Central American migration to Mexico and the United States has attracted significant media and political attention in recent years. These migrants, often portrayed as asylum seekers at the border, are forced into overcrowded and inhumane conditions in detention centers throughout both countries. While addressing the urgency of the present moment, this two-day conference also seeks to shed light on the presence of Central Americans in Mexico and the United States over a longer historical period. Panelists will underscore Central Americans’ contributions by focusing on key aspects of these migratory flows, including the variety of family formations and their integration into local communities; migrants’ participation in social, economic, and political spheres; and migrants’ steadfast work as organizers to create change in their communities.

To view a screening of Los Eternos Indocumentados and a conversation with the filmmaker, Jennifer Cárcamo, please register for Day 1.

Day 2 of the conference will include multiple panels exploring a range of topics, and will be live streamed through the Chicano Studies Research Center Facebook page.

Both days will be recorded for future viewing.

Your RSVP through Eventbrite/Facebook helps us with a headcount, however, seats will be available on a first come, first served basis.

8:30-9:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00-9:15 Welcoming Remarks: Cecilia Menjívar, UCLA

9:20-10:50 Panel 1: Central Americans in Mexico and the United States: An Overview

Leisy Abrego, UCLA
Nestor Rodriguez, University of Texas, Austin
Amarela Varela, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México

11:00-12:30 Panel 2: Family in Mexico and the United States

Carmen Fernández Casanueva, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Superiores en Antropología Social (CIESAS)
Floridalma Boj-Lopez, California State University, Los Angeles
Martha Luz Rojas Wiesner, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur

12:45-1:45 Keynote Address and Box Lunch

María Dolores París Pombo, Colegio de la Frontera Norte

2:00-3:30 Panel 3: Political and Economic Integration in Mexico and the United States

Juan Herrera, UCLA
Arely Zimmerman, Pomona College
Rodolfo Casillas R., Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales (FLACSO)

3:45-5:15 Panel 4: Organizations

Martha Arevalo, Central American Resource Center (CARECEN)
Jose Palma, National TPS Alliance
Representatives of Unión Centroamericana de UCLA (UNICA) and UCLA Central American Isthmus Graduate Association (CAIGA)

5:20-5:40 Closing Remarks: Leisy Abrego, Rubén Hernández-León, and Cecilia Menjívar

6:00-8:00 Cocktail Reception: Plateia, UCLA Luskin Conference Center

Conference: Central American Migration to Mexico and the US (Day 2 of 2)