Voices of the Border: Testimonios of Migration, Deportation, and Asylum

by Tobin Hansen (Editor), Sean Carroll (Foreword), Engracia Robles Robles (Editor)

Powerful personal accounts from migrants crossing the US―Mexico border provide an understanding of their experiences, as well as the consequences of public policy

Migrants, refugees, and deportees live through harrowing situations, yet their personal stories are often ignored. While politicians and commentators mischaracterize and demonize, herald border crises, and speculate about who people are and how they live, the actual memories of migrants are rarely shared. In the tradition of oral storytelling, Voices of the Border reproduces the stories migrants have told, offering a window onto both individual and shared experiences of crossing the US―Mexico border.

This collection emerged from interviews conducted by the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), a Jesuit organization that provides humanitarian assistance and advocates for migrants. Based in Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora ― twin border cities connected by shared histories, geographies, economies, and cultures ― the editors and their colleagues documented migrants' testimonios to amplify their voices. These personal narratives of lived experiences, presented in the original Spanish with English translations, bring us closer to these individuals' strength, love, and courage in the face of hardship and injustice. Short introductions written by migrant advocates, humanitarian workers, religious leaders, and scholars provide additional context at the beginning of each chapter.

These powerful stories help readers better understand migrants' experiences, as well as the consequences of public policy for their community.

Royalties from the sale of the book go to the Kino Border Initiative.

Genres: Nonfiction

296 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Alondra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone interested in immigration, or the crisis at the border must read! Especially if you are looking for a comprehensive outlook, this book does an amazing job of providing historical context, current events, and humanization of the issue. The testimonios are folks who have actually come to the border, and they are including in Spanish as well. Would recommend 100%

[Madge · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read two excellent books on the immigration issues focusing on Tucson and the border cities of Nogales and Sasabe please read The Devil’s Highway, an older book and Voices of the Border, a much newer book. Both have first hand stories and testimonials of migrants trying to cross into the US. They are very informative and describe the lives they are leaving in their homelands. Very tragic and scary. It will open your mind to what these people go through to have a better life.

[Nicole Bratsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently living in Nogales, AZ, and this book paints such a vivid and accurate picture of what migrants go through every day. It is heartwrenching, yet incredibly important, stories that are being told. I am so glad to see that some of the migrants get to have their voices heard.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes clear how blind many citizens of US are to the experience of people in other countries. To label immigrants as criminals, to deport people who have lived in US for decades, to commit the violence against so many is unimaginable.

[Natalie Lerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful book to read while volunteering at Kino/living in Nogales especially. A good book to learn about migration to the US and read direct testimonies of migrants

[switching to StoryGraph: ka_cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5