Dean Johnson Comments on Scapegoating of Immigrants for Sacramento Bee

Dean Kevin R. Johnson commented for the Sacramento Bee on the irony inherent in the way that some Americans embrace aspects of Mexican culture yet blame Mexican immigrants for a wide variety of social problems.  The comments were reported in an article by Bee columnist Marcos Breton describing the apparent contradiction between the party atmosphere of the recent Cinco de Mayo celebration in Sacramento and the fear of the spread of the H1N1 virus, which some in the media were blaming on "illegals" from Mexico.

"It's really ironic how some Anglos love Mexican culture - the drinking, the nachos," said Dean Johnson. "At the same time, some demonize immigrants and blame them for all of our problems."

Kevin R. Johnson is Dean and Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o Studies at UC Davis School of Law. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.