SANCTUARY REGIONS AND THE STRUGGLE FOR BELONGING AND RECOGNITION AMONG UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract

This thesis argues that local governments and institutions across the state of California that offer various forms of sanctuaries to undocumented immigrants create what I call ‘sanctuary regions’. These regions create a ‘safe zone’ for undocumented immigrants and facilitate their ability to make claims for human rights. This dissertation also argues that these regions create an important form of resistance to federal state authority in terms of immigration and the management of borders – something that is typically attributed to state power in the study of International Relations (IR). Through the analysis of sanctuary movements across the state of California, interviews with local organizers and undocumented immigrants; and the analysis of stories published and written by undocumented immigrants, I make three major conclusions. One, sanctuary policies that provide greater protection to undocumented immigrants facilitate the path for them to acquire rights, access services and perform acts of citizenship. Second, the regional dynamic of these sanctuary regions makes them more powerful in contesting state authority on deportation and immigration policy. Finally, citizenship is performed by undocumented immigrants in these regions based on their sense of belonging and contributions to the communities within sanctuary regions. Through my analysis, this dissertation also theorizes the potential for non-state-based citizenship and the conditions which allow certain individuals to access human rights and citizen rights by advocating to local governments and institutions.