Conflicting Commitments: The Politics of Enforcing Immigrant Worker Rights in San Jose and Houston 1

In Conflicting Commitments, Shannon Gleeson goes beyond the debate over federal immigration policy to examine the complicated terrain of immigrant worker rights. Federal law requires that basic labor standards apply to all workers, yet this principle clashes with increasingly restrictive immigration laws and creates a confusing bureaucratic terrain for local policymakers and labor advocates. Gleeson examines this issue in two of the largest immigrant gateways in the country: San Jose, California, and Houston, Texas. Conflicting Commitments reveals two cities with very different approaches to addressing the exploitation of immigrant workers —both involving the strategic coordination of a range of bureaucratic brokers, but in strikingly different ways. Drawing on the real life accounts of ordinary workers, federal, state, and local government officials, community organizers, and consular staff, Gleeson argues that local political contexts matter for protecting undocumented workers in particular. Providing a rich description of the bureaucratic minefields of labor law, and the explosive politics of immigrant rights, Conflicting Commitments shows how the lessons learned from San Jose and Houston can inform models for upholding labor and human rights in the United States. In Conflicting Commitments, Shannon Gleeson Goes Beyond The Debate Over Federal Immigration Policy To Examine The Complicated Terrain Of Immigrant Worker Rights. Federal Law Requires That Basic Labor Standards Apply To All Workers, Yet This Principle Clashes With Increasingly Restrictive Immigration Laws And Creates A Confusing Bureaucratic Terrain For Local Policymakers And Labor Advocates. Gleeson Examines This Issue In Two Of The Largest Immigrant Gateways In The Country: San Jose, California, And Houston, Texas. Conflicting Commitments Reveals Two Cities With Very Different Approaches To Addressing The Exploitation Of Immigrant Workers--both Involving The Strategic Coordination Of A Range Of Bureaucratic Brokers, But In Strikingly Different Ways. Drawing On The Real Life Accounts Of Ordinary Workers, Federal, State, And Local Government Officials, Community Organizers, And Consular Staff, Gleeson Argues That Local Political Contexts Matter For Protecting Undocumented Workers In Particular. Providing A Rich Description Of The Bureaucratic Minefields Of Labor Law, And The Explosive Politics Of Immigrant Rights, Gleeson Shows How The Lessons Learned From San Jose And Houston Can Inform Models For Upholding Labor And Human Rights In The United States--publisher's Web Site. Work In Postindustrial America -- Implementing The Legal Rights Of Undocumented Workers -- Place Matters : How Local Governments Enforce Immigrant Worker Rights -- Beyond Government : How Civil Society Serves, Organizes And Advocates For Immigrant Workers -- Advocating Across Borders : Consular Strategies For Protecting Mexican Immigrant Workers -- Conclusion : Making Rights Real For Immigrant Workers. Shannon Gleeson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [207]-261) And Index. Contents Acknowledgments ix List of Abbreviations xiii Introduction: Immigrant Labor in the United States 1 1. Work in Postindustrial America 30 2. Implementing the Legal Rights of Undocumented Workers 64 3. Place Matters: How Local Governments Enforce Immigrant Worker Rights 89 4. Beyond Government: How Civil Society Serves, Organizes, and Advocates for Immigrant Workers 118 5. Advocating across Borders: Consular Strategies for Protecting Mexican Immigrant Workers 163 viii Contents Conclusion: Making Rights Real for Immigrant Workers 195 Notes 207 References 227 Index 263 Conflicting Commitments 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Abbreviations 14 Introduction 20 1. Work in Postindustrial America 49 2. Implementing the Legal Rights of Undocumented Workers 83 3. Place Matters: How Local Governments Enforce Immigrant Worker Rights 108 4. Beyond Government: How Civil Society Serves, Organizes, and Advocates for Immigrant Workers 137 5. Advocating across Borders: Consular Strategies for Protecting Mexican Immigrant Workers 182 Conclusion: Making Rights Real for Immigrant Workers 214 Notes 226 References 246 Index 282