Documentation

"Show me your papers" is a phrase often coined when discussing the topic of illegal immigrants. What counts as documentation? What is a "green card?" Some form of legal documentation is needed for an illegal immigrant to apply for the deferred action program. The Washington Post tells the story of a man, Queybin Cabrera-Matute, of Maryland, who tries to use his Facebook page as evidence that he has been living and working in America. But is that enough to prove a productive life here in the United States?  The following cartoons analyze the issues pertaining to the confusion of documentation.

 

Team Member Name: Seth Merrill
Publication: L.A. Daily News
Date: October 18th, 2012
Cartoonist: Monte Wolverton (U.S.)
Title of the cartoon: L.A. City Council Proposes ID Cards for Undocumented Immigrants
Cartoon #: 120669
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context? 
The undocumented worker is asking questions to unseen person, who we can assume is someone in a position of authority. The worker is asking how his legal ID is a document, but is not enough to consider him a legal, documented worker. The face off screen is unable to give him a clear answer, saying that "it's complicated."

Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive framing of undocumented immigrants
2) Negative framing of immigration policies
What "reality" is constructed/framed about immigration/immigrants?
This cartoon points out the confusion an immigrant would feel over being able to have an official I.D. but still not be considered a legal, "documented" citizen of the United States. The confused look in the man's eyes shows the sympathetic view by cartoonist over his confusing plight. The off-screen authority figure is framed as incompetent and confusing, and the fact that he is faceless could be a symbol of how the unseen foe to undocumented workers is not any single person, but rather a collective inability by the federal government to provide any real answers regarding immigration reform.

Team member: Manda Perkins
Publication: L.A. Daily News
Date: August 27, 2012
Cartoonist: Monte Wolverton (U.S.)
Title of the cartoon: Top five reasons for undocumented immigrants NOT to have California driver’s licenses
Cartoon #: N/A
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context? 
This cartoon depicts a "stereotypical conservative while male" voicing his opinion on why illegal immigrants in California shouldn't drive.

Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive framing of undocumented immigrants
2) Positive framing of immigration policies
What “reality” is constructed/framed about immigration/immigrants?
On October 1st of this year, California Gov. Jerry Brown passed AB2189, a bill that would allow the Department of Motor Vehicles in Los Angeles to issue driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, under Obama's new administration policy. In an article published by the Sacramento Bee, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants will be eligible to receive licenses.  According to the same article, the bill has been opposed by some conservatives, stating that a driver's license can be used as a form of identification. In this cartoon, Wolverton is making fun of these conservatives, framing them as racists.







Team member: Alex Jeppesen
Publication: Salt Lake Tribune

Date: 2012

Cartoonist: Pat Bagley (U.S.)

Title: We Are Here!

Cartoon #: N/A
What action is taking place in the cartoon? What is the context? A group of immigrants are yelling, "We are here!" loud enough to be heard by an elephant that represents a Republican majority congress.  The elephant seems to not be able to hear the crowd, or is choosing not to.

Tone of the cartoon:
1) Positive framing of undocumented immigrants
2) Negative framing of immigration policies
What “reality” is constructed/framed about immigration/immigrants?
The cartoon is a play off of the popular Dr. Seuss book/movie, Horton Hears A Who.  The Mexican people are trying to have their side be heard by the predominantly Republican Congress who is depicted as Horton, because the Republican mascot is the elephant.  The flower represents immigration reform and is depicting that illegal immigrants are going to have to yell even louder for congress to start doing something about their livelihood.  The Republican stance on immigration reform is generally to tighten up the border and disallow current illegal immigrants to stay in America.  The cartoonist is implying that Mexican immigrants are going to have to yell a lot louder than that to be heard. He is also implying that the elephant is ignoring the overwhelming voices around him that want legal documentation, but the elephant is instead focusing on that which my be irrelevant...the politics of it all.