Humanizing Migration: A qualitative case study of a Learning Delegation to the United States/Mexico border

Abstract

This qualitative case study used a feminist social justice framework to explore a Learning Delegation to the border of the United States and Mexico as an intervention strategy for increasing social inclusion of migrants and improving perceptions of migration among North Americans. Participant observation, formal and informal interviews, and document review provided data that painted a rich picture of the ways in which primarily white, North American people shift their understandings about migration and migrant populations. The research suggests that there are several concrete ways that people change their attitudes or actions regarding migration. This includes the following: (a) Engaging in direct storytelling and shared human connection with people who were different from them; (b) Being in the same spaces and context within which migration and migration-related experiences happen, and (c) Improving their confidence and efficacy in migration-related advocacy efforts through exposure. An emphasis on local expertise and a sense of responsibility/privilege were also key thematic elements in the data. This study illustrates the potential role for social work to collaborate with immigration educators and advocates for paradigm shifts in North American society. This could foster social inclusion for migrants who are specifically coming into the United States from the southern border.