In this discussion we are going to explore how the “shrinking globe” brings everyone into closer contact through work, school, and life. Immigration for economic, social, and other reasons is not really a new phenomenon, but it has been part of the history of the human race since we started walking upright. The difference is that today, large numbers of people can be relocated around the world in a matter of hours. We can see the demographic changes in our communities over night, in some cases. This can create challenges and concerns both for the immigrants and the societies to which they have immigrated. In this discussion, we will consider the Guest-Worker program established by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (1986) and the problems inherent in it and especially faced by “guest workers” who are classified as temporary legal residents, but without the rights of permanent citizens.
Before engaging in the discussion, please read these articles:
•Bacon, D. (2004). Be Our Guests. Nation, 279(9), 22. R
•Palacios, S., & Rubio, K. (2010). Guest Workers’ Working Conditions in U.S. Farming: The Example of Farm Workers from Tamaulipas. Journal Of Workplace Rights, 15(1), 27-46.
In this discussion, we will examine the plight of “guest workers” in the U.S. Please answer the following:
•What are some of the issues Bacon and Palacios highlight in relation to “guest workers” and the communities in which they work?
•What are some of the ways these issues might be addressed?
•What part does the growth of the global economy play in the employment of “guest workers”?
•What are the fundamental issues that impact fair treatment for this population?