Book SummaryEveryone Who Is Gone Is Here, by Jonathan Blitzer

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here

In Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here, Jonathan Blitzer explores the history of U.S. immigration policy and its impact on Central American migrants. He argues that the U.S. has played a significant role in creating the conditions that force people to flee their home countries, and that the U.S. has failed to provide adequate protection for these migrants. Blitzer also examines the legal and political battles over asylum and the evolution of U.S. immigration policy from the Cold War to the present...

Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here Summary Historical Roots of the Crisis

Blitzer explains that the crisis has historical roots in the political and social turmoil of Central America. The US administration was unprepared for the shift in migration patterns as circumstances in that region worsened, forcing many people to leave. The region experienced a mass exodus, and the United States' immigration infrastructure struggled to handle the situation. Although the US monitored the armed forces closely, the repercussions were extending to the US-Mexico border.

(Shortform note: In Harvest of Empire, Juan González explains that the turmoil in Central America was rooted in a long history of land control by a small elite and foreign companies. In Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, a few families and companies like the United Fruit Company owned most of the land, leaving little for the majority of people. This created a system where a few people had all the power and wealth, while most lived in poverty.)

During the end of the 1990s, the DEA discovered that three-quarters of the cocaine entering the United States came via Guatemala, which the State Department recognized as the preferred route for moving cocaine...

Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here Summary Evolution of American Strategies and Their Consequences

Blitzer notes that U.S. immigration policy evolved from addressing Cold War concerns to managing migration from Central American countries. In the 1980s, the U.S. government saw Central America from a Cold War perspective, supporting right-wing governments to prevent the proliferation of communism. This involvement contributed to civil wars and instability in the region, leading to waves of refugees looking for safety in America. Over time, the focus shifted from concerns about communism to fears of large-scale migration, resulting in policies aimed at deterring migrants and tightening border security.

The Symbolic Politics of Border Enforcement

Political scientist Peter Andreas, in his book Border Games, explores the evolution of U.S. border enforcement, particularly at the U.S.-Mexico border, in the post-Cold War era. He argues that border enforcement is best understood as a form of symbolic politics in which officials stage highly visible “border games”—dramatic crackdowns, wall-building, and the deployment of policing and military technologies—that are aimed less at actually stopping...

Shortform Exercise: The Impact of U.S. Deportation Policies

Explore the consequences of U.S. deportation strategies on Central America, focusing on gang proliferation and societal changes.

How did U.S. deportation policies in the 1990s affect the gang landscape in Central America?