Illegal Immigrants and the Liminal Phase

The liminal phase is the second phase of a life transition. It is an in-between stage, after the old role or way of life is left behind, but before the new way has been fully integrated. The liminal phase occurs during a transition such as becoming a member of a group, becoming an adult, or integrating into a new country. Permanent liminality is when the liminal phase is never fully shed and the final stage of incorporation leaves the individual with some features of the liminal stage. Immigrants to the United States will experience permanent liminality due to discrimination within their new country.

In Susan Coutin's article, "Cultural Logics of Belonging and Movement", the plight of Salvadorans serves as a good example of permanent liminality. Many Salvadorans desired to be citizens in the 1990's, but were refused citizenship by the U.S. government. Despite the fact that these Salvadoran individuals may have been fully integrated into their new country, they were not allowed citizenship. Some Salvadoran interviewees stated that they believed they would never be granted citizenship. The Salvadoran people were permanently in the liminal phase, unable to completely shed the factors of their transition into a new country.

In Chavez's book, "Shadowed Lives", a Mexican immigrant named Jorge Diaz, also suffers from permanent liminality. Jorge was an illegal immigrant who lived in constant fear of being imprisoned. He visited his family at Imperial Beach and was afraid to climb the large hills because he believed that authorities would be watching. This constant fear of being caught leads illegal immigrants to be stuck in the liminal phase. They are unwelcome in their environment and so they cannot fully integrate.

Immigrants to the United States would be able to fully integrate without permanent liminality, if the U.S. allowed for their citizenship. In the case of Jorge and the Salvadorans, they were unable to fully integrate because of the restrictions imposed by the government, but they desired to do so. Because many immigrants desire to be fully integrated, integration without permanent liminality is possible, but the United States would have to allow it as a possibility.