First published 2025
Jonathan Blitzer examines the humanitarian crisis unfolding at the US-Mexico border through the experiences of migrants who risk everything to reach America. The New Yorker staff writer documents how hundreds of thousands travel from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, with growing numbers starting from even more distant locations. These individuals escape persecution, violence, and poverty. Many have faced deportation before but still view the United States as their sole pathway to safety and opportunity. Blitzer connects their personal stories with the American officials, activists, and politicians who shape immigration policy. His reporting reveals how decades of flawed decisions and widespread corruption created this ongoing crisis. The book weaves together accounts of Central Americans devastated by political turmoil with portraits of those wielding power over border policy. Blitzer shows how this conflict extends beyond immigration into the core of American society and politics.
Genres: non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, activism, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-stories, social-justice
Setting: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, United States
Period: 21st-century
544 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books
Content warnings: violence