Jimmy Patiño, an author, and professor at the University of Minnesota, will be at Iowa State at 7:00 on February 11th in the South Ballroom of the Memorial Union. Patino is the author of Raza Si, Migra No: Chicano Movement Struggles for Immigrant Rights in San Diego.

His book highlights the immigration of Mexican-American’s during the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, and how the Border Patrol exerted violence on people crossing the border. Patino is a native of Texas, who grew up listening to the stories from his grandparents about living during the era of Mexican-American segregation. The stories he was told as a child, inspired his work as an adult.

“Patino takes this contemporary issue of immigration reform and he tells it from the perspective of someone who is on the ground,” said Brian Behnken, an associate professor of history and the coordinator of the lecture.

“He encourages people to push back against the common narrative. As an educator, I hope students take away a more realistic understanding of who immigrants are,” said Behnken.

Patino’s lecture will discuss misconceptions surrounding immigrants and their status in the United State’s today.

“He shows the flaws with deportation and shows how immigration is a debate that is misunderstood. ‘Immigrants’ is a blanket term, and Jimmy does a great job of giving a personal perspective.”