The Book
Journeys from there to here
Stories of Immigrant Trials, Triumphs, and Contributions
Summary
A famous writer exiled from Albania and Greece. A Somali nomad-turned-multinational banker. An Asian-born virtuoso violinist with perfect pitch, and many more . . .
In this eye-opening collection of immigrant trials, triumphs, and contributions, leading immigration lawyer Susan Cohen invites you to walk with her clients as they share their incredible journeys coming to America while overcoming unimaginable dangers and often heartbreaking obstacles abroad. Cohen masterfully uplifts marginalized voices, laying bare the remarkable realities of staggering hardships and inspiring resilience.
Sprinkled with amusing anecdotes, tense junctures, and heartwarming segments, you will sit front and center at the courtroom learning about US immigration policies and systems—which often become an immigrant’s greatest hurdle—while also discovering the ways unscrupulous American citizens take advantage of those not born in the States. As you ride the ups and downs and follow the zig-zagging twists and turns of their travails, you will discover the many ways immigrants from all over the world give back to their local communities and enrich the fabric of the nation. Finding yourself enmeshed in their stories, you will gain insight, grow in empathy, and come to understand what it truly takes to become an American citizen.
A Porchlight Books January 2022 Nonfiction Bestseller
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Susan with John Paul Nsubuga from Uganda (from the epilogue)
Susan with Jamal from Somalia (from Chapter 3)
Jacque Colon and her daughter Ana from Dominican Republic (from Chapter 6)
Advance Praise
“Anyone reading this book will find it small wonder that nearly half of all “Fortune 500” companies in the United States are led by immigrants or the children of immigrants as CEO’s: by the time they raise their hand to take the oath of allegiance before a federal judge, many have passed through a crucible and have the strength and resilience of tempered steel.”
“Not numbers. Not faceless individuals. Each case a person. Her dreams, his pain, her ambition, his loves, her fear, his despair. We stagger as we try to understand our nation’s benefit from and yet deep fear of immigrants. This slender and uplifting volume guides us to new understandings of exactly what is at stake for our future. A must-read, as important now as ever.”
“For renowned immigration lawyer Susan Cohen, each migrant has as a story to tell even though these stories are often tragically lost in the highly politicized immigration debate. The stories of these eleven brave people and their families are a powerful reminder that America must live up to its promise as a democratic beacon of hope for people around the world by welcoming immigrants and being a land where justice and compassion prevail.”
“From the front lines of the fight for immigrant justice, one of the nation’s leading immigration attorneys shares the stories of courageous immigrants she helps every day. Chapter-by-chapter, story-by-story, Susan Cohen shines light on the way our antiquated and, at times, cruel immigration system treats the stranger among us.”