An Interview With Dr. Rodriguez

A Conversation on Immigration and Shame with Dr. Nestor Rodriguez a Professor of Sociology at the University of Houston
by Dana Guzman, MSW Student at the University of Houston

I had the opportunity to interview Dr. Nestor Rodriquez on June 11, 2008. Dr. Rodriguez agreed to share his knowledge on the topic of immigration. He is an immigration researcher and professor. Here is information on some important issues surrounding immigration.

Dana: What are general perceptions from immigrants without valid documentation?
Dr. Rodriguez: Many people who come here without a visa clearly understand that they are here without a visa and therefore are illegal or (ilegal). In my own research, people that are here without authorization (see themselves or classify themselves as being illegal) do not necessary translate this into being criminal. People make a distinction between an infraction such as crossing the border without a visa, which is a misdemeanor, and doing criminal behavior which is injurious or very serious. People without legal documentation may see it more as an infraction like when you are speeding on the freeway or overstay at a parking meter. Someone may have committed an infraction but they will probably not go home feeling like a criminal.

Dana: Are there any common Stereotypes about immigrants (with or without valid documentation)?
Dr. Rodriguez: There are of course stereotypes given out through the media or by groups that have anti-immigrant agendas. Most common is that immigrants come here to get on welfare. There are laws (especially the 1996 Immigration Act) that excludes immigrants from everything except emergency services. A long list of stereotypes include that they come here to get on welfare, commit crimes or just about what immigrants are supposed to be doing here.

Dana: What does the research say about what immigrants are doing here in the United States?
Dr. Rodriguez: In any population you find a percentage that is deviant, obviously you might find some immigrants who have this behavior. People who really specialize in deviance and immigration find that the most serious crimes tend to go down in areas where there are more immigrants. This does not surprise me because immigrant concentrations or neighborhoods have many family units. The family unit is a major source of normative behavior especially when family leaders are promoting family values.

Dana: Can immigrants experience shame?
Dr. Rodriguez: I have not had any immigrants come to me and say that they felt shame. Most of the time people talk about not being recognized for the sacrifices they made to come here. Shame may come more from discrimination. For example, discrimination on Mexican/Latino people may cause them to conceal their identities. You can find shame at times among the young children of immigrants. I have teachers in my classes that tell me that they have children in their classes who have parents from Mexico, for example, that express shame about being originally from Mexico. They put Mexico down in the classroom and they say that they don’t want to go to Mexico because it is such a dirty place. There you begin to detect shame because it is a reaction to a stigma that you are an immigrant or Mexican. Sociologically, it is a reaction to a stigma. Shame is what people try to put you through and it is an assumption. It is a way to control, punish, exclude, or regulate you. People then react with certain behaviors to cope with the stigma of being Mexican.