History

Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis

Name: Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here: The United States, Central America, and the Making of a Crisis
Rating: 4.8 (1000 reviews)
Author: Jonathan Blitzer

Jonathan Blitzer

27 minAudio9 insights

What you'll learn

•The historical roots of the Central American migration crisis and U.S. involvement
•How political violence and repression in Central America fueled mass displacement
•The development and challenges of U.S. asylum law and the sanctuary movement
•The evolution of U.S. immigration enforcement policies over four decades
•The role of gang violence in migration and policy responses
•The impact of recent U.S. administrations on immigration policy and migrant experiences
•The human stories behind migration, detention, and advocacy efforts

Who should read this

✓Policy makers and immigration officials
✓Students of Latin American history and U.S. foreign policy
✓Human rights and immigration advocates
✓General readers interested in migration and social justice

About this book

A comprehensive exploration of the U.S.-Central America migration crisis shaped by political violence, asylum struggles, and evolving immigration policies.

Did You Know?

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The Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s involved over 150 congregations across the U.S. providing shelter to Central American refugees.

Audio Summary

Section 1

The Roots of Crisis: How Political Violence Shaped a Generation

3:45

9 Sections

Preview: The Roots of Crisis: How Political Violence Shaped a Generation

Imagine a land scarred by decades of violence, where the very soil remembers the bloodshed of La Matanza, a massacre so profound it reshaped a nation's identity. In 1932, tens of thousands of peasants and Indigenous people rose up against an elite that had stolen their lands. What followed was a brutal military response that extinguished this uprising in mere weeks, leaving behind a legacy of fear and silence. La Matanza was not just a massacre; it was a defining rupture in Salvadoran history, one that froze the country in time and silenced dissent for decades.

The U.S., watching the Cold War unfold, saw these events through the lens of global ideological struggle. It provided training and equipment to Salvadoran security forces, embedding a doctrine of counterinsurgency that blurred the lines between law enforcement and military repression. This support empowered death squads and paramilitary groups that terrorized communities, turning everyday life into a landscape of suspicion and danger. The military's grip on power was reinforced by foreign aid and strategic interests, often at the expense of human rights.

In towns like Usulután, children grew up amidst this tension. A young boy, once dreaming of becoming a priest, witnessed the systemic violence firsthand. His journey from seminary to medicine was shaped by the need to heal bodies broken by bullets and torture. His story is a testament to resilience amid chaos, a thread that weaves through the broader tapestry of Central American history.

This section reveals how these historical forces created a crucible of suffering that forced millions to flee. As the Cold War cast long shadows, it was not only ideology but survival that propelled waves of migration northward. Understanding this brutal past is essential to grasp the roots of the ongoing crisis. As we move forward, we will explore how these migrants sought refuge and how their journeys intersected with evolving U.S. policies and grassroots movements. Let us now step into the lives of those who fled, seeking sanctuary and hope in foreign lands.