University Center for International Studies Center for Latin American Studies
University Center for International Studies Center for Latin American Studies

Border to Border Series: Understanding Borders~Concepts, Perceptions, and Their Broader Impact

Borders are more than lines on a map—they define, divide, and shape our lives in profound ways. While much of the conversation around borders focuses on national boundaries and migration, this series goes further. Borders: Beyond the Lines explores how visible and invisible borders influence our identities, relationships, and societies—whether between countries, neighborhoods, or even within ourselves.

This series will examine the global landscape of borders through a wide lens. We’ll compare migration routes from different regions and uncover the complex realities behind why people move. We'll challenge common misconceptions about migration and spotlight the human experiences behind the headlines.

But our exploration doesn’t stop at geopolitics. We’ll also consider the everyday borders that define access, inclusion, and power—such as those that separate communities, segregate neighborhoods, or enforce mental and emotional boundaries.

 

From forced migration to societal divides, from policy to personal impact, this series invites deep reflection and honest dialogue. How do borders shape not just where we can go, but who we can become?

Series Objectives

  • Explore how borders—physical, social, psychological, and ideological—shape individual and collective experiences

  • Investigate the impact of borders within neighborhoods, cities, and communities, including issues of segregation, access, and identity

  • Examine global migration patterns and the forces—political, economic, environmental—that drive human movement

  • Challenge common misconceptions about migration and who is affected by border policies

  • Reflect on how mental and emotional boundaries influence perception, belonging, and human connection

  • Promote inclusive dialogue on how borders—visible and invisible—reinforce power structures and shape opportunity

  • Encourage rethinking of borders not just as barriers, but as evolving spaces of negotiation, conflict, and possibility

By expanding the scope of our discussion to include borders within communities and beyond nation-states, we invite a broader conversation about how borders shape our collective experience, impacting everyone from the individual to the international level. For more information contact: Luz Amanda Hank at lavst12@pitt.edu

Past Events

Film Screening & Discussion: A Day Without a Mexican

Presenter:
Date:
Thursday, February 20, 2025 - 18:30

Join us for a thought-provoking screening of A Day Without a Mexican, a satirical film imagining the sudden disappearance of Mexican immigrants in California. What would happen to the economy, society, and culture if this essential workforce vanished overnight?

The film explores how borders—whether physical, societal, or metaphorical—create divisions that impact labor, local economies, and community life. The film forces us to confront the human and societal costs of exclusion and reminds us of the vital role immigrant populations play in our everyday lives.

After the screening, join a discussion on the film’s themes and the complex ways borders divide us—beyond just lines on a map.

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Thank you for all who came to this event! If you want to learn more on how the event was, see this story published by Pitt Global!

 
 

Immigration, Activism, and the High Stakes of the 2024 Election—What Now?

Presenter:
Date:
Friday, January 10, 2025 - 18:00

In the aftermath of the 2024 election, we find ourselves at a crucial turning point. With promises to deport millions of Latinos, we face consequences that will impact not just our communities, but the entire fabric of the U.S. and beyond.

This impending social and economic storm will generate forceful opposition, though its shape is not yet determined. In this context, this panel discussion will emphasize these major questions:

  • How extensive could deportations be, and what are the potential economic impacts?
  • How can vulnerable communities protect themselves, and how can allies best support them?
  • What are the global effects of these issues, beyond Latin America and the Caribbean?
  • What can individuals do to help, and how can we effectively fact-check this information?

Join us for a challenging but necessary conversation in a safe, collaborative space that will include academics, community, and activist leaders. 

 
 

The State of Forced Migration in the Americas

Presenter:
Date:
Thursday, February 29, 2024 - 15:00

Dr. Scott Morgenstern (Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Pittsburgh) will moderate a discussion with special guest and presenter, Federico Ríos, an award-winning photojournalist who has published numerous works on Latin America, armed conflict, the environment and its relationship with society. His work has appeared frequently in The New York Times, National Geographic, and other media. Mr. Ríos will specifically talk about his experience in the Darién Gap - an area around the border between Panama and Colombia considered one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.