Killing the American dream How anti-immigration extremists are destroying the nation

America's treatment of the issue of illegal immigration is profoundly dysfunctional, argues Marrero. A journalist for the Spanish-language newspaper La Opinion, she examines the plight of undocumented workers looking to make a life for themselves in an increasingly nativist political culture. While illegal immigration is often constructed as a scapegoat for the ills of recession-era America, Marrero shows the issue to be far more complex. States depend on the labor and economic contributions of a growing population of undocumented workers, yet enact increasingly oppressive laws designed to make daily life for them unbearable, while the federal government expands an expensive program of deportation that disproportionately affects Latinos even as their votes become more important. Investigating small towns undergoing demographic shifts, corporations profiting from increased immigrant detention, and the unique difficulties faced by the children of illegal immigrants, Marrero makes a convincing case that America's success in the 21st century depends on abandoning political posturing in favor of coherent national policy. Agent: Diane Stockwell, Globos Libros Literary. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

La Opinin senior political writer Marrero, an American citizen born in Venezuela, attempts to untangle the contemporary debate over illegal immigration. The author provides an informed overview of the evolution of America's immigration policy from the Reagan administration to today, and she argues passionately and persuasively that, far from draining our resources and "taking" jobs from native-born Americans, illegal immigrants ultimately contribute to a more diverse, productive, competitive and prosperous America. In Marrero's view, the debate over immigration has been hijacked by anti-immigrant extremists relying on hateful rhetoric to breathe life into their floundering political careers. Rational, sober reflection on an economically and socially complicated issue has, she argues, fallen by the wayside. Though comprehensively researched and eminently sensible, this book is awkwardly written and frequently soporific. Marrero has a journalist's habit of leaching her prose of vitality by attempting to convey an evenhandedness she does not feel. Herself an immigrant, Marrero clearly has an opinion about and a stake in America's treatment of its immigrants, regardless of their legal status. Unfortunately, she goes to such lengths to avoid coming across as a rabid ideologue that she ends up looking mealy-mouthed and ineffectual instead. Though she provides several notable and outrageous examples of illegal immigrants victimized by the violent bigotry of their angry white neighbors, these stories are recited so mechanically that they barely register. Readers may sympathize with her desire to sound as rational and fair-minded as she wishes our national politicians did, but they will likely grow frustrated by her insistence on pirouetting away from real emotion. Marrero is long on glowing paeans to the immigrant spirit and legitimate grievances against willfully ignorant, shamelessly rabble-rousing politicians, but she is short on new ideas and practical solutions. An overly cautious, platitudinous entry in the immigration debate.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.