White Borders

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This powerful and meticulously argued work reveals that immigration crackdowns have always aimed to uphold the racist notion of a white America. Recent anti-immigration policies, including the border wall and the Muslim ban, prompt a critical inquiry into their origins. Despite the myth of the U.S. as a nation of immigrants, a long history of immigration restrictions fueled by the fear of non-white newcomers exists. From the arrival of the first slave ship in 1619, the foundation of the United States was built on the dual principles of open immigration for Northern European whites and the exclusion of slaves, Native Americans, and other immigrants. The author’s extensive research uncovers the racist and xenophobic roots of U.S. immigration policy, linking historical events like the Chinese Exclusion laws of the 1880s and the nativism of the 1920s to contemporary anti-immigration sentiments, including the “Build the Wall” rhetoric from 2016. The narrative introduces a cast of anti-immigration figures who have mainstreamed fringe ideas about “white genocide.” Through gripping stories and detailed analysis of significant immigration cases, the author examines the connections between hate groups and the Republican Party, revealing the deep-seated intersection of white supremacy and anti-immigration bias, as well as the enduring impacts on U.S. law.