos: U.S.-Mexico border effects on Mexican-American communities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Tucson, Arizona

Abstract

This research examines how the U.S.-Mexico border informs the experiences of Mexican Americans living in the border region. Through analyzing the data and interviews made available by the Mexicans in Albuquerque and Tucson Integration Study, this paper centers the experiences of second-generation Mexicans through a comparative, qualitative analysis approach to highlight the complexities and nuances of border life. Research findings reveal diverse perceptions of immigration agents among interview participants in Albuquerque and Tucson, South Tucson as a potential enclave for heightened border operations, interactions between police and immigration agencies in Tucson, and the relevance of Trump and the consequences of his presidency as a point of interest among interview participants. This study underscores the historical legacies of hostile state operations in Tucson and challenges conventional perceptions of New Mexico's stance on immigrant communities. By prioritizing individual narratives and engaging with lived realities, this study enriches our understanding of border dynamics and the ramifications of hostile immigration policy and border militarization efforts on the lives of fronterizos.