Love Undocumented: Risking Trust in a Fearful World

by Sarah Quezada

Will you beware or be welcoming?


As a young Christian, Sarah Quezada had a heart for social justice. She was also blissfully unaware of the real situations facing today's immigrants. Until she met someone new. . . who happened to be undocumented.


In Love Undocumented, Quezada takes readers on a journey deep into the world of the U.S. immigration system. Follow her as she walks alongside her new friend, meets with lawyers, stands at the U.S.–Mexico border, and visits immigrants in detention centers. With wisdom from Scripture, research, and these experiences, Quezada explores God’s call to welcome the stranger and invites Christians to consider how to live faithfully in the world of closed doors and high fences.


Is it possible to abandon fear and cultivate authentic relationships with new arrivals?


What if hospitality to immigrant and refugee neighbors puts us at personal risk?


How can churches create safe spaces for those living at the precarious edge of our society?


With Quezada as your guide, discover a subversive Savior who never knew a stranger. Get to know the God of the Bible, whose love and grace cross all borders. Respond to an invitation to turn away from fear and enter a bigger story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Memoir, Book Club, Politics, Biography, Race

205 pages, Paperback

Published December 21, 2017

About the author

Sarah Quezada is a writer and nonprofit professional in Atlanta, Georgia. She has a master's in sociology and more than a decade of experience working across cultures and leading conversations about justice, faith, and serving among the poor. Her writing has been published in Christianity Today, Relevant, Sojourners, and InTouch Ministries, among others. She and her husband, Billy, who emigrated from Guatemala City, are raising two bicultural and bilingual-ish kids. When they first married, the couple walked together through the immigration system. This experience inspired her first book, Love Undocumented: Risking Trust in a Fearful World (January 2018).

Reviews

[Rachel (Words With Rach) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful that I decided to read this book. Honestly, I did not know what to expect when I read the title and description. But as a believer who knew next to nothing about immigration laws and how all of this relates to Scripture this book is gold. Obviously, this has been a hot topic in the recent years and an even bigger issue in the most recent election. Throughout this last election I found myself wanting to know more.

The author Sarah Quezada is a Christian who is married to a former undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. Throughout the book, she explains the history and laws surrounding immigration in the United States and through it all weaves in her story and experiences with the immigration system. She ties up everything with our responsibility as believers and backs it up with Scripture.

I would definitely recommend this book. I know there are other books that you can read on this subject, but this one is the perfect balance of story, research and Scripture.

Here are just a few of the quotes I loved:

“We are united by our shared humanity. Every person—with their cultural background, language, sense of humor, musical tastes, and more—gives us a wider view of who God is.”

“We open our arms to immigrants, documented or not, not on the basis of their purity or deservedness but because of Christ’s love for us in our unreservedness.”

So if you are a believer who is interested in this topic at all, go read this book. It will be released on January 16, 2018.

I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read and review books at Rachel's Reading. For more like this, check it out!

I was so glad when I was given a copy of this book from Net Galley. I have worked in migrant communities a lot here in Arizona and was excited to read a book from a Christian perspective. This book is much more of a memoir to me than a book with lots of information about migration, and undocumented migrants. However, that doesn't mean it's ineffective. Usually telling these stories as personal experiences really change people's minds and make them think. For someone who may not be so familiar with migration and undocumented immigrants this book would be really eye-opening, for me, however, I found myself wanting a little bit more. Highly recommended for people who would like to learn more.

[Carolina Hinojosa-Cisneros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Quezada's, Love Undocumented brought back all of these memories of what it must have been like for my mother as she married an immigrant willing to sacrifice it all to obtain the American Dream, for all that means at this juncture in life.

 Quezada takes us on an educated biblical journey of meeting, falling in love with, and marrying Billy, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. Absent of the romance novel language, she defines different laws and political acts to help us understand the process of undergoing filing for citizenship.

I love that Quezada comes from a place of privilege (and recognizes that) and writes from having zero understanding about the process to walking through it entirely with new understanding. This book is a 180-page introduction to undocumented immigration and alegrando los papeles.

