North America

Abstract

While there is no formalized regional migration governance in North America and little prospect of it developing, there are powerful regionalized effects linked to US hegemony and the interest of US capital. Understandings and representations of migration in the US governance system have had powerful regional effects and shaped responses in both Canada and Mexico. An increased focus on the deterrence that existed prior to the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001 has shaped regionalized responses. The election of Donald Trump as president in 2016 brought nativist and racist rhetoric to US immigration policy and to relations with its neighbours, but ramped up provisions that, unwilling as he was to admit it, were already well established.