By Paula Zepeda
This December, the fourth edition of Understanding Immigration Law will be published, with Phi Beta Kappa member Kevin R. Johnson, Mabie-Apallas Distinguished Professor of Law at University of California, Davis, as one of the co-authors. He explained that the decision to update the book reflects changes in the law and court decisions under the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as shifts in presidential policies. “We wanted to keep Understanding Immigration Law current and to analyze some of the changes for readers,” Johnson stated.
The book explores the intellectual, historical, and constitutional components of the U.S. immigration law system, examining various factors, including economic ones, that have historically influenced migration policies in the United States. Johnson co-wrote the book with four colleagues: Professors of Law Raquel E. Aldana and Leticia M. Saucedo from the University of California, Davis; Bill Ong Hing, Associate Dean and Professor Emeritus at the University of San Francisco School of Law and UC Davis Law; and Enid Trucios-Haynes, Professor of Law at the University of Louisville.
Reflecting on the collaborative writing process, Johnson emphasized the benefits of teamwork and open dialogue: “I assembled a great group of experts, researchers, writers, and people. We have different views and have worked well together toward our common goal. Our perspectives on law and policy allow us to discuss and resolve any differences of opinion that arise.”
Johnson’s lifelong interest in immigration law and his contribution to the textbook partly stem from his experience growing up in Azusa, a mixed working-class Mexican-American and white suburb of Los Angeles, California. His work experiences further enriched his understanding of the challenges immigrants face. “In various jobs in the food industry growing up, I worked side by side with immigrants, including undocumented ones,” he shared.
As a first-generation college student, Johnson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics. He then attended Harvard Law School as a first-generation law student, serving as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. After law school, he worked in private practice in San Francisco, handling pro bono asylum cases for individuals fleeing civil wars in Central America.
This post-law school experience played a crucial role in Johnson’s passion for immigration law. He learned that “immigrants, who cannot vote, are subject to laws they have no part in enacting or changing. In most other areas, citizens can vote for political office holders who represent their interests. Immigrants cannot. As a result, immigration laws can be tough on immigrants, as they are today.”
Over the years, Johnson has received recognition for his work in the field of immigration law. Recent accolades include the Award from the Chicana Latin Alumni Association for Service to the University of California and the Latino Community (2024), the Mexican American Bar Foundation Award (2024), and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation Outstanding Achievement in Law and Policy Award (2024). He has also published over a dozen books, including the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award-nominated How Did You Get to be Mexican? A White/Brown Man’s Search for Identity (1999).
Johnson’s commitment to advancing knowledge in immigration law exemplifies Phi Beta Kappa’s long-standing motto: “Love of learning is the guide of life.” His liberal arts and sciences education significantly influenced his career path and worldview: “My economics training at UC Berkeley greatly influenced how I approach immigration, which raises many micro- and macro-economic issues. My history and Chicana/o Studies courses also helped me better understand the experiences of immigrants in the United States.”
Looking back on his invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa, Johnson recalled the moment with gratitude: “I was truly honored. I had worked so hard, and college did not come easy to me. I worked 20-40 hours a week to support myself. Phi Beta Kappa was an unexpected and high honor.”
Paula Zepeda is a recent graduate of University of California, Los Angeles who majored in Political Science with a minor in Latin American Studies. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa in spring 2024. UCLA is home to the Eta of California chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.