New Books in Law Engage and Evade in 2025: Asad L. Asad on Latino Immigrants in America
Apr 12, 2025
Asad L. Asad, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Stanford University and author of "Engage and Evade," discusses the intricate lives of Latino immigrant families in America. He reveals how many undocumented individuals navigate their fears by engaging with government institutions, seeking positive interactions for their immigration prospects. The conversation highlights diverse motivations for migration, the impact of shifting policies, and the crucial differences in immigrant experiences based on local government attitudes. Asad advocates for a reframing of the narrative surrounding immigrants and low-income Americans, emphasizing shared struggles.
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Daily Dance Of Engagement And Evasion
- Immigrant families balance fear of enforcement with everyday survival and hope for the future.
- They practice a daily dance of engagement and evasion to protect family stability.
Door‑Knocking Revealed Hidden Patterns
- Asad recruited Latino households by door-knocking in Dallas and found many had immigrant parents.
- He followed them over years, revealing everyday interaction patterns not visible in clinic-based samples.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Shapes Behavior
- Immigration enforcement infrastructure was built across administrations and shapes everyday immigrant behavior.
- Political rhetoric shifts fear, but the enforcement machinery persists bipartisanly.
