Elusive Subjects: Immigrant Recognition and Legitimation in Modern Surveillance States

Mary McThomas examines how individuals can claim their subjecthood while evading state surveillance, using post-colonial theories, queer theories, and surveillance studies. She argues for policies that recognize and protect residents while allowing them to remain invisible to federal immigration enforcement officers, and locates sites of contestation and potential points of resistance that help to subvert the states monopoly on determining which bodies matter and which stories are heard.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 124 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In her groundbreaking book, Mary McThomas delves into the intricate dynamics of individual subjecthood in the context of state surveillance. Drawing upon post-colonial theories, queer theories, and surveillance studies, she explores the profound ways in which categories and identities are shaped and wielded as tools of control or resistance. Through a comprehensive analysis of state power, McThomas sheds light on the mechanisms through which it is extended or frustrated, and the ways in which unauthorized residents shape public discourse and policy.

Featuring over 100 hours of committee meetings, public hearings, and legislative floor debates on sanctuary cities in the United States, McThomas makes a compelling case for policies that recognize and protect residents while allowing them to remain invisible to federal immigration enforcement officers. By identifying sites of contestation and potential points of resistance, she empowers individuals to self-create their identities free from state intervention. These sites and practices serve as powerful tools for subverting the states monopoly on determining which bodies matter and which stories are heard.

Elusive Subjects: Immigrant Recognition and Legitimation in Modern Surveillance States is a must-read for scholars and instructors in the fields of citizenship studies, surveillance studies, immigration policy, and migration studies. It offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complex interplay between state power, identity, and surveillance, and provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by unauthorized residents in contemporary societies.

Weight: 240g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032213200