Former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castañeda Discusses His Book, Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants

Book Examines the U.S.-Mexican Relationship and Offers Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Early Bush-Fox Immigration Talks

Former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge G. Castañeda, who is Global Distinguished Professor of Politics and Latin American and Caribbean Studies at New York University, will visit the Migration Policy Institute to discuss his recent book, Ex Mex: From Migrants to Immigrants (New Press, 2008).

The discussion, sponsored by MPI and the Inter-American Dialogue, comes as the next U.S. president inevitably will have to confront the question of what policies to pursue related to immigration and specifically immigration from Mexico, since Mexicans comprise the largest immigrant group in the United States.

In Ex-Mex, Dr. Castañeda describes the newest generation of immigrants from Mexico, why they've chosen to live in the United States, where they work, and what they ultimately hope to achieve.

Dr. Castañeda, who coined the phrase “the whole enchilada” to describe Mexico’s insistence on the passage of certain components as part of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, also offers an insider's account of the negotiations that took place between Mexico and the United States in 2001 and 2002. 

WHEN: Thursday, May 15, 2008, 4:30 pm – 6 pm (reception follows)

WHERE: MPI Conference Room (Third Floor), 1400 16th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 20036 

WHAT: Book discussion with Jorge G. Castañeda, Mexico’s foreign minister from 2000-2003. Inter-American Dialogue PresidentPeter Hakim will serve as respondent in a discussion moderated by Doris Meissner, MPI Senior Fellow and Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program.

WHO: 
Jorge G. Castañeda, former Mexican Foreign Minister
Peter Hakim, President of the Inter-American Dialogue
Doris Meissner, MPI Senior Fellow and Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program

RSVP: Lisa Dixon, 202-266-1929 or [email protected]