Denied, Detained, Deported: Stories from the Dark Side of American Immigration

With painstaking research, an unerring eye for just the right illustration, and her unique narrative style, award-winning author Ann Bausum makes the history of immigration in America come alive for young people. The story of America has always been shaped by people from all corners of the Earth who came in search of a better life and a brighter future. Immigration remains one of the critical topics in 21st century America, and how our children learn the lessons of the past will shape all our futures.

The patriotic stories of hope that shape most immigration books are supplemented here by the lesser-known stories of those denied, detained, and deported. Ann Bausum’s compelling book presents a revealing series of snapshots from the dark side of immigration history including: Immigrants Denied: The St. Louis, a ship filled with Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany sought refuge in American ports and was turned away, condemning many of its passengers to ultimately perish in the Holocaust.Immigrants Detained: Japanese-Americans were rounded up during World War II and placed in detention centers—regardless of their patriotism—for security reasons.Immigrants Deported: Emma Goldman was branded a dangerous extremist and sent back to Russia in 1919, after living 30 years in the United States.

Ann Bausum creates a bridge from the lessons of the past to the present with fascinating analysis of how our past has influenced modern events and current views on immigration.

Customer Reviews:

This is a stunning profile of American injustice toward the immigrants who came and are still coming to its shores!

By D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" - September 10, 2009

The first time Americans began to look askance at immigrants was in 1882 when they voted to keep out immigrants. It wasn't a new thought, but it was the first time the welcome mat was pulled right out from under people by people who in all likelihood were at least descended from immigrants, if not immigrants themselves. Traditionally America's immigrant population took the "sweatiest jobs at the bottom of the workforce." At times America welcomed them with open arms and next thing you know, they became hostile toward them. This is a look into "the dark side of American immigration" and this book does not mince words.

The nineteenth century Chinese were the first to fall into the clutches of this vicious cycle. At first they were needed to fill the jobs Americans didn't want. They labored in the mines, building railroads and other lowly jobs. Then, when they were no longer needed, outrageous taxes were levied on them. Hate crimes became common and people feared for... read more

Denied, Detained, Deported

By Lois - October 3, 2010

This is an informational non fictional text with historical details about particular people enduring courageous immigration discrimination as "other." Ann Bausum bluntly examines how people of immigrant status were not welcomed "to breathe free" as is engraved on the Statue of Liberty. She tells the stories of immigrant people of Chinese, Japanese, Russian, German and Mexican descent. This text has great primary documents, photographs, and timelines. The following text is a great way for teachers and students to get started in beginning to construct social studies knowledge and begin thinking about social justice issues about how varied immigrant ethnicities were discriminated in severe ways over history in the United States. Teachers and students will be able to implement this wonderfully written text and expand upon it to take a stand on immigration now, look back on immigration in the past, and find immigrants throughout history in the United States to report and how people of... read more