Ana Raquel Minian in conversation with Irma Herrera discussing Minian's, "In the Shadow of Liberty: The Invisible History of Immigrant Detention in the United States," published by Viking.

Purchase here: https://citylights.com/new-nonfiction-in-hardcover/in-the-shadow-of-liberty-immigrant-det/

In 2018, many Americans watched in horror as children were torn from their parents at the US-Mexico border under Trump’s “family separation” policy. But as historian Ana Raquel Minian reveals in "In the Shadow of Liberty," this was only the latest chapter in a saga tracing back to the 1800s—one in which immigrants to the United States have been held without recourse to their constitutional rights. Braiding together the vivid stories of four migrants seeking to escape the turmoil of their homelands for the promise of America, "In the Shadow of Liberty" gives this history a human face, telling the dramatic story of a Central American asylum seeker, a Cuban exile, a European war bride, & a Chinese refugee.

As we travel alongside these indelible characters, "In the Shadow of Liberty" explores how sites of rightlessness have evolved, & what their existence has meant for our body politic. Though these “black sites” exist out of view for the average American, their reach extends into all of our lives: the explosive growth of the for-profit prison industry traces its origins to the immigrant detention system, as does the emergence of Guantanamo & the gradual unraveling of the right to bail & the presumption of innocence. Through these narratives, we see how the changing political climate surrounding immigration has played out in individual lives, & at what cost. But as these stories demonstrate, it doesn’t have to be like this, & a better way might be possible.

Ana Raquel Minian is a professor of history at Stanford University & the author of the award-winning book "Undocumented Lives," published by Harvard University Press in 2018. A recipient of the Andrew Carnegie fellowship, their writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, & Foreign Affairs, among other outlets. Originally from Mexico City, they now live with their partner in the Bay Area.

Irma Herrera is a writer, solo performer, & former lawyer based in the Bay Area. Her play "Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?" explores what it means to be American by weaving personal stories, humor, & historical events.

Originally broadcast from City Lights' Poetry Room on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Hosted by Peter Maravelis. Made possible by support from the City Lights Foundation. citylights.com/foundation