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Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants
Advance praise from public figures José Andrés, Al Franken, Jonathan Blitzer of The New Yorker, and Russell Moore of Christianity Today. Find the moving stories of American immigrants and their journeys in Ali Noorani’s chronicle.
In an era when immigration on a global scale defines the fears and aspirations of Americans, Crossing Borders presents the complexities of migration through the stories of families fleeing violence and poverty, the government and nongovernmental organizations helping or hindering their progress, and the American communities receiving them. Ali Noorani, who has spent years building bridges between immigrants and their often conservative communities, takes readers on a journey to Honduras, Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, and Texas, meeting migrants and the organizations and people that help them on both sides of the border. He reports from the inside on why families make the heart-wrenching decision to leave home. Going beyond the polemical, partisan debate, Noorani offers sensitive insights and real solutions. Crossing Borders will appeal to a broad audience of concerned citizens across the political spectrum, faith communities, policymakers, and immigrants themselves.
In an era when immigration on a global scale defines the fears and aspirations of Americans, Crossing Borders presents the complexities of migration through the stories of families fleeing violence and poverty, the government and nongovernmental organizations helping or hindering their progress, and the American communities receiving them. Ali Noorani, who has spent years building bridges between immigrants and their often conservative communities, takes readers on a journey to Honduras, Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, and Texas, meeting migrants and the organizations and people that help them on both sides of the border. He reports from the inside on why families make the heart-wrenching decision to leave home. Going beyond the polemical, partisan debate, Noorani offers sensitive insights and real solutions. Crossing Borders will appeal to a broad audience of concerned citizens across the political spectrum, faith communities, policymakers, and immigrants themselves.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 28, 2022
7 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 27, 2021
If you’ve ever had an in-depth conversation with someone that has immigrated to the United States you’ll quickly realize how the process is far from sanitary and clean. It is messy and complicated and it can be easily derailed by a misplaced comma or slow mail or any number of glitches. Suddenly, the legal is labeled illegal or the immigrant grasping at straws is politicized, criminalized, marginalized, and definitely dehumanized. If you haven’t had those conversations, I deeply encourage you to read Crossing Borders. Noorani peels back the layers from many directions - the view from the immigrant, the lies and powerplays from media and political power brokers, and relationally the American communities enriched by expanding the American Dream with immigrants. One warning is Noorani pulls no punches when describing how immigrants have been dehumanized.
Full disclosure - I’m biased toward immigrants and immigration reform. I’ve always had a fascination in learning about people’s journey to America regardless of whether it has been 100 years ago or 100 days. Also, my wife is an immigrant.
**thanks to Netgalley for the advanced review copy**
Who would benefit from reading: Any American that wants to see a fuller experience of what it means to be an American.
Full disclosure - I’m biased toward immigrants and immigration reform. I’ve always had a fascination in learning about people’s journey to America regardless of whether it has been 100 years ago or 100 days. Also, my wife is an immigrant.
**thanks to Netgalley for the advanced review copy**
Who would benefit from reading: Any American that wants to see a fuller experience of what it means to be an American.
August 12, 2024
A good introduction to the world of U.S. immigration as told from the personal perspective of someone that has been on the frontlines of it for many years. The book takes a look at both policy and real-world examples. At times an incredibly sad read, as the author grapples with the unfortunate realities of immigration issues as well as the weaponization of them, particularly on the southern border, while also having the unenviable task of trying to make evangelicals care about this particular justice issue.
Quotes
"Immigration enforcement is necessary and our homeland security strategies need to shift as threats shift. These changes should be based on actionable intelligence, not headlines and perceptions. For example, if drug cartels exploit border ports of entry for the smuggling of drugs, why are we spending billions of dollars to build walls in the middle of the desert? Because, a Port of Entry with the necessary technology and personnel is nowhere near as powerful a symbol as a menacing wall topped with concertina wire. Technology and surveillance are more effective than deficient, but they make for awkward rally chants. No one is yelling "secure the Port of Entry!"."
"'I just started sobbing uncontrollably.' The lives, the humanity of migrants had been so distant from evangelical America that once presented with the reality of the situation, these conservative women were faced with their own crisis. 'It was the truth. I could not believe how much the church had missed it. I couldn't believe how much I had missed it. I had been advocating for a comprehensive pro-life ethic for a while. That was part of my job at Focus on the Family. I was advocating for immigrants and refugees, but I had never been in close proximity to the pain of migrants, and seeing those children holding children...I lost it.'"
Quotes
"Immigration enforcement is necessary and our homeland security strategies need to shift as threats shift. These changes should be based on actionable intelligence, not headlines and perceptions. For example, if drug cartels exploit border ports of entry for the smuggling of drugs, why are we spending billions of dollars to build walls in the middle of the desert? Because, a Port of Entry with the necessary technology and personnel is nowhere near as powerful a symbol as a menacing wall topped with concertina wire. Technology and surveillance are more effective than deficient, but they make for awkward rally chants. No one is yelling "secure the Port of Entry!"."
"'I just started sobbing uncontrollably.' The lives, the humanity of migrants had been so distant from evangelical America that once presented with the reality of the situation, these conservative women were faced with their own crisis. 'It was the truth. I could not believe how much the church had missed it. I couldn't believe how much I had missed it. I had been advocating for a comprehensive pro-life ethic for a while. That was part of my job at Focus on the Family. I was advocating for immigrants and refugees, but I had never been in close proximity to the pain of migrants, and seeing those children holding children...I lost it.'"
September 7, 2022
One of the top books I send people to who want to understand our current immigration situation in the US and what is needed to turn the tide towards dignity which is not currently how we are operating as our immigration system doesn't uphold our values and doesn't provide enough for the labor needs we have. It's beautifully told as asylum seekers, communities of welcome infuse dignity into why people leave home and what a dignified welcome looks like.
It's also one of the best books of 2022.
It's also one of the best books of 2022.
April 9, 2025
Loved this review of the current national temperature surrounding immigration and the call to action to bring dignity back into the conversation. Ali is scathing and practical while he tells a story of a nation caught in the grip of fear stoked by those meant to be our leaders. Definitely worth a read for anyone interested in learning more about why our nation can't seem to see the humanity and inherent dignity in those immigrating from south of the border.
March 2, 2022
Well written and broad of scope, this book is a bluntly honest and intentional look at what America really looks like. Noorani pulls no punches.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews