An undocumented activist and a social scientist come together to tally of the structural costs of undocumented life
An inhumane math pervades this country: even as our government extracts labor and often taxes from undocumented workers, it excludes these same workers from its social safety net. As a result, these essential workers struggle to get their own basic needs met, from healthcare to education, from freedom of association to the ability to drive to work without looking for ICE in the rearview mirror.
When Alix Dick's family found themselves in the crosshairs of cartel violence in Sinaloa, Mexico, she and her siblings were forced to flee to the U.S. Many of the scenes that she shares are difficult and unforgettable: escaping from a relationship in which her partner threatened to report her to immigration; getting root canals done in an underground dental clinic. But there are moments of triumph, too: founding her own nonprofit; working on films that tell important stories; and working with her co-author Dr. Garcia to tell her story in a framework that lays bare the realities of structural oppression.
As Alix and Antero tally the costs of undocumented life, they present a final bill of what is owed to the immigrant community. In this way, their book flips the traditional narrative about the economics of immigration on its head. - (Random House, Inc.)
Booklist Reviews
*Starred Review* As conditions for immigrants, refugees, and our undocumented neighbors become ever more precarious, this book provides welcome insight and context. Dick and Garcia carefully lay out their approach to the research process as centering care and reciprocity, which—significantly—converts those who have traditionally been the subjects of research into partners who participate equally in the process as "co-constructor(s) of knowledge." This research project comes to life through coauthor Dick's story. Dick, who was hired by Garcia as a nanny for his household, narrates with a heartfelt and raw voice as she delves into the circumstances that led her from a privileged childhood in cartel-ridden Sinaloa to a precarious and vulnerable position in Georgia and later, in Southern California. This candid and often painful examination of cost includes chapters on employment, mental health, healthcare, and dreaming. Besides an accounting, Dick's story is also a propina (gift) to inspire understanding, dialogue, and action among readers. In addition to the careful explanation of their research methodology, the authors include meticulous notes and extensive references. The result is a formidable yet wholly accessible and relatable exposé of the unconscionable cost of undocumented immigration. An essential addition to all nonfiction collections. Copyright 2025 Booklist Reviews.
