Desperately Seeking Asylum - by Helen T Boursier (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Desperately Seeking Asylum prioritizes the testimonies of refugee families and unaccompanied children who are seeking asylum in the U.S. from Central America, primarily Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Their desperate and heart-wrenching stories disclose why they fled their homelands, their experiences along the treacherous overland journey, and the harsh reality of how the U.S. treats these families and children upon arrival to the U.S. It critiques U.S. complicity to the violence they are fleeing and discloses how national leadership shapes U.S. Immigration policies and practices, including the blatant documented violations against asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. Most notably, it offers transparency on U.S. Immigration practices at the U.S.-Mexico border which violate existing U.S. and international laws that are intended to protect asylum seekers, including the current official practice of blocking bridges with 'turnbacks' to prevent 'inadmissibles' from applying for asylum in the U.S. It explains protections mandated by U.S. law for unaccompanied children who are in U.S. custody, and discloses violations which keep these children detained excessive lengths of time in substandard for-profit facilities which are overseen by the government and funded by taxpayers. Boursier also deconstructs the complicated asylum process, including examining the credible fear for asylum procedure, showing how technical terms and language are used to justify injustice at the border"--

Book Synopsis

Told through heart-wrenching testimonies, photographs, and artwork of refugees fleeing their homelands, Desperately Seeking Asylum describes firsthand accounts of the harrowing and dangerous journey immigrants are willing to endure knowing that they might not even make it onto US soil.

Desperately Seeking Asylum prioritizes the testimonies of refugee families and unaccompanied children who are seeking asylum in the United States from Central America, primarily Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Their desperate and heart-wrenching stories disclose why they fled their homelands, their experiences along the treacherous overland journey, and the harsh reality of how the United States treats these families and children upon arrival to the United States. It critiques US complicity to the violence they are fleeing and discloses how national leadership shapes US immigration policies and practices, including the blatant documented violations against asylum seekers at the US-Mexico border. Most notably, it offers transparency on US immigration practices at the US-Mexico border which violate existing US and international laws that are intended to protect asylum seekers, including the current official practice of blocking bridges with "turnbacks" to prevent "inadmissibles" from applying for asylum in the United States. It explains protections mandated by US law for unaccompanied children who are in US custody, and discloses violations which keep these children detained excessive lengths of time in substandard for-profit facilities which are overseen by the government and funded by taxpayers. Boursier also deconstructs the complicated asylum process, including examining the credible fear for asylum procedure, showing how technical terms and language are used to justify injustice at the border.

Desperately Seeking Asylum offers hope for a new vision with alternative options and practical actions which assist migrants through humanitarian aid on both sides of the border. The witness for compassionate and responsible response by people of conscious becomes an antidote to injustice against asylum seekers. Instead of the current administration manipulating US laws to support its ulterior motives and political agenda, Boursier asks readers to hold US elected officials accountable to the same "Rule of Law" that the United States demands of refugees. Ultimately, Boursier suggests a spectrum of options for practical ways to make the political personal through public witness and civic engagement to transform the broken immigration process for refugees who are desperately seeking asylum.

Review Quotes

"Desperately Seeking Asylum comes from [Boursier's] experience with thousands of immigrants. It is a thorough examination of the situation along the U.S.-Mexico border from 2014 to 2019. Though some policies have changed since then, the content still holds relevance for ongoing efforts to address immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border . . . Boursier calls readers to be involved personally in seeking justice for immigrants and those seeking asylum. She points to the many ways to engage in hospitality, love of neighbor and solidarity for, toward and with men, women and children not all that unlike us." --Baptist Standard

"Desperately Seeking Asylum is a hyper-timely book. Boursier offers an indispensable primer for spiritual and ethical discernment on the deepest theological challenges that global migration presents. It is informative, accessible, experiential, and practically empowering for action--be it prayers, works of mercy and justice, or advocacy. It will be stimulating reading for the general public or communities of faith as well as for students in colleges and seminaries." --Kristine Suna-Koro, Xavier University, author of In Counterpoint: Postcoloniality, Diaspora, and Sacramental Theology

"Centered on the narratives of those most impacted, Desperately Seeking Asylum expertly weaves the experiences of immigrants and refugees with a comprehensive exploration of our current immigration system to reveal how and why it is so difficult to seek refuge in the United States. Through insightful research and extensive fieldwork, Rev. Dr. Boursier challenges the narrative that migrants are dangerous or powerless, while also offering hope for an alternate reality of hospitality through practical welcoming actions and advocacy." --Jennie Belle, community organizer, Church World Service

"Rev. Dr. Boursier puts her soul on the line as she gives voice to the stories no one knows from vulnerable women and children lost among us in plain sight. This important work reminds us that change comes when we open minds and lead with our hearts." --Hope Frye, executive director, Project Lifeline, Lead Flores Monitor

"Bousier presents the human reality as part of the immigration crisis in the United States. Through personal encounters with families seeking asylum and thorough research, she outlines what she believes to be some of the root causes of migration and the many challenges families face during their journeys to the U.S." --Norma Pimentel, executive director, Catholic Charities, Rio Grande Valley

Desperately Seeking Asylum comes from [Boursier's] experience with thousands of immigrants. It is a thorough examination of the situation along the U.S.-Mexico border from 2014 to 2019. Though some policies have changed since then, the content still holds relevance for ongoing efforts to address immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border . . . Boursier calls readers to be involved personally in seeking justice for immigrants and those seeking asylum. She points to the many ways to engage in hospitality, love of neighbor and solidarity for, toward and with men, women and children not all that unlike us.

Bousier presents the human reality as part of the immigration crisis in the United States. Through personal encounters with families seeking asylum and thorough research, she outlines what she believes to be some of the root causes of migration and the many challenges families face during their journeys to the U.S.

Centered on the narratives of those most impacted, Desperately Seeking Asylum expertly weaves the experiences of immigrants and refugees with a comprehensive exploration of our current immigration system to reveal how and why it is so difficult to seek refuge in the United States. Through insightful research and extensive fieldwork, Rev. Dr. Boursier challenges the narrative that migrants are dangerous or powerless, while also offering hope for an alternate reality of hospitality through practical welcoming actions and advocacy.

Desperately Seeking Asylum is a hyper-timely book. Boursier offers an indispensable primer for spiritual and ethical discernment on the deepest theological challenges that global migration presents. It is informative, accessible, experiential, and practically empowering for action--be it prayers, works of mercy and justice, or advocacy. It will be stimulating reading for the general public or communities of faith as well as for students in colleges and seminaries.

Rev. Dr. Boursier puts her soul on the line as she gives voice to the stories no one knows from vulnerable women and children lost among us in plain sight. This important work reminds us that change comes when we open minds and lead with our hearts.

About the Author

Rev. Dr. Helen T. Boursier is a public theologian, educator, author, activist, ordained minister, and artist. "Pastora Helena" has been a volunteer chaplain with refugee families both inside and outside family detention since 2014. She authored The Ethics of Hospitality: An Interfaith Response to U.S. Immigration Policies.