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The Undocumented Americans
208 pages, 2020
One of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard reveals the hidden lives of her fellow undocumented Americans in this deeply personal portrait of a country.
Writer Karla Cornejo Villavicencio was on DACA when she decided to write about being undocumented for the first time using her own name. It was right after the election of 2016, the day she realized that she had to tell her story: She wrote her immigration lawyer's phone number on her hand in Sharpie and embarked on a trip across the country.
Looking beyond the flash points of citizenship or activism, Cornejo Villavicencio explores the lives of the undocumented--and finds herself trying to piece together her own life. She finds the notion of singular, effervescent characters often reduced in the media to political pawns or nameless laborers.
In The Undocumented Americans, Karla Cornejo Villavicencio paints a vivid picture of the struggles and hardships faced by undocumented immigrants in the United States. She explores their daily lives, the jobs they do, and the fear they live with due to their undocumented status.
The book takes a deep look into the personal stories of undocumented immigrants, showing them as real people with hopes, dreams, and families. It's not just about statistics and politics, but about human beings who are often overlooked and misunderstood.
The Undocumented Americans digs into the effects of U.S. immigration policies on undocumented immigrants. It shows how these policies can lead to family separations, exploitation, and a constant fear of deportation.
Despite the challenges they face, the book highlights the strength and resilience of undocumented immigrants. They work hard, often in difficult conditions, to provide for their families and build a better future.
Karla Cornejo Villavicencio's research in The Undocumented Americans underscores the urgent need for immigration reform in the U.S. It's a call to action for readers to see the human cost of current policies and advocate for change.
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Karla Cornejo Villavicencio's 'The Undocumented Americans' is a powerful and unflinching account of the reality of life for undocumented immigrants in America. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the human stories behind the headlines.
Gabriela Rodriguez - Book ReviewerKarla Cornejo Villavicencio's 'The Undocumented Americans' is a deeply moving and eye-opening work of narrative nonfiction that tells the true stories of undocumented immigrants across the United States.
Oprah Winfrey - Media Executive'The Undocumented Americans' by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio is a compelling and empathetic look at the lives of undocumented immigrants in America. It's a powerful reminder of the real people behind the political debates and policies.
Barack Obama - Former PresidentRecommendations
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