Download MEXAMERICA: Interface or North-South divide? I. Mexamerica

MEXAMERICA: Interface or North-South divide?
Document 1: “The Last of the Meheecans”, South Park episode
Episode number: Episode 9, Season 15
Director/writer: Trey Parker
Duration: 22 mn
Date of release: October 12, 2011
Plot: In the episode, what begins as an innocent game between the boys turns serious when Cartman joins
the U.S. Border Patrol. Not surprisingly, Cartman turns out to be really good at stopping Mexicans.
I. Mexamerica: Illegal immigration, a source of tensions between the two
countries
Watch the episode online and answer the following questions:
1) Describe the opening scene (Characters, place, attitudes)…. What is the name of the game?
(00:37)
2) What happened to Butters/Mantequilla? (3:05)
3) Describe the couple who took Butters in (lifestyle, attitude). What is their present for
Butters/Mantequilla? (3:05 + 6:29)
4) The Couple decides to abandon Butters/Mantequilla in a restaurant. After talking to Butters, the
Mexican workers suddenly change their attitude. Why? (8:56)
5) While they are making sure that no Mexican are crossing the border to go to the US, the two border
patrols discuss on the matter of immigration (11:01). Complete the following quotes:
“They ‘ll do anything they can to …
“And as long this country offers everyone a …… there’s gonna be people climbering to get in”
“ it’s the ……will always be plagued by the needy “
6) The Media alludes to a “reverse immigration crisis”. Explain why. According to your knowledge and
document 2 and 3, could the USA experience such a crisis if a “reverse immigration” happened?
Document 2: Percent of Total Population Born in Mexico
7) How is Butters welcomed in Mexico? (13:12)
8) How does the Mexican politician analyse the situation of Mexico and the USA (15:57)? Use
document 3 and 4 to explain to what extent his analysis could eventually turn out to be right.
Document 3: U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations
Mexico is one of the United States’ key trading partners, ranking second among U.S. export markets and third in total
U.S. trade (imports plus exports). Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the United States and
Mexico have developed significant economic ties. […]
The leading U.S. import item from Mexico in 2013 was motor vehicles, followed by motor vehicle parts, oil and gas,
computer equipment, and audio and video equipment. […] The leading U.S. export item to Mexico in 2013 was motor
vehicle parts, followed by petroleum and coal products, computer equipment, semiconductors and other electronic
components, and basic chemicals […]
Foreign direct investment (FDI) has been an integral part of the economic relationship between the United States and
Mexico since NAFTA implementation. The United States is the largest source of FDI in Mexico. The stock of U.S. FDI
increased from $17.0 billion in 1994 to $101.0 billion in 2012. Mexican FDI in the United States is much lower than
U.S. investment in Mexico. In 2012, the stock of Mexican FDI in the United States totaled $14.9 billion […]
Nearly half of total FDI investment in Mexico is in the manufacturing industry, of which the maquiladora industry forms
a major part. [These] export-oriented assembly plants are closely linked to U.S.-Mexico trade in various laborintensive industries such as auto parts and electronic goods. These plants generate a large amount of trade with the
United States, and a majority of the plants have U.S. parent companies. […] The border region with the United States
has the highest concentration of assembly plants and workers. […] Private industry groups have stated that these
operations help U.S. companies remain competitive in the world marketplace by producing goods at competitive
prices. In addition, the proximity of Mexico to the United States allows production to have a high degree of U.S.
content in the final product, which could help sustain jobs in the United States. Critics of these types of operations
argue that they have a negative effect on the economy because they take jobs from the United States and help
depress the wages of low-skilled U.S. workers. […]
Worker remittances are one of the three highest sources of foreign currency for Mexico, along with oil and tourism.
Most remittances to Mexico come from workers in the United States who send money back to their relatives in Mexico.
Mexico receives the largest amount of remittances in Latin America. Most of the remittances going to Mexico go to
southern states in Mexico where poverty levels are high. […] Remittances mostly or completely cover general
consumption and/or housing. […]
[…] As Mexico moves forward with reform measures to modernize the energy sector and other parts of the economy,
the overarching questions are how the reform agenda will be implemented; whether it will be implemented fully; and
whether it will be enough to drive economic growth among all sectors of the economy, increase employment in the
formal sector, and bring more people out of poverty.
M. Angeles Villarreal, Specialist in International Trade and Finance, Congressional Research Service, prepares
for members and committees of Congress, July 1, 2014
Document 4 : US Trade with Mexico
9) Butters/Mantequilla decides to come back to the USA. What is the attitude of the border patrol when
they see him? Why is it funny? (17:57)
10) Finally, how long did it take Butters/Mantequilla to cross the border? (20:43)
II. Mexamerica: a dynamic cross-border region
11) Use documents 1 to 5 to explain to what extent Mexamerica is an interface.
Document 5: GDP per capita in North America
To go further
Document 6:
“We need immigration reform that will secure our borders, and punish employers who exploit
immigrant labor; reform that finally brings the 12 million people who are here illegally out of the
shadows by requiring them to take steps to become legal citizens. We must assert our values and
reconcile our principles as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. That is a priority I will pursue
from my very first day.”
Extract from candidate Barack Obama’s speech in front of the National Association of Latino Elected
and Appointed Officials (NALEO) while campaigning for presidency, June 28, 2008
12) React to this statement.