Quezada explains her and Billy's experience with the lawyer. I respected her perspective as she noticed the language barrier that was separating her from comprehending what Mateo, the lawyer, and Billy were talking about. Language barriers are fierce. Sarah felt what so many non-English speaking immigrants face on a daily basis in that session.

"But they held my future in a language that I couldn't unlock. I would have to wait to find out the truth until someone decided to include me" (Quezada, 102).

In Love Undocumented you will learn about the Bracero Program, DACA, among others, that my father in law assisted in. You will learn about what Jesus and the Bible say about welcoming the foreigner.

In my opinion, Love Undocumented is written for white folks who need a better grasp of knowledge on what it means for undocumented immigrants to come and live in this nation. Books written on the plight of the immigrant from the perspective of the actual immigrant or the child of an immigrant are available. Quezada references a couple. 

I urge you to use this book as a launching off point to do more research. With the language of 45 in play and his unabashed prejudice toward humans of color, it would behoove the Christian audience to dig further into our laws and provide knowledgeable, biblical responses to our undocumented family.

[Michelle Kidwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Undocumented
Risking Trust in a Fearful World
by Sarah Quezada
Herald Press

Christian , Religion & Spirituality
Pub Date 21 Dec 2017


I am reviewing a copy of Love Undocumented Through Herald Press and Netgalley:


This book deals with the issues of immigrants both legal and illegal. Love Undocumented brings the issues of immigrants to light.


In this book we will see how Sarah Quezada and a new friend meets with lawyers, stands at the borders and meets with immigrants in detention centers. With Biblical Wisdom Quezada explores how as Christians we should teach immigrants.


I give Love Undocumented five out of five stars!

[D.L. Mayfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and based around her own personal narrative, Quezada is masterful at weaving in complex history and statistics about immigration in the US and what it means to have a robust theology of hospitality in an age of demonizing and vilifying the other. The truth of the US immigration system is something that should break all of our hearts, and stir us towards actions that look like brotherly and sisterly love in action.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every word of this book. Maybe "enjoy" isn't the right word. There were so many heartbreaking facts. I knew much of what was stated because my husband and I have gone through the immigration process and one of my dear friends is an immigration attorney. We regularly collaborate because I work with many undocumented children. However, I think Quezada did a great job of making these facts and her personal story accessible to the reader. My hope is that people of faith would pick up this book and their hearts would cry for justice for those who are stuck in such a difficult situation.

[Elizabeth Bravo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories that must be heard. Honestly everyone is undocumented in the world we live in.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was better than I could have imagined. A subject that has the potential to make people become awkward and nervous was broached with class and candor making it approachable for suburban white girls like me. I highly recommend this read! It was truly a pleasure to read, thought-provoking, and funny.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are several hugely important issues that Americans need to wrestle with and immigration is one of them. Sarah Quezada has written super helpful book about her experiences meeting, falling involve with and eventually marrying someone who found himself in citizenship limbo. I'd recommend this to anyone, but particularly those who might feel like the US needs to have tougher border/immigration policies!

[Elizabeth Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Undocumented is such an important book for our time, especially for Christians. There is so much misinformation being spewed about immigrants, and Sara Quezada does a great job of giving clear facts about the challenges facing immigrants trying to make a life in the United States. She also beautifully calls for Christians to respond with love and grace instead of fear and mistrust.

[Adam Houser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Sunday school class book. I appreciated Quezada's honesty in telling her own story and the story of others that struggle through the path to citizenship in the United States. She does a great job of combining her story with scripture and with current events surrounding the issue of citizenship and immigration.

[SaraJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a timely read with all that is happening in our country.

pg. 11 "Love is the most powerful motivation I know. Of course, we know that fear and anger have a major impact on our society, in both intimate and public arenas."

pg. 20 "Are we taught how to thoughtfully engage with people who are unfamiliar?....Barriers like language, religion, and cultural customs - not to mention the fact that communities are segregated by race and class - make relationships between native-born citizens and immigrants challenging. ... Lack of relationship is a breeding ground for fear. Fear and anxiety pervade the conversation about immigrants and refugees."

pg. 23 "Community building in an age of fear: what a beautiful and countercultural opportunity..."

pg. 28 "Relationships are the foundation for restoration and compassionate community."

pg. 43 "Not everyone is trying to evade law enforcement as they enter the country. Rather, they are hoping to work with the U.S. government in order to stay legally via the previously mentioned "tears" pathway. These immigrants have been fleeing violence and terror, and their arrival is a bit like reaching a place of refuge. Here, they hope, they can slow down and announce their arrival. Here, they hope, they can receive a bit of compassion and mercy. Here, they hope, they can rest and heal and begin a new life."

pg. 82 "What is stopping us from opening up our homes, our lives, our hearts to the strangers in our midst? ... welcoming the stranger may always be awkward.... If you take the risk to engage new people across cultures, it's inevitable mistakes will be made. ... The reality is that bighearted hospitality does not require the perfect timing, precise foods, or savvy conversation starters."

pg. 91 "When we are isolated from those experiencing the intensity of injustice, our urgency is often lacking."

pg. 92 "Relationships are key for sustaining justice work long-term. When we are in relationship with those most affected by the news, we cannot escape the real consequences of executive orders and Supreme Court rulings. This committed solidarity requires that our relationships across cultures move past any one-way dynamics of giver and receiver and into true mutuality and friendship. To deepen our friendships may require a level of intention that stretches us."

pg. 94 "True relationships are mutual. There is give and take. Vulnerability is shared, and friendship deepens organically. When we develop cross-cultural relationships, we are also walking into a bigger and ongoing story of unique groups of people experiencing the world. Cultural and racial differences are real and should not be ignored. But these barriers should also not be elevated in ways as to assume that we cannot be true friends. .... We cannot be in authentic relationship with someone different from us if we cannot acknowledge that, while another's experience in the world may be different from our own, it is just as true. .... Too often, people in positions of privilege try to explain away what they perceive as anomalies without recognizing the ways systematic racism and injustice are at work in the world."

pg. 96 "Our role as bridge builders is to identify the strength of our common humanity and our similarities of experience and interests to serve as the foundation for an authentic relationship.....Our common humanity is ready and waiting to lay a foundation for authentic connection, but we must be clear that we see the humanity in the other in every moment. When someone becomes a service project, the relationship lacks a deeper authenticity."

pg. 178 "Worrying only about ourselves may be our natural bent as humans. Do we have enough? Are we getting all the good things we deserve? Are our kids getting the best of everything the world has to offer? Are we protected? Are we safe? Will we have enough in the future? This obsession with our own interests - is damaging on a collective level and exhausting on a personal one. Collectively, laws that benefit only a select, powerful group can easily turn to exploit, abuse, and crush those not part of that group."

pg. 183 "Living in the absence of fear and the saturation of love is a witness to a different way of life that can only have been inspired by Jesus' example. Together we can catch glimpses of God's kingdom here on earth."

[Nathan Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Undocumented is a fantastic memoir. Each chapter tells a part of Sarah's life story and shares facts about a different aspect of immigration. Each chapter reads like a captivating blog entry. Her personal narrative is wonderful, dating and marrying an undocumented immigrant and pursuing his citizenship together. Likewise, the facts she shares on immigration, while by no means comprehensive, are really good and taught me a lot.

While this book is a great memoir, Sarah's discussion of the Bible as it relates to immigration is a mixed bag. In each chapter, Sarah tries to incorporate a Bible story or verse to support the chapter's message. Sometimes this works really well, such as her lengthy discussion of the story of Esther as it relates to the modern day Sanctuary Movement. But in many cases her verses seem cherry-picked, or a Bible story is quickly summarized in a throwaway paragraph such as when she discusses the story of Joseph.

In sum, I highly recommend reading this book as an example of a wonderful memoir and a great primer into immigration.

[Carolyn Lind]

Falling in love with an undocumented immigrant, Sarah discovers the reality of his world. The reader learns with her as page by page she uncovers the surprises and difficulties. This book offers helpful information that is tied to the interesting narrative of Sarah's challenges and choices.

