North American Integration

4   Immigration and Institutional Voids

North American Citizenship and Human Rights in Conflict

Emma R. Norman

INTRODUCTION

Regional integration promises to open up borders, expand the mobility of persons and resources, institutionalize multilateral cooperation fostering security and prosperity, and multiply arenas of belonging, encouraging more inclusive collective identities. In the North American case at least, these promises have rung increasingly hollow.¹ Unequal relationships between states were built into regional agreements at their inception, and the priority of national interests, especially security, has continued to confound cooperation. Harsh attempts to resolidify borders have ensued. In consequence, large groups remain excluded, ...