Skip to main content

Book Review: Separated

William Lopez, PhD, MPH
 

What are the long-term impacts of immigration raids on families and communities? William D. Lopez, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, examined the deleterious effects of a daylong ICE raid in 2013 that targeted a Latino immigrant community in Washtenaw, Michigan. The confluence of Lopez’s scholarly and personal interest in public health and immigrant rights led him to field work that involved interviews with affected community members, the Washtenaw interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights (WiCIR) and the local law enforcement agency. Lopez’s findings -- published in Separated: Family and Community in the Aftermath of an Immigration Raid -- shed light upon the economic, psychological and health impacts of brutal and violent immigration enforcement actions on those left behind.

In the U.S., undocumented people from mixed-status communities endure the dehumanizing trauma of detention and deportation, while those left behind cope with trauma, handle worsening health, avoid homelessness and keep their families together. Lopez relays the narrative of separation, witness of violence and experience of trauma through 24 interviews with 21 individuals. He conducted the interviews in English and Spanish, emphasizing the importance of the words used by subjects, paying close attention to how people talked about their experiences. Direct quotes are part of the power of the narrative: being able to “hear” through the page the pained voices of people deeply impacted by the ICE raid. The book highlights the cycle of trauma and economic struggle endured by U.S.- born children in mixed-status families, from experiencing and witnessing a violent attack on the community. One heartbreaking story involves 3-month-old Ignacio, who refused to nurse after the raid.

Separated is a must-read for anyone working on immigration policy and immigration enforcement, as well as leaders of law enforcement and social agencies serving immigrant communities. Even if their families are eligible to access public services like health care and nutrition support, the “river of fear” surrounding immigration enforcement and deportation affects willingness to access resources.In the aftermath of an immigration raid, families and individuals need resources to cope with the traumatic encounter with ICE and local SWAT teams.

Another important takeaway is the importance of unifying social movements demanding an end to state violence. What we learn from Separated is that immigration raids are part of the long legacy of police violence on Black and Brown communities. Therefore, there’s an opportunity for immigrant rights activists to learn from and work in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter, abolitionist and criminal justice reform movements. 

 

Buy from Bookshop.org

 

Popular posts from this blog

Medicine Wheel for the Planet

Jennifer Grenz, PhD       Working toward ecological healing requires awareness of how Indigenous ancestral knowledge and living ways can complement Western scientific approaches to environmental restoration and protection practices. Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Nlaxa’pamux mixed ancestry) worked for more than two decades as a field researcher and practitioner for environmental nonprofit organizations, where she worked with different levels of government, including First Nations in Canada. "Medicine Wheel for the Planet" compiles Grenz’s most potent realizations about the lack of forward movement in addressing an impending ecological catastrophe.  A warming climate impacts not only human lives but also the natural balance that relies on reciprocal relationships rooted in deep connections to the land. She uses the metaphor of the four directions of the Indigenous “medicine wheel” to invite openness to Indigenous teachings, letting go of colonial narratives, merging lessons f...

Memento - Embracing the Darkness

Dennis "Dizzy" Doan Stories about overcoming and persevering through family dysfunction, poverty, and mental health challenges offer hope and the promise of better days. Dennis “Dizzy” Doan’s memoir Memento: Embracing the Darkness is one such story, with the added complexity of being raised in an immigrant Vietnamese family. Doan’s parents dealt with the mental and emotional aftermath of war, which forcibly uprooted them from their homeland. In the United States, they struggled to create a safe and stable life for their two sons. Doan shares his journey of finding himself, his craft, and eventually a successful tattoo business in Southern California despite personal strife and run-ins with the law. Doan is best known for developing the aesthetic language to combat anti-Asian hate that erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. His art series titled “Model Minority” went viral, sparking conversation about Asian American identities and harmful stereotypes. In Memento, Doan showcase...

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...