We Built the Wall: How the US Keeps Out Asylum Seekers from Mexico, Central America and Beyond

Carlos Specter, a lawyer from El Paso, Texas, has filed hundreds of political asylum cases on behalf of human rights defenders, journalists, and political dissidents, challenging the American political asylum process. His legal activism has put US immigration policy, Mexico, and the political basis of immigration, asylum, and deportation decisions on the spot.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 224 pages
\n Publication date: 10 July 2018
\n Publisher: Verso Books
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For decades, the American political asylum process has been a tool used to punish enemies and reward friends of the US government. Refugees from Cuba, for example, can easily walk through an open door, while those fleeing Eastern Europe face vastly different judgments than those attempting to escape persecution in friendly but deeply violent states like Mexico, El Salvador, Colombia, and Honduras.

One man in El Paso, Texas, has sought to challenge this system. Carlos Specter, a lawyer, has filed hundreds of political asylum cases on behalf of human rights defenders, journalists, and political dissidents. While his legal activism has only slightly improved the process, with 98% of refugees from Mexico still denied asylum, his numerous legal cases and the media attention they have garnered have put US immigration policy, the corrupt state of Mexico, and the political basis of immigration, asylum, and deportation decisions under scrutiny.

We Built the Wall is an immersive and engrossing documentary that tells the story of a new front in the immigration wars. The film follows the journey of two men, one a former border patrol agent and the other a construction worker, as they build a wall along the US-Mexico border. The men's perspectives on immigration and the wall are deeply personal and revealing, offering a unique insight into the complex and often divisive issue of border security.

Through their experiences, the film explores the political, economic, and human implications of the wall. It raises questions about the effectiveness of border enforcement, the rights of immigrants, and the impact of immigration policies on communities both in the US and Mexico. The film also sheds light on the complex relationship between the US government and the Mexican drug cartels, which have been a major factor in the immigration crisis.

Overall, We Built the Wall is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that provides a valuable perspective on the immigration wars. It challenges viewers to consider the complex issues surrounding immigration and encourages them to think critically about the policies and practices that shape our world.

\n Weight: 368g\n
Dimension: 213 x 154 x 21 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781786632173\n \n