North of El Norte

Undocumented. In popular perception and most research, the term connotes movement to and from the United States. North of El Norte provides an important counterpoint by examining a lesser-known migration route: that taken by contemporary Mexican migrants to Canada.

Paloma Villegas examines the changing landscape of Canadian immigration policy and practice, and the implications for Mexican migrants who lack permanent resident status or citizenship. Her analysis takes into account the context in Mexico, the experience of border crossing, policies to restrict migration, and options available to Mexican migrants to achieve secure status in Canada. Villegas also provides an assessment of the barriers migrants encounter once in Canada, specifically in the labour market, in their creative pursuits, and in accessing health care.

Drawing on interviews, policy documents, media descriptions, and literature from local social service organizations, North of El Norte concludes that migration – and by extension migrant illegalization – is assembled, produced, and negotiated. The comprehensive research in this book sheds light on how individuals and institutions work to illegalize migrants through the production and circulation of discourse such as policies, media accounts, and speeches, and on migrants' active resistance to these efforts.