Somewhere We Are Human

A collection of 35 bold, important, and groundbreaking essays and poems by migrants, refugees and Dreamers—including award-winning writers, artists, and activists—that illuminate what it is like living undocumented today.

In the overheated debate about immigration, we often lose sight of the humanity at the heart of this divisive issue. The immigrants and refugees living precariously in the United States are mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Individuals propelled by hope and fear, they gamble their lives on the promise of America, yet their voices are rarely heard.

During this time of political unrest and uncertainty, this anthology of essays, poetry, and art reminds us of this truth and seeks to shift the debate—now shaped by rancorous stereotypes and xenophobia—towards one rooted in humanity and justice. Through their storytelling and art, the contributors to this moving and thought-provoking book remind us that they are flesh and blood people who laugh, who cry, who rage, who dream. Transcending their current immigration status, they offer nuanced portraits of their existence before migration, the factors behind their choices, the pain of leaving their homeland, and their collective hunger for a future not defined by borders. 

Going beyond border militarization, mass detention, and draconian anti-immigrant legislation, Somewhere We Are Human is a journey of memories, anecdotes, and yearnings from migrants both newly arrived to America as well as those who have been here for decades, and those who have ultimately chosen to leave. Touching on themes including race, class, gender, nationality, sexuality, politics, and reproductive rights, Somewhere We Are Human reveals how joy, hope, mourning, and perseverance can take root in the toughest soil, and bloom even in the harshest of conditions.