Now We Are Here

About the Book

"Every day families make one of the most difficult decisions in their lives: leave their homes in search of a safer and better future for their children. Now We Are Here is the story of how the ideal of a good American education underwrites the migratory decisions, trajectories, and experiences of migrant families. Through innovative and in-depth ethnographic research in schools and in homes conducted between 2018 and 2021, Gabrielle Oliveira takes readers into the lives of 16 migrant families from Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. She interweaves stories of parental sacrifice, children's experience of schooling, teachers' understandings of the trauma experienced by these families, and the consequences of a global pandemic on already-vulnerable families. Oliveira provides a rich view into the full lives of migrant families and centers their power to resist multiple emergencies. After facing detention and/or separation at the U.S. border, these families also faced the unexpected disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic. The compounded traumas of leaving home, harsh border policies, and a public health crisis pushed families to reconceptualize their ideas of education and what it might mean to make a life in a new country. Recounting everyday struggles and stories of determination amid devastating circumstances, this book reflects on migrant journeys and educational opportunity in the United States"--

Book Synopsis

Who gets to live a life with dignity? Each day, families around the world make the difficult decision to leave their homes in search of safety, stability, and opportunity. For many migrant families, this search centers on access to strong, caring, and equitable educational systems that enable children to flourish. Now We Are Here follows the lives of 16 migrant families from Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras as they navigate the promises and challenges of the American education system. Drawing on immersive ethnographic research in homes and schools from 2018 to 2021, Gabrielle Oliveira offers an intimate portrait of these families' experiences. She weaves together stories of parental sacrifice, children's educational and migration journeys, and educators' responses to trauma-all shaped by the additional disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oliveira highlights the perseverance of families confronting the overlapping crises of border detention, family separation, and a public health emergency. These experiences forced them to reimagine education and what it means to build a future in the U.S. By examining how migrant children engage in classrooms, how teachers understand their needs, and how hope evolves, this book offers vital insights into the intersections of schooling and immigration. It calls for more responsive educational practices and policies that affirm the dignity and potential of all migrant children.