Digital Commons Network^™

Mexican Money Laundering In The United States: Analysis And Proposals For Reform, Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, Charles Lewis, William R. Yaworsky

Anthropology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article explains some of the mechanisms through which corruption by high-level Mexican politicians and other organized crime members is facilitated in the United States through money laundering operations. The analysis is based on information contained in court records related to key money laundering cases, as well as in news articles and reports from law enforcement agencies. These materials highlight the interrelationships among U.S. drug use, cartel activities in Mexico, human rights abuses, Mexican political corruption, and money laundering in the United States. This work demonstrates the pervasive use of legitimate businesses and fronts in the United States as a …

“It’S Not That We Care Less”: Insights Into Health Care Utilization For Comorbid Diabetes And Depression Among Latinos, Sharon Borja, Miriam G. Valdovinos, Kenia M. Rivera, Natalia Giraldo-Santiago, Robin Gearing, Luis R. Torres-Hostos

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Despite robust knowledge regarding the socio-economic and cultural factors affecting Latino* access to healthcare, limited research has explored service utilization in the context of comorbid conditions like diabetes and depression. This qualitative study, embedded in a larger mixed-methods project, aimed to investigate perceptions held by Latinos and their social support systems (i.e., family members) regarding comorbid diabetes and depression and to identify barriers and facilitators to their help-seeking behaviors and treatment engagement. Bilingual and bicultural researchers conducted eight focus groups with 94 participants in a large U.S. metropolitan area and were primarily conducted in Spanish. The participants either had a …

Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening Practices In The United States And Mexico, Maria F. Valdez, Jessica R. Stewart, Ruth Crutchfield, Wan-Lin Chang, Ralph Carlson

Communication Sciences & Disorders Faculty Publications and Presentations

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore screening practices for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Mexico and the United States (U.S.).

Methods: Data from a larger study exploring the knowledge, screening, and diagnostic practices of healthcare practitioners from Mexico and the U.S. was used for the current study. The original survey was created by experts in ASD and consisted of 63 questions: 15 demographic questions, 20 questions relating to knowledge of ASD, 11 questions relating to screening practices, and 17 questions relating to diagnostic practices. All surveys were completed by professionals engaging in the screening and diagnosis of …

Language Proficiency And Use Of Interpreters/Translators In Fieldwork: A Survey Of Us-Based Anthropologists And Sociologists, Katarzyna Sepielak, Dawid Wladyka, William Yaworsky

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The proficiency in vernacular has long been a methodological ethos pervasive among field researchers and—despite new dynamics of fieldwork—still overshadows discussions related to collaboration with translators and interpreters, which are either marginalized or hidden within the category of a ‘research assistant’. The purpose of this study is to take a step beyond anecdotal evidence and explore trends in language proficiency and use of translation services among US based field researchers who had conducted international or domestic studies in an area where a language other than English was present. We conducted the largest-to-date survey on the subject and analyzed 913 responses …

Voces De Mujeres: Migration, Family, & Identity Through The Voices Of Mexican Women, Erika Rendon-Ramos

Mexican American Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

Women have been an imperative part of migration history for centuries. However, it was not until recently that scholars began studying them individually. Before then, women were either not considered at all or were only considered as association migrants alongside their male companions. This diminishes their experience and their agency at each step of the migration journey. It leaves their stories untold while also establishing a swayed narrative that primarily encompasses males. Oral history is an integral part of “Voces de mujeres” because it allows the reader to hear directly from women. Through oral history I explore the reasons that …

Stock Returns, Oil Prices, And Leverage: Evidence From U.S. Firms, Md Ruhul Amin, André Varella Mollick

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper examines how the relationship between stock returns of U.S. firms and WTI oil prices is affected by leverage (debt to total assets) from 1990 to 2020. Results from our fixed-effect regression models suggest that leverage effects on stock returns are pervasive both in aggregate and cross-industry levels, while the mining industry is more sensitive. In addition to the positive oil price effects attenuated by leverage at the aggregate level, we observe stronger marginal effects of leverage only for the mining sector. Being more exposed to commodity prices, the positive effects of oil prices on stock returns in the …

Binational Reflections On Pathways To Groundwater Security In The Mexico–United States Borderlands, Rosario Sanchez, José Agustin Breña-Naranjo, Alfonso Rivera, Randall T. Hanson, Antonio Hernández-Espriú, Rick J. Hogeboom, Anita Milman, Jude A. Benavides, Adrian Pedrozo-Acuña, Julio Cesar Soriano-Monzalvo, Sharon B. Megdal, Gabriel Eckstein, Laura Rodriguez

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Shared groundwater resources between Mexico and the United States are facing unprecedented stressors. We reflect on how to improve water security for groundwater systems in the border region. Our reflection begins with the state of groundwater knowledge, and the challenges groundwater resources face from a physical, societal and institutional perspective. We conclude that the extent of ongoing cooperation frameworks, joint and remaining research efforts, from which alternative strategies can emerge, still need to be developed. The way forward offers a variety of cooperation models as the future offers rather complex, shared and multidisciplinary water challenges to the Mexico–US borderlands.

