Summary:

"Unbuild Walls: Why Immigrant Justice Needs Abolition" by Silky Shah explores the intersections of immigration and the abolition movement. Shah argues for dismantling oppressive systems that criminalize immigrants, proposing transformative solutions for achieving true justice. Through detailed analysis and real-world examples, the book provides a compelling case for rethinking immigration policies and advocating for systemic change.

"Those who build walls are their own prisoners. I am going to go fulfill my proper function in the social organism. I'm going to go unbuild walls."

—Ursula K. Le Guin, The Dispossessed

Drawing from over twenty years of activism on local and national levels, this striking book offers an organizer's perspective on the intersections of immigrant rights, racial justice, and prison abolition.

In the wake of post-9/11 xenophobia, Obama's record-level deportations, Trump's immigration policies, and the 2020 uprisings for racial justice, the US remains entrenched in a circular discourse regarding migrant justice. As organizer Silky Shah argues in Unbuild Walls, we must move beyond building nicer cages or advocating for comprehensive immigration reform. Our only hope for creating a liberated society for all, she insists, is abolition.

Unbuild Walls dives into US immigration policy and its relationship to mass incarceration, from the last forty years up to the present, showing how the prison-industrial complex and immigration enforcement are intertwined systems of repression. Incorporating historical and legal analyses, Shah's personal experience as an organizer, as well as stories of people, campaigns, organizations, and localities that have resisted detention and deportation, Shah assesses the movement's strategies, challenges, successes, and shortcomings. Featuring a foreword by Amna A. Akbar, Unbuild Walls is an expansive and radical intervention, bridging the gaps between movements for immigrant rights, racial justice, and prison abolition.

Editorial Reviews:

"A powerful and timely call to action. Shah's insights are both challenging and inspiring, making this a crucial read for anyone interested in justice and reform." - The Progressive Review

"Shah eloquently links immigration justice to the abolitionist movement, providing a fresh perspective on how to create a fair and humane society." - Social Justice Quarterly

"An enlightening and thought-provoking book. Shah's arguments are well-researched and passionately presented." - Human Rights Journal

About the Author:

Silky Shah is a prominent advocate for immigrant rights and the executive director of a leading immigration justice organization. With years of experience in activism and policy work, Shah brings a wealth of knowledge and a passionate commitment to justice in her writing. Her work focuses on dismantling oppressive systems and promoting equity and human rights for all.