We are home Becoming American in the 21st century : an oral history

Partisan divisions over immigration have come to seem intractable, with dark predictions of violence and financial ruin on one side and harrowing stories of the immigration system's capricious cruelty on the other. Journalist Suarez (Latino Americans, 2013) seeks to find common ground. While acknowledging the rise of anti-immigrant panic and the nation's long history of exclusionary policy, Suarez highlights the ways a welcoming immigration policy can benefit America now and in the future. We Are Home shares the stories of immigrants to America who have built successful, joyous, and--often, and perhaps critically for readers more inclined to conservative views on immigration--prosperous lives. They are parents, politicians, artists, doctors, electricians; they come from Nigeria, Guatemala, Nepal, India, Afghanistan; they bring new skills, perspectives, and energy to an aging nation; they are a vital part of the fabric of America. Without whitewashing the past and present ugliness of American prejudice, this generous and hopeful book reminds readers that the story of our nation, at its best, is one of opportunity for all.

A broadcaster delivers a charged account of the lives of immigrants. When Donald Trump snarled to the members of Congress's progressive "Squad" that they should "go back where they came from," although three of the four were U.S. born, "it was not a violation but a reminder," implying that although they were as American as Trump, they were somehow different. "I heard what he said and immediately knew what he meant," writes Suarez, author of Latino Americans. "And so did you." It's something most immigrants experience at some point, more so if they lack the required paperwork. One of Suarez's subjects is a first responder whose heroic actions during a Houston hurricane saved many lives; despite this, he is subject to "regular reminders he is not like his neighbors"--at least until his immigration status is settled. The son of Hungarian immigrants recounts that although both parents were experienced doctors, they were denied accreditation until they went through another internship and residency, doubtless a way to keep outsiders out rather than any bulwark for reasons of safety, given the shortage of doctors in the country. In this blend of oral and social history, Suarez turns up a fascinating account of a Sikh who came to the U.S., served in the Army during World War I, and was granted citizenship by a federal court, which was then revoked by the Bureau of Naturalization for reasons of race, with an appellate court asked to rule on the question, "Is a high-caste Hindu of full Indian blood…a white person?" Sadly, such racial divides endure, as strong as ever. The easiest-going of Suarez's subjects is a blonde New Zealander who admits, "I was very conscious of the difference between me and other undocumented people." A provocative work that urges reconsideration of immigration rights in a nation of immigrants. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.