Empowered Stakeholders: Female University Students’ Leadership During The Covid-19-Triggered On-Campus Evictions In Canada And The United States, Haorui Wu, Marla Perez-Lugo, Cecilio Ortiz Garcia, Frances Gonzalez Crespo, Adriana Castillo

Public Affairs and Security Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

The study of disaster-specific leadership of female university students has been largely neglected, especially during on-campus emergency eviction and evacuation. Based on the COVID-19-triggered, on-campus evictions across Canada and the United States, this cross-national partnership examined the out-of-province/state and international female university students’ leadership during the entire eviction process. Through in-depth interviews, this study revealed the female university students’ leadership behaviors during three stages: (1) pre-eviction: their self-preparedness formed an emotional foundation to support others; (2) peri-eviction: their attitude and leadership behavior enabled them to facilitate (psychologically and physically) their peers’ eviction process; and (3) post-eviction: they continued to support …

Lesson Plan, U.S. History, 11th Grade, Bernice Barrón

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): Economic and Social development of a region. 28B Analyzing information by applying absolute and relative chronology through sequencing, categorizing, identifying cause- and effect relationships, comparing and contrasting, finding the main idea, summarizing, making generalizations, making predictions, drawing inferences, and drawing conclusions.

Lesson objective(s): 1.Analyze the factors that let to the economic development of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. 2.Describe the Labor, technology, crops, and demographics that were used to develop agriculture in the region. 3.Describe how the moniker "The Magic Valley," was used to attract investors willing to farm in the Rio Grande Valley. …

Lesson Plan, U.S. History, U.S. Government, 11th Grade And 12th Grade, Arnoldo Mendoza

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): 6B: analyze the westward growth of the nation, Manifest Destiny • 6C: explain the causes and effects of the US Mexican War and its impact on the US

Lesson objective(s): 1. Analyze the significance of the Battle of Palo Alto. 2. Examine the reason why did the US Forces use that route to go to Fort Texas. 3. Compare and contrast Mexican artillery and US artillery

Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs: PowerPoint, Maps, Primary Sources, Video, Textbook

Lesson Plan, Ap Human Geography, 9th Grade, Jennifer Torres Olmeda

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): History 1A - Analyze significant physical features and environmental conditions that have influenced the past and migration patterns and have shaped the distribution of cultural groups today. History 2A - describe the human and physical characteristics of the same regions at different periods of time to analyze relationships between past events and current conditions. Geography 6B - explain the processes that have caused changes in settlement patterns, including urbanization, transportation, access to and availability of resources, and economic activities.

Lesson objective(s): 1. TLW connect industrialization in the RGV with the prevalence of Latino culture …

Lesson Plan, Mexican American Studies, U.S. History, 9th-12th Grade, Alberto Guerrero

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): 4A,B; 6A; 8A,D; 9A,D

Lesson objective(s): 1. Analyze the impact of the Corrido on border culture and folklore 2. Describe and analyze how the Corrido retells a particular event or course of events and reflects the points of view or bias of its author. 3. Synthesize historical information and personal accounts to create an oral history.

Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs: PowerPoint presentation, Film “The Ballad of Gregorio Cortes”, audio of some Corridos from the border region that deal with border issues like discriminations by parties on both sides of the border, …

Lesson Plan, U.S. History, 8th Grade, Rolando Pineda, Ernesto Martínez, Juan C. Vega

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): 8.6C-Causes and Effects of the Mexican-American War 8.29A- Primary sources on James K. Polk 8.29C-Maps and timeline of the Annexation of Texas, Mexican-American War, & Mexican Cession 4C demonstrate an understanding of the influence of one language and culture on another

Lesson objective(s): 1. Students will need to understand the causes of the Mexican-American War 2. Students will need to analyze the dispute of the Texas boundary of Rio Grande River versus Mexico's claim of the Nueces River from Treaty of Velasco. 3. Students will be able to identify political boundaries of the United …

Lesson Plan, World History, 6th Grade, Josie Herrera

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): HISTORY TEK, WAR & ECONOMY TEK

Lesson Objective(S): 1. TLW Analyze and Explain The Cause And Effect Of Vietnam War. 2. TLW Utilize The Letters of Freddy Gonzalez and Make Inferences of His Two Tours In Vietnam.

Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs: Group or shared paired with extra time.

Lesson Plan, World Geography, 9th Grade, David Quiroz

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): 113.43 c 1) History. The student understands how geography and processes of spatial exchange (diffusion) influenced events in the past and helped to shape the present. The student is expected to: (A) analyze significant physical features and environmental conditions that have influenced the past and migration patterns and have shaped the distribution of culture groups today; (2) History. The student understands how people, places, and environments have changed over time and the effects of these changes. The student is expected to: (A) describe the human and physical characteristics of the same regions at different …

Lesson Plan, Social Studies, 3rd Grade, Lucía Pérez

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): 3.1a, 3.3a,3.5a. 3.17a&b&e, 3.18a&c

Lesson objective(s):

1.The students will learn about the events that lead to the Mexican American War. 2.The students will learn about the local battles that took place in the Mexican American War and their result. 3.The students will create a timeline to show the local battles which took place in the Mexican American War.

Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs: Search information about the war. They may also be given the information. Students can be given a timeline they may organize in chronological order. Students may choose to act …

Lesson Plan, World Geography, 9th Grade, Ernesto Martínez

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): WG.5(A) analyze how the character of a place is related to its political economic, social and cultural elements WG.14 (C) analyze the human and physical factors that influence control of territories and resources, conflict/war and international relations of sovereign nations such as the United States

Lesson objective(s): 1. TLW will describe the formation of the South Texas Border during the period of the Mexican American War 2. TLW identify the details of the Battle of Palo Alto that led to the formation of the South Texas border region 3. TLW explain the significance of …

Lesson Plan, World History, 6th Grade, Sylvia Rodríguez

Symposium Summer 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): 2A, 2B, 19B, 21BCD

Lesson objective(s): 1. TLW analyze and explain the cause and effects of the Vietnam War. 2.TLW analyze and explain the letters of Freddy Gonzalez and how he played a part in the Vietnam War.

Differentiation strategies to meet diverse learner needs: The teacher will make individual copy of graphic organizer to each student. The teacher will give extra time to accommodate certain students. The teacher will allow group work and partner work.

Media Framing, Moral Panic And Covid-19: A Comparative Analysis Of China, South Korea, And The Us., Deena Devore, Sinyong Choi, Yudu Li, Hong Lu

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

COVID-19 is perhaps the single most impactful event defining 2020 globally. Drawing on theory on media typology involving freedom and responsibility, media framing and moral panic theories, this paper examines media coverage on COVID-19 in three countries, China, South Korea and the United States. Data were obtained from six news outlets, Xinhua News, South China Morning Post, Chosun, Hankyoreh, CNN and Breitbart, two from each of the three countries. More than 1,000 COVID-19 related reports, spanning six days (the last day of January to June, 2020) were selected and coded based on common priming themes such as tone, the othering, …

Perspectives On Self-Managed Abortion Among Providers In Hospitals Along The Texas– Mexico Border, Sarah Raifman, Sarah E. Baum, Kari White, Kristine Hopkins, Tony Ogburn, Daniel Grossman

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Background

Following self-managed abortion (SMA), or a pregnancy termination attempt outside of the formal health system, some patients may seek care in an emergency department. Information about provider experiences treating these patients in hospital settings on the Texas-Mexico border is lacking.

Methods

The study team conducted semi-structured interviews with physicians, advanced practice clinicians, and nurses who had experience with patients presenting with early pregnancy complications in emergency and/or labor and delivery departments in five hospitals near the Texas-Mexico border. Interview questions focused on respondents’ roles at the hospital, knowledge of abortion services and laws, perspectives on SMA trends, experiences treating …

Lesson Plan, World Geography, Lauro Luera

Spring Workshop March 2021

TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills): (6) Geography. The student understands the types, patterns, and processes of settlement. The student is expected to: (A) locate and describe human and physical features that influence the size and distribution of settlements; and (B) explain the processes that have caused changes in settlement patterns, including urbanization, transportation, access to and availability of resources, and economic activities. (9) Geography. The student understands the concept of region as an area of Earth's surface with related geographic characteristics. The student is expected to: (A) identify physical and/or human factors such as climate, vegetation, language, trade networks, …

Whose Land Of The Free? Latina Transgender Immigrants In The United States, Luis R. Alvarez-Hernandez

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Transgender women from Latin America are driven to migrate to the United States in pursuit of a place where they can escape violence and discrimination. However, their experience in the United States continues to be one of oppression. Transgender Latina immigrants in the United States are the target of systematic oppression and interpersonal violence that affect their overall health and well-being. These experiences have led many transgender Latina immigrants to assume leadership roles and to organise social movements in demand for their human rights and dignity in the United States. Recommendations are provided for community leaders, policymakers, and academics.

The “Price Puzzle” Under Changing Monetary Policy Regimes, Andre V. Mollick, Adolfo Sachsida

Economics and Finance Faculty Publications and Presentations

This paper examines the “price puzzle”, the rise in the price level following a contractionary monetary policy shock, using monthly US data from 1960 to 2006. Deviating from the standard practice is including commodity prices to “solve the puzzle”, our benchmark VAR contains output, prices, the federal funds rate and M1 money stock, while the augmented VAR includes the 10-year long bond yield. Splitting the sample at October of 1979, we find very contrasting patterns and rationalize them under the changing relationship between money and the funds rate across periods. First, the price puzzle is confined to the pre-Volcker period. …