Her story is similar to those of the thousands of illegal immigrants who cross the border into America every day in search of political or economic refuge. In 1988, a woman in her late thirties named Yamileth obtains a passport, leaves her home, and makes a daring, dangerous trip from war-torn Nicaragua through Central America to the United States to join her family. In Los Angeles, Yamileth must find a place to live and a job to support her family, yet keep secret the fact that she entered the country as an illegal alien. She must adapt to new customs and the flood of Latino and Asian immigrants. She must live among the people of California, who in 1994 approved Proposition 187 with the intent to deny undocumented immigrants education, social services, and health care. Yamileth’s daily experiences mirror the hopes and frustrations of women and men who must confront new cultural, economic, and political environments. Author Dianne Walta Hart’s long and close relationship with Yamileth allows her to present Yamileth’s cultural struggles and personal development in poignant narrative and passages in Yamileth’s own words. From start to finish, Undocumented in L.A.: An Immigrant’s Story is testimonial literature at its best. This eye-opening work will show the reader the opposition and difficulties undocumented immigrants face in a nation that at first beckons them with freedom, then rejects them with unwelcoming borders and restrictive laws. Undocumented in L.A.: An Immigrant’s Story is an excellent resource for courses in immigration, political science, and social and cultural studies.
Editorial Reviews
Review
This is a rough-edged, authentic look at the marginal lives led by many illegal immigrants who live among us. ― Amazon.Com Expert Editors Review
Hart injects her own sharp perceptions regarding the circumstances of illegals in the United States, and there are unique insights into the riots following the Rodney King verdict as well… Well recommended for academic and public libraries. ―
Library Journal
This book tells the tale of conflict and contradiction in the lives of illegal immigrants with authenticity and compassion. Using testimonies gathered over seven years, Hart makes the plight of an undocumented woman clear. — K. Lynn Stoner, Arizona State University
A beautiful and sensitive oral history of an indomitable Nicaraguan woman who―when life became impossible in her own nation―made the difficult journey to the United States only to face the many hardships of an undocumented immigrant in Los Angeles. Very moving! — Thomas W. Walker, Ohio University
The story of a single struggling family is detailed warmly and convincingly by author Dianne Walta Hart. ―
Los Angeles Times
About the Author
Dianne Walta Hart is a senior instructor of Spanish at Oregon State University. In addition, she serves as the Latin America Director of Global Graduates: The Oregon International Internship Program, part of the Oregon State System of Higher Education.
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