The Immigrant Other

Absent from the debate over immigration policy is an unambiguous portrait of that policy's effect on human lives. Each chapter in this anthology pairs a description of specific state, national, and transnational laws and regulations with the testimony of individuals struggling to find legitimacy and sanctuary among them. The people profiled in this book shed light on a system designed to dehumanize and disenfranchise them, and they describe the difficulty of finding shelter in an increasingly globalized and unsympathetic world. They include Muslims facing discrimination from both the “War on Terror” and the “War on Immigration;” Latino day laborers; Filipino immigrants supporting themselves and their families back home; and Brazilian parents terrified of being separated from their naturalized children. Immigrants living in Spain, Australia, Greece, and Qatar are also represented, showcasing the similarities and differences in the treatment of immigrants worldwide. By prioritizing these accounts, this volume makes the day-to-day realities of current law clear to anyone who hopes to craft better immigration policy and social work practice with immigrants. It also restores the humanity of those who have become “other” simply by being born in an untenable place at a troubled time. Scholars in sociology, psychology, health, social work, and public policy can use these accounts to suggest better policy and practice, giving vulnerable immigrants a say in how they are governed.