Impeach the Traitors: Citizenship, Sovereignty and Nation in Immigrant Control Activism in the United States

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-15-2010

Department

Anthropology and Sociology

Abstract

Immigration has been a focal point of acrimonious politics in the United States, with activist groups advocating increased control over immigration taking a major role in shaping public debate. Some groups have moved beyond advocacy of their position to a form of active citizenship that adopts state enforcement functions as their own through border patrol operations in the face of perceived state inaction. This article examines the understandings of nation, sovereignty, and citizenship mobilized by these groups. Underlying the current debate over immigration are at least two different visions of national identity and citizenship. Neo-liberal changes in citizenship and sovereignty are challenged by border protection activists in their defense of the state and national sovereignty in the name of the law.

Publication Title

Social Semiotics

Volume

20

Issue

2

First Page

155

Last Page

174

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