Covering more than one hundred years of American history, Walls and Mirrors examines the ways that continuous immigration from Mexico transformed—and continues to shape—the political, social, and cultural life of the American Southwest. Taking a fresh approach to one of the most divisive political issues of our time, David Gutiérrez explores the ways that nearly a century of steady immigration from Mexico has shaped ethnic politics in California and Texas, the two largest U.S. border states.

Drawing on an extensive body of primary and secondary sources, Gutiérrez focuses on the complex ways that their pattern of immigration influenced Mexican Americans' sense of social and cultural identity—and, as a consequence, their politics. He challenges the most cherished American myths about U.S. immigration policy, pointing out that, contrary to rhetoric about "alien invasions," U.S. government and regional business interests have actively recruited Mexican and other foreign workers for over a century, thus helping to establish and perpetuate the flow of immigrants into the United States. In addition, Gutiérrez offers a new interpretation of the debate over assimilation and multiculturalism in American society. Rejecting the notion of the melting pot, he explores the ways that ethnic Mexicans have resisted assimilation and fought to create a cultural space for themselves in distinctive ethnic communities throughout the southwestern United States.

David G. Gutiérrez is Assistant Professor of History at the University of California, San Diego.

"A vibrant and sophisticated addition to Chicano history. . . . Gutiérrez constructs a synthesis of Chicano history—focusing on California and Texas—in which immigration is the force that constantly reformulates the Mexican American community. . . . Walls and Mirrors is skillfully written, meticulously researched, and passionately argued."—Western Historical Quarterly

"A comprehensive analysis of the historical context in which Mexican Americans define their political culture and ethnic identity in response to both immigration and other political issues. . . . provides a significant contribution to an understanding of the complexity of political culture and ethnicity within the Mexican American community."—Multicultural Review

"Gutiérrez's provocative study of Mexican Americans and Mexican immigrants, Walls and Mirrors, could not have come at a more timely moment. As immigration again comes to the forefront of public debate, as the role of immigrants, both documented and undocumented, again comes under scrutiny, Gutiérrez provides us with a well-researched investigation of the issues surrounding immigration, but from a different perspective than most. It is a look at the debate from within the Mexican American community, and it sheds light on a number of significant issues. . . . Thought-provoking."—H-Net Reviews

"Gutiérrez's prodigiously researched and well-written book deals with race and immigration in an innovative way, with productive results."—Choice

"By analyzing political views and cultural choices [Gutiérrez] shows that the line between alien and citizen is not always so distinct. In exploring 100 years of Mexican immigration, the book effectively probes many angles of 20th-century Southwest history."—Books of theSouthwest

"Addresses the important topic of how the relative fissure between United States citizens of Mexican descent and Mexican immigrants has been dealt with by community political organizations. . . . Throughout, Gutiérrez problematizes approaches to Mexican American political history that rely on representative generations. . . . The book is well researched and quite topical."—Journal of American History

"Expertly blends the important topics of immigration and the construction of ethnic identity. It is sure to become required reading for anyone interested in these subjects."—Journal of American Ethnic History

"A highly readable book based on sound research and full of questions about, and insights into, the nuances of ethnicity in American politics and society."—SAGE Race Relations Abstracts

Winner, W. Turrentine Jackson Prize for the best first book published by a beginning professional historian, Western History Association