A couple quotes to remember: "Laws are designed from the perspective of and for the interests of those in power." -p. 178

"God has welcomed us into an expansive family and offered us citizenship in a kingdom that knows no borders. In this kingdom, our allegiance is to God alone."-180

"....But it's not difficult to know that whenever our allegiance to God is at odds with the state, we are committed to following God. Loving our neighbor, welcoming the stranger, showing hospitality to our brothers and sisters draws us closer to the heart of the gospel and to the people made in God's image." -182

[Cindy Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exploring the response of the church to immigration in the context of one journey and experience with an undocumented loved one, Love Undocumented unpacks some of the complexities and asks that we consider what our humanity and Christ's love requests of us. Written like a memoir, the book also has context through interviews and facts that help us see and feel what her experience was like as well as of others.

If you're curious about what it can look and feel like to be undocumented or to become a US citizen, read this book.

If you're curious about how Jesus calls the church to respond to the Other and to immigration, read this book.

If you're curious about how to love and live like Jesus, read this book.

I knocked one star because the writing can feel a little choppy. She has some strong, well-worded, eloquent passages, but it's not consistent. Her story is good and easy to follow, though.

[Heather Caliri · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not often I read a book about a tough topic, full of challenging information, and also keep flipping pages, eager to know how the story ends. Sarah Quezada's LOVE UNDOCUMENTED achieves that aim because her portrait of our inhumane immigration system centers on her family's compelling story. I'm fairly well acquainted with the Orwellian indignities of our laws; still, Quezada's book continually surprised me with new information, sound Biblical insight, and compassionate calls for engagement. Thanks to her prose, I saw an opportunity before me, not just a challenge--to be changed, blessed and stretched by engagement with tremendously resilient, resourceful, and worthy immigrants, no matter their legal status. A worthy read for all Christians--a must-read for those who wish they understood our immigration system's human face.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming personal story of navigating the complexities of the US immigration system. Quezada intersperses her personal story with information about immigration law and useful statistics. While I'm not sure she'd convince die-hard anti-immigration folks, I think her arguments are compelling for those who are pro-immigrant but also want people to obey the law. My biggest takeaway is how having a personal relationship with immigrants puts all the theoretical arguments into perspective and helps you see the reality of their situation. This has certainly been true in my life. I wish every American had a significant friendship with someone who has struggled with our immigration system. And I wish our lawmakers had many significant friendships with all kinds of categories of immigrants.

[Ken Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening book

I have been following Welcome and Women of Welcome on FaceBook for over a year and have listened as Sarah has shared bits and pieces of her personal story and her determination to advocate for immigrants. As a fellow Christian, I feel her spiritual urgency and compassion to reach out to those seeking refuge/asylum in our country. The Bible speaks to this issue repeatedly—how did I miss it all these years? I pray the Church not only hears Sarah’s plea, but also takes immediate and effectual steps to advocate for some of the most vulnerable. After learning more about immigration through Welcome, I volunteered with a ministry that comes alongside refugee families. I pray for more opportunities to be Jesus’ hands and feet to minister to immigrants, documented or undocumented.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Quezada writes a beautiful book about her journey through the immigration system after she falls in love with and marries an undocumented immigrant. I love the hospitality and warmth with which she writes about a topic that is often divisive and polarizing, particularly for Christians. She invites the reader into her journey from her naivety about the plight of immigrants to walking with and advocating for them. Along the way, she sprinkles in shocking data about our lack of knowledge about or relationships with immigrants as well as a biblical response to the immigration, but always in a way that is accessible and fascinating to read. Whether you are new to learning about immigration or an expert, you will find her story compelling and inspiring.

[Jodie Pine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A personal look into the current immigration system through the author's engagement and eventual marriage with an undocumented immigrant. She writes "I valued standing in solidarity with immigrants harmed by an outdated immigration system, but I was also afraid to lose something in the process. I wanted to be engaged in the world and to stand up for justice, but with the assurance that I could retreat to safety whenever the flames got too hot. Mateo's declaration of our potential exile would require me to step outside the immunity of my citizenship and tie my fate to someone who, in this situation, didn't have access to the same privileges that I had. Did I have the strength to do that? Could I trust God was leading us down this path together, wherever it might lead?"

