Ernesto Castañeda

@drernestocast.bsky.social

9K followers 1.9K following 2.4K posts

Director, The Immigration Lab; & The Center for Latin American & Latino Studies; Full Professor, Sociology, American University, DC. Immigration and the politics of the possible. Author of multiple books & articles. Public scholar. .. more

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Political science 36%

Sociology 30%

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Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · Nov 11

"Immigration Realities" is a thorough, research-based #analysis that debunks widespread #myths surrounding #immigration. Its well-supported #insights make it valuable for readers interested in a thoughtful public #dialogue @columbiaup.bsky.social Review here:
www.populismstudies.org/immigration-...

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · Nov 11

Get beyond myths and lies and learn about Immigration Realities.
www.amazon.com/Immigration-...
@columbiaup.bsky.social

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 6h

Happening soon today!

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 6d

Maduro was taken by force by U.S. forces a month ago (January 3, 2026).

On Monday, February 9, I will discuss the causes and consequences at a
Profs and Pints event in downtown DC.

Join a great, curious, and engaged crowd that is always open to learn.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 6h

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Performance - Latino Pride & Political Statement
What I said back in October 2025
youtu.be/0UVgkTKkmAU

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl Performance - Latino Pride & Political Statement

YouTube video by ErnestoCast

youtu.be

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 21h

And here, the full performance.
youtu.be/G6FuWd4wNd8?...

Bad Bunny's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show

YouTube video by NFL

youtu.be

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 22h

The community celebrated with him, and through him, during a challenging time, and thus, in his own eyes, his work and risks were worth it.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 22h

Trusting his team to catch him after he falls backwards from the roof of the casita is a good metaphor about how he knew that Puerto Ricans, Latinos, immigrants, and Americans would have his back, despite the death threats and the need to wear a bulletproof vest during the Grammys ceremony.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 22h

Bad Bunny recently won the Grammy for Album of the Year, is the most-streamed artist globally on Spotify and other platforms, and the Super Bowl halftime show, enjoyed by millions, is as close as any cultural act can get to making it into the mainstream.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 22h

Equally important, the show made Latino kids and teenagers feel proud of who they are. It also made Latinos and non-Latinos, whether they speak Spanish or not, proud of their musical tastes.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 22h

The percentage of Trmp voters was largest among whites. But yes, some Latinos who voted R in 2024, already showed a change of mind in the 2025 elections, and will do so even more in this 2026 midterm elections.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

MAGA proposes that these types of performances threaten US culture. But the USA is stronger than that.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

The positive message about love & inclusivity is a strong antidote to ICE operations & anti-immigrant, anti-Latino discourse. As a Puerto Rican, Bad Bunny is a U.S. citizen, but like many others in the streets, he is racialized & treated as having fewer rights & valid political claims.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

When Bad Bunny was announced, some said they would boycott, that ICE would be present and carry out mass arrests, that people would not watch the show, or that it would go badly. None of that happened. The hate and fearmongering just made Bad Bunny's performance even more special and powerful.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

That is why most people in the U.S. were against ICE and mass deportations before the Super Bowl halftime show. But it could have reached and created empathy, even admiration, for some people who were on the fence, do not follow the news, or live in areas with few immigrants.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

Performances like this help weaken MAGA's political project even without any direct references to the current administration. But most importantly, they are a reminder of what most people can see: that Latinos, Asians & Africans are part of U.S. communities, schools, labs, the art and music scenes.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

MAGA proposes that these types of performances threaten US culture. But the USA is stronger than that.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

MAGA proposes that these types of performances threaten US culture. But the USA is stronger than that.

Reposted by Dan Immergluck

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

Halftime performance showed how most Latinos love America, even if some parts of America do not love them back.

It showed the reality that Latinos and Spanish are part of America's culture, its history, present & future.
As references to salsa show, this is not a new phenomenon but a good reminder.

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rico to the Bay during his Super Bowl LX halftime show on Sunday.

Check out the latest updates from on and off the field at the link in our bio.

@sfchronicle.com

📸: @scottstrazzante @stephenlamphoto.bsky.social

Reposted by Ernesto Castañeda

Rima I Anabtawi @rimaanabtawi.bsky.social · 1d

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

Immigrants are often used as a scapegoat for the failures of big businesses and policy makers. #Immigration #Myths

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

It's difficult to pin it on 1 factor but the main reasons include uncertainty around trade policies - and industries such as tech over-hiring during the pandemic Overall the reasons why Americans struggle are complex but it's factually incorrect to blame immigrants for those struggles.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

So if immigrants aren't to blame for the poor job market then what is?

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

Immigrants often fill jobs that native-born workers don't want while also filling high-skilled roles in tech creating a broader job market Additionally immigrant labor helps fill critical labor shortages supports industries pays taxes and positively contribute to economic output.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

In 2023, when the share of immigrants in the labor force was at its highest, the average unemployment rate for the US-born workers was at its lowest.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

It is a common belief that when immigrants arrive they take jobs from citizens but it is the opposite.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

Many people believe immigrants are to blame for the poor job market, but how true is that? This is Immigration Nuance in 60 Seconds. Today we are covering the claim that immigrants are stealing jobs from US citizens.

Reposted by Ernesto Castañeda

Petra Verdonk she/her @petraverdonk.bsky.social · 1d

Interesting: “We, as Western nations, must choose between becoming closed and impoverished societies or open and prosperous ones. Growth or retreat: Those are the two options before us. And by growth, I’m not talking only about material gain, but also our spiritual development.”

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

Their gross domestic products will stagnate. Their public health care and pension systems will suffer. The only option to avoid decline is to integrate migrants in the most orderly and effective way possible." Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/04/o...

Opinion | I’m the Prime Minister of Spain. This Is Why the West Needs Migrants.

www.nytimes.com

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 1d

"A reason we committed to regularization is purely pragmatic. The West needs people. Few countries have a rising population growth rate. Unless they embrace migration, they'll experience a sharp demographic decline that will prevent them from keeping their economies & public services afloat"

The second reason we committed to regularization is purely pragmatic. The West needs people. Currently, few of its countries have a rising population growth rate. Unless they embrace migration, they will experience a sharp demographic decline that will prevent them from keeping their economies and public services afloat. Their gross domestic products will stagnate. Their public health care and pension systems will suffer. Neither A.I. nor robots will be able to prevent this outcome, at least not in the short or medium term. The only option to avoid decline is to integrate migrants in the most orderly and effective way possible.

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 2d

"Many worry about the deportation of their parents or other family members, some of whom they had been reconnected with for the first time in many, many years. The last thing that we should be doing as a country is targeting and tearing apart families."
www.commondreams.org/views/2020/0...

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 2d

On children, youth and immigration enforcement see post above on "Reunited: Family Separation and Central American Youth Migration." #academicsky #socsky #booksky #audiobooks

Ernesto Castañeda @drernestocast.bsky.social · 2d

Well, we host the Immigration Realities podcast in many platforms
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

Immigration Realities

Social Sciences Podcast · The team at American University's Immigration Lab, led by Dr. Ernesto Castañeda, help us make sense of recent developments, overlooked stories, and the newest research relate...

podcasts.apple.com

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