Chris Zepeda-Millan

Chris Zepeda-Millan is an Associate Professor at the Luskin School of Public Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Born and raised in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, he was the first Chicano to earn a Ph.D. from Cornell University’s Department of Government. His research focuses on immigration policy, racialization, Latino politics, and social movements. His seminal work, Latino Mass Mobilization: Immigration, Racialization, and Activism, won multiple prestigious awards, including the APSA Bunche Award and the ASA Charles Tilly Award. Zepeda-Millan’s current projects include co-authoring Walls, Cages, and Family Separation: Immigration Policy in the Trump Era, examining policies and activism under the Trump administration.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Government, Cornell University

His research interests explore how marginalized communities mobilize politically, particularly in response to immigration policies. He analyzes intersections of race, ethnicity, and activism, with a focus on Latino communities. His work bridges political science and sociology, emphasizing the impact of large-scale protests on political identity and policy outcomes.

Recent articles highlight themes like border activism, criminalization of humanitarian aid, and the political effects of mass deportations. These works underscore the racialized dimensions of immigration policy and its societal consequences. Zepeda-Millan’s scholarship also addresses Latino political attitudes, intergroup relations, and the dynamics of collective action in diverse regions like the U.S. South.

Awards:

• Ralph J. Bunche Best Book Award (APSA)
• Charles Tilly Distinguished Contribution Award (ASA)
• Best Book on Race and Immigration (APSA REP)

His research contributes to understanding how marginalized groups navigate institutional challenges and shape political landscapes. Ongoing projects include analyses of Trump-era immigration policies and their long-term impacts on immigrant communities.