[Runa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I just finished this. Best book I've read this year, and I've read quite a few. But, if you don't know what you think about immigration, or do know what you think, read this book.

We make policy and decide where we stand because of 'rules' and 'what we'd do' but this is a beautiful piece of writing that shares the stories, heartache, and experience of a few people in their story. It calls us to remember the image of God in everyone. Not just the people you sit next to at church.
Oh, man. Just read it, or listen to it. Check your library. There's a list in the back with suggested books for more reading, I have so much to learn about this. Reminds me of the song with the lyrics, "break my heart for what breaks yours...". What has your heart been breaking for?

[Kristen Hong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. It is a beautifully written story, about a beautifully written story. Through an empathetic viewpoint, Sarah talks about what it was like to be in a relationship with an undocumented immigrant and the difficulties and hardships that brings. While I'm sure that's not the love story her or her now husband Billy envisioned for themselves, it is super encouraging to hear how God was with them the whole time. I am so so inspired by them, and I can't wait to get more involved in showing God's love to everyone, not just people who look like me or have the same socioeconomic status as me. This book brought tears to my eyes, both sad and happy, and I cannot recommend it enough.

[Alana]

I really enjoyed this, not just for the love story, but for the honest account of how complicated the immigration process really is, and how easy it is to run afoul of it, even by accident, and the long-term consequences that can result.

If you're at all curious why everyone doesn't "just do it all legally" and what hurdles immigrants have to face, this is a very good, small introduction. It's also a hopeful story, sharing many ways people show compassion and love to those who are different, while facing many obstacles.

[Colleen Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interwoven with the story of Sarah's relationship with her boyfriend/husband, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, are details about U. S. immigration policy and practice, specifically how those policies and practices impact the lives of real people living in the U. S. Sarah writes with clarity but compassion, helping us to better understand the people around us who find themselves labeled, "illegals." This is a good plea for a more charitable way of looking at the problems with immigration in the U. S.

[Tracy Kulwicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

An educational and informative look at immigration policies, issues, laws, and complexities in the US. Sarah beautifully weaves her story to showcase the very real challenges of our immigration system while highlighting the call for Christians to act. I love how Sarah shares the gospel call to love our neighbors with specific opportunities to be a person of welcome and love for immigrants. This is a must read for any Christian wanting to learn more about how to respond to immigrants and refugees.

[Mazie Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah is a neighbor and friend, so I loved hearing her voice on these pages and learning more about her love story. She is shining a thoughtful light on immigration in America with a personal account of her own experience of it as well as details of the system that grabbed my heart and mind. Sarah's work will be of interest to those well-versed on this topic as well as those new the conversation and looking to learn more.

[Deb Kellogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stepping into the Immigration Battle

This book had only one fault-it ended. I want to know more about the author as she travels her faith journey. I have a much better understanding of how the Immigration system is failing so many. I hope our elected officials read Sarah's memoir. Our family has enjoyed many conversations about religion and what can be done to help our neighbors. Thank you so much Sarah Quezada!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a needful book in pressing times. Sarah offers us a beautiful look at what it means to love and the complicated nature of our current immigration system. God calls us to welcome the stranger and Sarah leads the way in this book. To better know the rocky road of becoming an American citizen read the journey of the Quezada's. Know their story is one of many. Hear the call to respond.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting , eye-opening and honest account of their journey through the US immigration process. It's an area drastically needing repair, and hopefully many will read this and other such writings and push their representatives to get busy and do the hats right! Certainly immigration is complex, but it has become senseless in it's complexity and many fees and forms!

[Hiker04 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in anticipation of a trip to Guatemala. Had already begun my journey of learning of the hurdles our immigrant brothers and sisters face when trying to emigrate. My teenage grandchildren were to go with me. Our trip is on hold due to Covid 19 but I want them to read it beforehand so they can put faces and voices to the noise that permeates the media.