From the lucky land to the beautiful country: Illegal immigration of Fujianese to the United States

<p>It is puzzling why Fujianese are willing to pay seventy thousand dollars, which could entitle them to a comfortable life in China, to be smuggled to the United States. Despite the voluminous body of research, the life of Fujianese illegal immigrants has not been systematically explored. This study confirmed that people smuggling is a phenomenon that combines cultural, economic, and political factors. Furthermore, Fujianese who came to seek an American dream have lost something much more valuable than what they have gained, such as their youth and family connections.</p> <p>In addressing the smuggling strategies, causes, and experiences of Fujianese immigrants, this thesis has relied on interviews with former illegal immigrants from Fujian Province, China, as well as literature reviews. The respondents in this study are average people among tens of thousands of illegal immigrants. Their true stories provide a vivid picture of Fujianese emigration.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Open Access Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology

Year

2005

Author dc:creator

• Lin, Miao

Contributors dc:contributor

• Paul Leighton, PhD, Chair
• Liqun Cao, PhD
• Roger Kernsmith, PhD

• Illegal aliens
• United States
• Chinese Americans social conditions
• Criminology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.emich.edu/theses/25

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.emich.edu:theses-1024